The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-23

gates in the convention will be for some
other candidate. 1t is not question of a
majority. The only question will be on
concentrating on some one for nomination.
The convention will find the way to do
this. Whenever Republican National
Convention has been confronted with any
peril to the party or to the Nation it has
always met the situation and found the
man to lead the party to victory and the
country to safety. The convention at St.
Louis is going to be very deliberate and
serious. All the talk forced in the public
press now by the enthusiastic Mckinley
people in abuse of so-called bosses is i'd e.
To the convention ali the cry about Quay,
Plat and Manley as bosses on one hand,
and Hanna, Filley, Clayton, Buck, Kohl
saat, Magee and other bosses on the other
will amount TO nothing. The interest OF
the party and the interest of the country
alone will govern the contest there and
decide the result. Nearly all the greater
elements of power in this country will be
against the nomination of Mckinley at ST.
Louis. The business men and financial
circles of the country will have far
more power there than any mere con-
test between politicians or rival bosses.
The judgment of great majority
of the most experienced and deliberate
meu in the Republican party is against
his nomination. 1t would be against the
judgment of an overwhelming majority of
the Republican members and Senators in
Congress. Extremes in trusted party lead
ers concur against the advisability of such
nomination for the party or country.
Such an eminent counselor as ex-Presi-
l. =
first as decidedly against it as ex-senator
Plat. 1t is not, nor has it been, ques-
ton of personal hostility in any sense to
Major Mckinley. for he has no personal
enemies in the Republican party. 1t is
question of deliberate judgment as to the
best thing for the party and the wisest
thing for the country. No mans ambi-
ton and no syndicated boom is going to
be placed above the party interest and the
National welfare at st. Louis. 1t is going
to be deliberate choice and the conven-
ton is not going to be stampeded"
''Of course you know that the Mckinley
people claim a strong majority already
and are saying that the popular will dare
not be frustrated"
There are many answers to these state
ments. First, Mckinley has not a ma
iority. Second, even when Seward in 1860
had an actual majority before the conven-
ton, and Blaine had an actual majority in
1876, and Grant had in 1880, the deliberate
second thought of the National conven-
tions chose other candidates and saved the
party wisely enough from the perils of
factional nominations. There will be, TOO,
in this convention at st. Louis more down
right unyielding opposition to McKinIey's
nomination, and for good reasons, than
there was against any of the aspirants in
cases l have mentioned. All the ameni-
ties of politics have been violated in the
management OF the Mckinley campaign,
and the manner in which States like
Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Pennsyl-
vania, New York and Kentucky have been
invaded, and campaigns made by all sorts
OF means against reputable candidates
living in the States has left deep wounds
which the party may well hesitate to
ignore or approve. Take as an instance
the case of Kentucky. where under the
gallant leadership of Governor Bradley
last year, who first of all recent leaders
pioneered the way in conspicuous return
to a gold standard, the State was carried
for the Republican party. Bradley car
time in its history. The Mckinley people
invaded it, promoted factional quarrels,
rode down State pride and interest,
which greatly mar if they do not
totally defeat the prospects of con-
tinuing Republican rule in the common
wealth. The assumption that Mckinley
alone was safe for protection and the re-
Election this assumption cast on scores of
party leaders as faithful and as able and of
longer service in defense of the American
policy than he has also created bitter
ness in the party with which no National
ticket should be handicapped in the cam
paign before the people. No one man is
necessary and no one man is so dangerous
as candidate as one who is arrogantly
supported by a strong majority of the
party on the threat of the punishment of
the minority
Then the fight by the field for st. Louis
is yet going on?"
Yes, and the field has majority. has
strong chance to win, and proposes to win.
1t is mistake to think that majority of
the delegates to st. Louis are anxious to
get on any mans band wagon. Instead,
they are going to stand for a safe nomi-
nation for the party and the country, and
are fully ready TO take all the RESPONSE
bility and to take their chances with the
party afterward. Fortunately, all the
men and leaders whose Judgment is
against the advisability and safety of
McKinley's nomination are loyal party
men, who will always bow to the will of
the majority and do as much or more for
the election of the ticket if they are de-
feated than the men who may defeat
them. But they are not defeated yet, and,
instead, are going to win.''
In this connection it is said that tele-
grams are in the possession of the anti
Mckinley men, which indicate that the
Ohio candidate made some pledges to the
California Republicans in favor of silver.
which will prove disastrous when made
public to his chances for nomination.
OUlT VISITS MCKINLEY.
of Course, the Call Vas One of Friend
ship Only.