Evening journal., 1912-06-03
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Precedent That Did Not
Disturb Cleveland
By Holland


Shortly after the second inaugura-
tion of Grover Cleveland as Presi-
dent, the late William r. Grace, who
was twice mayor Of New York and
who ran for Mayor in 1884 at the
personal solicitation of Grover Cleve-
land, for the purpose Of aiding Mr..
Cleveland in the first campaign he
was making for the presidency told
mo of a very interesting and even re-
markable conversation he had with
Mr. Cleveland in the early winter Of
1892.
You know, Of course" said Mr..
Grace, that Governor Hill was then
(as he is still) in such complete com
mand of the Democratic party or
ganization in New York state that it
would do anything which he directed.
Indeed David B Hill believed that
with the aid Of New York state. sup
plemented by support which he was
sure he could receive from good
many of the southern states, he
could be nominated for the presi-
dency at the Democratic National
Con lention which was to be held in
June.
"The most intimate political friends
Hill has have told me that he was
convinced that the Democratic party
would win at the election in Novem-
ber He based his belief upon what
Republicans had told him of the un-
popularity of. President Harrison with
certain Republicans and, especially
with the friends of Blaine. Hill there
fore believed that if he could be nom
mated he would be elected.
"I made IT a point. 10 see EXPIRES
ident Cleveland, and / said to him
Mr.. President, do you realize that
Hill has complete control of the Dem.
ocratic organization of this State?
ITO this Cleveland replied that h
had heard that Hill controlled the or
ganization, but he hadn't been very
much interested in the report
But, Mr.. President | continued
n Hill controls the organization ht
can absolutely control the state con-
vention and in that way secure the
election of delegates to the national
convention who will be instructed "a
vote as a unit for his nomination
Yes have heard that Mr.
Cleveland replied. 7 have heard that
Hill expects TO have the state con-
vention meet very soon. Everything
has been fixed to elect his friends as
delegates to that convention.
But, don't you see, Mr.. .Presi-
dent. said J. what Hill is aiming at
He is not only aiming to secure his
own nomination for the presidency
but he also intends TO prevent in any
event, your nomination. whether he is
nomination or not
How is he going to prevent my
nomination. If he cannot get dele
gates enough to nominate him?'
Why, he can deliver the solid
vote of the New York delegates to
any candidate that he chooses when
he finds that his own nomination is
| impossible. He can make a combina-
tion with the friends Of any one ol
the other candidates and so defea
your nomination..
"Mr Cleveland looked very queerl!
at me for a moment. 7 could not maxi
out whether he thought I was o green
horn in politics or whether he wal
wondering If there might not he som'
force in what | said His face wa
perfectly stolid or blank. but h
stared at me intensely At last h
leaned over toward me, and said;
Grace. don't you be disturbe
about Hill. I can he nominated with
out the vote Of the state of New York
and ! am going to be-
DO you think the Democrat
convention will ignore the traditiona
precedent and nominate for presiden
a man whom his own state refuses t
support | asked in astonishment.
That precedent won't have
feathers weight Mr. Cleveland re-
piled I tell You again that I ca
be nominated without the vote of III
delegation from New York Stat
and I tell YOU in addition that 7 al
going to be nominated without the
vote
i did not believe then that NJ
Cleveland could be nominated, an
yet / knew him we'll enough TO kno
that he was the last man in the worl
TO make a bluff Yet he was right an
was wrong. II turned out exactly a
he said. He was nominated with m
solid vote Of the New York delegatio
against him and 7 then made up m
mind that he is an ahler politician
at least upon a large scale, tha
David p Hill
Copyright. 1912. by F.. u Edward
All rights reserved)