Evening journal., 1913-05-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
What Samuel J. Tilden
Thought Of Grover
Cleveland
D, Hnnsnd.

In 1884 many of the leading and
most expert politicians in both of the
great national parties found them
selves wondering how it happened
that a man who was without any
military glory to make him promi-
mont could within two years time
have advanced from the position Of
a citizen unknown beyond the bor-
ders OF his own town TO such pre-
eminent leadership OF his party as
was sufficient to- bring him to the
Presidency.
The late Daniel s. Manning, OF AL
bany. to whose political sagacity the
successes Of Grover Cleveland we're
attributed, was accustomed to dis
claim any merit of a political kind,
saying always that Cleveland made
himself the leader "All that | have
DONE Mr. Manning used to s.y, "was
what any politician would do placed
as ! was in control OF the machinery
of a party organization"
Mr. George Il. Parker, who was for
many years in intimate personal re-
lationship with Grover Cleveland and
who was authorized TO write the
biography Of the late President. dis
covered in the years Of his intimacy
with Mr.. Cleveland what the secret
of his great leadership was.
81 was prepared for this discovery
said Mr.. Parker. recently, "by some
thing which Ex-Governor Samuel j.
Tilden. the candidate Of the Demo-
cratic party for President in 1875.
said TO mo few weeks after Mr..
Cleveland was elected TO the Presi-
dency
81 had heard reports that Governor
Tilden was not particularly impressed
with Mr.. Cleveland and had himself
spoken slightingly of him. / had
heard that this feeling was thought
10 be due to sense OF jealousy occa-
stoned by the fact that Tilden. after
many years service as a Democratic
leader, had failed TO reach the Presi-
deucy. while this young man. only AZ
years OF age. who had never been
anything more than a follower in the
Democratic ranks. had suddenly
lcapcd from relative ohscurity TO the
greatest position of power and honor
possible for an American.
81 had occasion to visit Governor
Tilden at his country home, near
Yonkers on the Hudson river. short
ly after Mr. Cleveland had been elect
ed TO the Presidency After the mat
ter which took me to Grcystonc had
been disposed Of venturod to ask
Mr.. Tilden il he could explain Clcvc-
lands rapid rise in two years time
from the position Of mayor of Buffalo
10 that OF prcsidpnt-olcct
Nothing could have been more
cordial or sincere than Governor Til
dcn's manner when he replied TO my
question. He said that he had care
fully studied Mr.. Clcveland's brief
career and was satisfied that Clcvc-
land owed all of his triumph to the
I fact that he really unconsciously
possessed positive genius for leader
ship. and behind that great gift stood
rcsolutc political morality.
Governor Tilden made this cX-
planatiou very seriously and very
earnestly felt impclled. therefore
to ask him 10 explain TO me what his
idea OF a true political leader was
lie did so instantly He said that 3
political leader WAS man who Al
WAYS knew what 10 do next and VIII,
always fortified himself for an,
emergency by keeping IN hand ample
/ resources. This. Governor Tilder
said. Cleveland always did, although
probably unconsciously.
"Tilden had hardly finished sayinf
this when he added There Is another
thing which makes Cleveland a srea
1 leader. and that is that he Is a younf
man. a strong man physically an,
I nc has. therefore. physical future
That was what both Governor HoratiC
Seymour and I lacked. We we're boil
old men ana had no physical future
when we wcrc nominated for th'
/ Presidency.
Copyright. 1918. by Z. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.