The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-06-02
CLEVELAND
TALKS OF THE ISSUES
But Refuses to SurreAder Per-
Sonal Preference.

North American VIII tomorrow morn
ing print the following interview with
Grover Cleveland;
Princeton, N. j., May 20.-'I have
believed for some months, and l be-
lieve now, that Judge Alton B. Parker
of New York, will be the nominee of
the Democratic National Convention
for President. This expression of my
opinion is not new. In reiterating it
at this time, when there seems to be a
lull in the Parker movement, do not
mean to yield my original judgment,
which was that either Mr.. Olney or
Judge Gray might have proved the
stronger candidate for the Democracy
to name for the contest with Mr.. Roose-
velt.;
Circumstances and the state of pub
lie sentiment were such, however, that
months ago it became apparent that
Judge Parker was the man upon whom
the conservative element of the party
could and should concentrate Neither
the circumstances nor the state of pub
lie sentiment have changed, and Judge
Parker remains now, as he has been
for some months, the logical candidate
of his party"
Grover Cleveland, three times named
and twice elected President of the
United States, and the idol of some
millions of Americans, has not been
talking much of late. He talked yes.
terday with great reluctance, consent
ing to a formal interview cnly after
much persuasion, and speaking, wher
he did consent, most cautiously.
His statements were, however, posi-
tive in tone, just as were all of his Of
fetal acts daring his two intermittent
terms in the White House positive il
character.
Mr., Cleveland's s present day rela.
tionship to American politics is unique
aud not at all enviable. Nobody knows
this better than does he. His past ser
vices, the current discussion of thu
probabilities of his own candidacy an(
the affectionate hold he has upon pub
lie sentiment give to his utterances
weight not possessed by those of any
other living Democrat and rivaled onl,
| by the traditions of Jefferson ant
Jackson.
The effect of this is that every worC
Mr.. Cleveland utters is pounced upol
and made the subject of ridicule o
critical comment. This is particular,
true at this stage of the 1904 game 0
President-making, and Mr.. Clevelan,
has been kept busy for months dodg
ing opportunities to endow his opin
ions with the, to him, undesirabl
quality of publicity.
Just now there is an especially pei
tinent reason why he prefers to main
tain silence. His own preference anon
those discussed for the Democrat
Presidential nomination has long bee
either Richard Olney Of Massachusett
or Judge Gray of Delaware.
AS an experienced and intelliger
, student of politics, intent, without til
slightest approach to self-ambitiol
upon seeing his party redeemed fro
the control of the radicals, he HI
chosen to bend his influence in the d
rection of Judge Parker, of New YorI
y No calculating reasons of geograpl
are responsible for this decision, f
Mr.. Cleveland does not "thlnk mut
Of locality as a factor in the determin
. ton of such problems.
In his opinion the man nominate
4. and the measures espoused are Il
pivots upon which elections tur
Having surveyed the entire field, al
being convinced that Democracy
pursuit of false gods is at an end,
has settled upon Judge Parker as t
man best equipped to carry and pl
It tect the party banner.
But in his support of Judge Park
Mr.. Cleveland desires not to interru
- the harmony of his relations with {
z ney and Gray, to either Of whom
the sentiment resultant upon intimi
association and acquaintance inclir
him. Hence the guardedness of
to utterances and the hesitancy he d
plays in in consenting to formal int
- views.
1t was only after making the unen
"A. able nature of the position he occupi
k. as outlined in the foregoing. entir
nd clear, and insisting upon its full
ce' probation, that Mr.. Cleveland vest
day afternoon consented to talk
Philadelphia North American corr
. pondent.
1t is a question whether or not
would have consented, even then, "
it not that he is cognizant of the efft
N making by the advocates of IMPLIED
ae delegations to check, if not to cruc
= the Parker candidacy efforts deer
by him unwise-and the consequ
IT, necessity for stimulating the Pal
ayI movement. 1t was under these