The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-06
Political Chat.

III AoJV, during red-not city politics IN
New York city, when the Peoples NUM-
| clpal League was trying to control the
Iclty, Ballard Smith, managing editor OF
the New York World, told Claude H.
| Wetmore to see Mr.. Cleveland and inter
view him on the p. NJ. 1.-the Peoples
Municipal League He sent in his card.
Mr.. Cleveland told him to come in and
here is what followed, as told by Mr..
! Wetmore in the Valley Weekly;
i cannot recall the building in which
Mr.. Cleveland's office was located, but
remember that the latter was on the third
floor. clerk took my card into the
room at the right, and in another minute
| was given my first view of the man
who even then was being mentioned as
| Democracy standard bearer for the third
| time.
BE seated, sir What can I do for
you?
The voice was pleasant, although some
thing of a growl, due, suppose, to the
thick neck and the distance from the sur
face OF the vocal cords.
Mr. Cleveland" I ventured boldly,
what do you think of the P. NJ. LIZ
He wheeled around in his chair and
faced his desk. I noticed frown gath
ering on his forehead. At the time
| thought it was a frown of displeasure at
! my interrogation later / realized that
| it was a froWn Of meditation-he was go
| ing rapidly over the situation and franz
ing a reply.
| 1t must have been five minutes that I
waited and the only sounds were the
ticking of clock which hung on the
wall and the low rumble from the street
| Then suddenly came the reply, and the
voice that gave it utterance was entirely
different from that which had extended
the invitation. 1t had more the timbre of
piping
THE P. M. L." said Mr. Cleveland.
THE P M L." he repeated; then,
"What in hell is the p. M. L.?''
I looked at him in establishment. (And
here let me explain that 1 had had m
reportorial experience in New York, had
never covered d political assignment,
and didn't realize what a big story 1
had landed)A
us that all you wish to say, Sleeve
land?' I asked.
He was smiling. Don't you think that
is sufficient?
And l returned to the office disappoint
ed
'Well?" asked Ballard Smith, when I
had entered. Didn't you get All inter
view?"
l shook my head in negation.
-.Wouldn't he see your
80, yes; he saw me.
f. Wouldn't he talk?''
only to ask me what the hell was the
P. NJ. l..
What Of you ever met Ballard
Smith, you can imagine the roar he emit
ted in that "What!').
Write It. write it! Write it just as it
happened" He was pacing the floor and
pulling his mustache.
/ don't recollect whether my short ar
ticle was triple headed or slugged, and |
don't recall whether it carried tour
column head or one clear across the page.
But it was mighty prominent next morn
ing.
And the p. NJ. L.?
1t died.
Cleveland had killed IT.
Hon. Daniel Lockwood, of New York,
one of the wisest politicians IN that State,
is in Washington, and talking about the
best man to nominate for President SAID:
II am thoroughly of the opinion that
in Judge Alton B. Parker the Democrats
would have an ideal candidate He IS
man of firmness. OF great judicial ability,
and who from long years OF listening
will hear all sides attentively. Judge
Parker will appeal to all that solid class
of American voters who do not like an
occupant of the White House of such err
ratio and uncertain disposition that he
NAV plunge the government into war
upon short notice He will appeal to all
men who believe in an economical admin
istration of national affairs, to all lovers
of good government. He can. IN my
opinion. sweep the State of New York
bv decisive majority, and, furthermore,
I believe, he can win the electoral vote
of New Jersey. Connecticut, and Della
ware. and possibly Rhode Island. He is
worthy the nominat ton of his party, and
he is. if named at St. Louis, going to be
the next President of the United States.
"Here's what Kings Weekly wants the
State Executive Committee to do
"Select Greensboro as the place Tor
meeting.
order a primary for selection of all
candidates.
.Order all county conventions to be
held on the same date and township
primaries to be held also on same date.
| "These are important matters and
should be thoughtfully and well con-
siGered.'
| special from washington says that
Senator German, who has never announced
himself a candidate, will shortly declare
for Parker. The trend is Parker ward
very strongly In New. York there seems,
however. some disposition to send an un-
instructed delegation to the National
Convention. This would hurt Parker's
chances.
Ex-Congressman Ewart says he feels
confident of receiving the Republican
nomination for Congress in the Tenth
district.
Senator Daniel made a great speech on
THURSDAY evening at the banquet given
bv the Virginia Democratic Association IN
Washington. His new definition of De-
mocracy was first rate. THE Democ'