Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-26
FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
THREE PROMINENT NAMES CAUSING
A GOOD DEAL OF GOSSIP.

Messrs. EIlIins, Davis and II. G. Evans.
What Each One of the Three Really
Deserves and How They viii Proceed.
Talk of Politicians.
The names of Mr.. Stephen B. Elkins of
West Virginia, Senator Davis of Mime
sofa and Mr.. H. Clay Evans of Tennessee
are subjects of considerable gossip among
Republican politicians at this time. Mr..
Elkins and Mr.. Evans are generally cred
tied with entertaining vice presidential
aspirations. Senator Davis, it is thought,
has another AK to grind, but will adopt
the same methods that the other two ysg
in accomplishing his purpose.
Within the past few weeks a distinct
Elkins boom has made its appearance 1t
poses now as presidential boom, but all
politicians are agreed that this is merely a
subterfuge and that it is the second place
on the national ticket upon which Mr..
Elkins has designs and not the first place
1t is the general idea that Mr.. Elkins
while very glad to hold the position of
United States senator, would prefer sitting
at the head of the senate to being merely
a member of that august body. They prob
ably think it likely he could have the SEN
atorship any time that he wanted it if he
should decide to rclinquish it temporarily.
The plan Of the Elkins boom for the
vice presidency, as understood among poll
ticians of the national capital, is this:
That he is to go into the national cOnven-
ton as candidate for tho presidential
nomination and with sufficient strength
to make it an object to others to trade
with him. 1t would be necessary of course
for him to control several delegations
capital with which to do business, and it
is to obtain this capital that his friends
arc now said to be laboring. 1t is claimed
that Mr.. Elkins can secure the support of
the West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia
and New Mexico delegations, forming a
nucleus around which he might gather
other southern and western contingents.
Tho West Virginia delegation will be his
for the asking of course. Tho effort to
get the Maryland men would be made
through Mr. Elkins' extensive business re.
lations with prominent Republicans Of
that state. The Virginia delegation would
be worked upon in the Same way and on
the ground of being West Virginia's near
ncighbor and of Mr.. Elkins posing as
probably one other western delegation
would be shared with business lines.
Backed by these delegates and with an
occasional group of Elkins men from some
of the southern states, it is claimed that
the West Virginian would go into tho con-
ventlOn as a formidable man and well
worthy the consideration of candidates de-
string first place and needing auxiliary
strength to their own following
Senator Davis of Minnesota has been
mentioned in connection with the presi-
Dental nomination, but it has been rather
in the nature Of a compliment and hardly
a serious proposition 1t is not believed
that he really has any hope of receiving
the nomination, and some Of his friends
say that what he wants is to be secretary
of state. 1t is presumed that the national
convention is deemed the best place to lay
plans for gratifying this ambition. The
suppOsition is that Senator Davis will go
into the convention with the Minnesota
delegation back of him and probably with
a call on Wisconsin and Immediately begin
some lively dickering with tho leading
presidential candidates. The question has
been raised whether the Minnesota dele
CATION would allow themselves to be trad
ed away by Mr.. Davis for a cabinet posi-
ton, but it is claimed that there will prob
ably be no trouble on this score, on &C
count Of conditions surrounding the sona-
tOrship, which would be vacant by Mr..
Davis elevation to the cabinet. 1t is said
that some of the leading candidates for
senator would smooth the way of Mr.. Da-
Wis getting the cabinet plum.
The other man mentioned in connection
with this gossip, Mr.. II. Clay Evans, is
regarded as probably the most formidable
obstacle to Mr.. Elllins' ambition to be vice
president, if such really is Mr.. Elkins' de-
sire. General credence is given to the re-
port that a cast iron combination will be
made between Mr.. Mckinley and Mr..
Evans for mutual aid and support in OBJ
tanning, respectively, first and second place
on the ticket. Mr.. Evans is regarded as
probably the leading southern Republican
of the day in point of political influence
Recent events in Tennessee have strength
ened his hold upon the southern Repub-
licans, and 1t is believed by many that he
could easily take tho leadership of his
party south Of Mason and Dixon's line.
The general gossip in this connection Is
that Mr.. Evans will control the southern
delegations for Mr.. Mckinley for president
and himself for vice president, while Mr..
Mckinley will give Mr.. Evans some sup
port from the north If this combination