The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-19
OF NEW JERSEY.

against Mex inley was enough to rouse
the Reed men TO enthusiasm. Then
would the few stray bands play and one
night the excitement actually reached the
point OF fine old-fashioned pitched
battle In the lobby of the Southren
Hotel, during which the coiors bearing The
sentiment "Rhode Island as solid as Gold
for Reed and as solid as Reed for Gold"
were fought for, captured and retaken.
ana finally seized for keeps and torn to
shreds by the overwhelming army OF Me-
kinleyites that to the blare of the rands,
the applause and waving of handller-
chiefs from the crowd about the railing
on the floor above, and the randemonium
OF the contesting forces, crushed and
drove from the marble battle ground
the Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode
Island contingents.
Even the currency issue was robbed of
most of its possibilities of dramatic effect
by the long drawn discussion OF what
would be done In event of this and that
and It's early and overwhelming decision
before the convention actually reached
II. And thus robbed of all IL big feat
ures of popularity, the interest that has
been evidenced in the matter OF contested
delegations and the election of a national
committeemHn has had nothing of a gen.
eral character being split up among the
different sections and the groups OF men
representing them.
Interest in the Vice. Presidential con-
test has been OF this broken and sectional
kind. so far ae the general public was
concerned nobody appeared to care any
thing about the matter OF the Vice-Presi-
dency until IL was reported that Morton
would accept the position. Then some
thing like a general interest in the mat
ter became manifest, but 1t was not
blood curdling. Long before every body
had come to realize that the hoped for
nati al xroa off nd
was nothing but the side shows 10 furn-
tsh entertainment.
Rhode Islands position In the Vice
Presidential contest attracted the larger
shsre of what attention was given to the
subject, and the home delegation has
been beseiged daily by reporters and dele
gates from other statts as 10 its position
on the matter. The delegation, however,
early took the ground thai 1t wanted 1t
to be clearly undeist jod that IL was for
Tom Reed for PRESIDENT, first, last and
all the. time; that until he Presidenency
was decided the delegation would not
consider the vice Presidency. 1t did not
propose to be misunderstood IN Its posi-
zion of standing by Reed with no idea OF
trading heir choice for the honor, how
ever great, OF naming the Vice.fresiden
tIal candidate.
AS for Ex-Governor Brown, not one-of
all the candidates in the field has en-.
joyed better prospects OF the nomination
thnn he, barring the exigencies occasioned
by the rapid movement Of events as the
convention draws to a close. His head
quarters in tho Southern were a center of
interest and he mado many friends among
the delegations who were free To speak of
him in tho most cordial terms and many
Of whom freely gave treir pledge to his
suppore in event of conditions ruling
favorably TO the nomination going to
Rhode Island. Ex-Governor Brown has
made his campaign with dignity that
won for him n large sentiment of APP
proval. Had Brown been put In ncmiDa-
tion hy the Rhode Island delegation or
any other his support from other states
would have developed, but the eA Gov
ernor hes been in close touch with the
men in charge OF the Mckinley canvass
since he has been here, and no ono knew
better than ho yesterday morning tERt
circumstances demanded the selection OF
Hobart, and Hobart II would he. Clay
Evans made good fight, but IT was tho
wise candidate that kept out when IL be-
came clear that Hobart was the card up
the sleeve Of the Mckinlcyites. Evans
with his big vote Was really no more in
Ii than WAS Brown with the two votes
that came unsolicited, ,GDd desp1te'th fact
that IL had been decided not to present his
namo. But after their great victory for
sound money the New England delegates
were left in position to have as little
to say about the Vice Presidency as about
the Presidency unless tn initistory ex-
preston should come from the West.
That New England should have been able
10 exercise SO immense an influence I'm
passing the currency plank Ia astounding
when II is considered how little they had
-te- e4ra--iu- -retnrn--Ent- That Little was
sacrificed when tho currency triumph
was achieved.
Nick snley II the choice OF the Republi-
caus OF this country for President. The
choice is all right, but the fact that IL
was mace SO long before the convention
met that IL took the life out OF wnat, once
In every four years, IL expected to
he n very cxbiiisratipg sffair.
The Dominstion Was IN the nature of q
srent hall, 4, a.. II.