Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-17
SECOND CHOICE STRENGTH
That Now Becoming Factor in Mckinley
Calculations
What His Followers Say on the Sub
ject-The Kentucky Case
Typical One.
SECOND CHOICE

Mr.. McKinley's second choice strength is
beginning to be a fs ctor in current calcu-
lations. The assumption of the opposition
Is that he will not live long enough in the
convention TO get the benefit of this. 1t is
insisted that he must secure the prize at
once, or he cannot hope to do so at all;
that If the convention hesitates, Mr.. Nc
kinley Is lost. big lead, 1t is said, is a
great peril Ii is supposed 10 show the full
possibilities of the man, and If he fails
short of success on the first test, the field
is at once invited to a combination
The Mckinley Mems Reply.
Inc Mckinley men have ready reply to
thls. They take it up merely for argu-
rnents sake. They still insist that their
f&vcIite will be nominated On the first bal
lot But TO show that ne could II lacking
few votes at the outset, resist the as
saults of combinations long enough to in
merit MS second choice support, they refer
to the conditions of that support
The Kentucky case is cited because II Is
not from the griddle. AS explained by those
familiar with the contest and friendly 10
Mchlnley, there was no defeat of Mr.. Nc
h.hley at all The fight as between Gov
Bradley a Id Congressman Hunter who
iell out after the triumph in November and
nave ever since been at swords points
Gov. Bradley-largely Influenced by feel
mentary vote of the state al St. Louis for
the presidential nomination, while Dr. Hun
ter opposed the proposition. DIR. Hunter
had, OF course, to invoke the name OF the
PRESIDENTIAL as pirant who stood highest in
kentucky favor, and that name was Nc
hlniey. The stand he took was like this !:
ny bestow such a compliment on a man
who is not real candidate, and certain not
TO become one? The state is for Mckinley,
ana the best policy would be to so record
ourselves a; the very outset, and get the
peneht OF umelihess, well as Of sin
cerity."
But Gov Bradley held out for the COM
plment, aud has won by very narrow
margin. A forced compliment is all he has
obtained, according TO the Mckinley peo-
Pile The state was for Mckinley before,
they say, and is for Mckinley still.
Can't Hold the Delegates.
Now, as the Mckinley men ask, how long
can Gov. Bradley hope to hold those dele
gates? Are they likely to be his longer
than the paying, of the mere compliment
with which they have been charged? Can
he use them at will, and when through
with them in his own name. transfer them
TO those who are fighting Mr. Mckinley in
behaf of some real candidate? The Nc
hinley men say. no. With the paying of the
persohai compliment the allegiance will
end, and the kentuckiaps, when IT comes
DOWN to. business, will vote their real SEN
timents. They will go to Mckinley, not
0hiy because of instructions to that effec.
but because of a real personal preference
And they will go to him in good time if
~ faiis on the first ballot to be of service
TO hin on an early subsequent ballot.
simply n Typical Case.
Ihe Mckinley men are certain that the
kentucky case is a typical case. And when
TIE crisis arrives; when it is apparent that
ne has but to come into possession of what
is r,Shtfully his own to be nominated, Mr..
mckinley, it is insisted, will draw his
friends out of the other camp like a magnet
draws needles and pins out Of their hiding
places. @