The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-12

PIatt are Taking Care of Themselves
Quay VIII Desert Reed if Necessary and
PIatt Will Abandon Morton and They
VIII Flock Together for Allison.
Chicago, Feb. 11-Walter Wellman
writes to the Chicago Times-Herald as
follows:
Politicians at the national capital
are eagerly scanning the Republican
field. The st, Louis convention is on
~ four months away, and during the
next sixty days majority of the safes
and district delegates will be selected.
Almost before we know 1t we have ap-
preached the thick of the ante-conven-
ton campaign, and from this day for
ward the attention of the country will
be largely absorbed by news of its
progress. 1t IS undeniable that great
surprise is manifested here over the re-
markable popularity of Major McKin-
ley among the masses of Republican
voters. We hear talk of this in quar-
tiers not especially friendly to the Ohio
man, and even with men who are OPP
posed to his nominal ton it is becoming
a serious question If that result can
be prevented. I am wholly within
bounds when I say the friends of 9TH
er candidates, leaders who think they
would lose something of influence or
prestige If the Mckinley nomination
were to be effected, are now much in
clined, against their will, TO believe this
result is exceedingly probable. The
observer of political movements who is
eager only TO ascertain as nearly as pos
Sible the facts, and to measure as ac-
curately as he can the strength of for
ces, irrespective of their significance. as
is the case with the present writer,
early learns TO judge by the fears of
opponents rather than from the hopes
of partisans. Applying this rule TO
study of the Republican situation, the
conclusion is strongly favorable to the
chances of Major Mckinley.
Two features of the situation are
much discussed here. One is that
Major Mckinley more than any other
man appears to have caught the mag
nations Of the people. Justifiably or
Enthusiastically, they have made him an
idol, a hero. He has not only taken
Mr.. Blaine's place in the affections of
the Republican masses, but he repre-
sents a vital party principle more clear
" than even MIR. Blaine represented it.
There are other popular Republicans
but they do not stand for anything in
particular. Major Mckinley is identi-
fed with the thing which is the essence
of RepublicaRism, and, atop of ali that
he has the understandable quality which
Mr.. Blaine had of attracting the love
and admiration of the people. All
this is conceded by the men who do
not want him nominated. They have
admitted 1t all along. But they rested
their hope of defeating him on the old
theory that the popular idol is rarely
or never named; that the header is al
ways torn down and destroyed by his
rivals, who, in this effort, work to-
gether.
Even this has been practically aban-
dOned on closer analysis. A second
salient feature of the situation here de-
mands attention. 1t is the practical
certainty that the Republicans will
elect their candidate. 1t is difficult
10 find even a Democrat who will dis
pute the truth Of this proposition.
There are Democrats who think they
have reason for hope, or who think
the Republicans have lost ground since
last years elections, but none who Sc
riously expects anything but Republi-
can success. The Republicans feel
that way too, Therefore the masses
Of the party are determined to have
the man they like best. When the re-
suit of the campaign is doubtful, when
it is admitted everything must be sac
rificed to eXpediency, when not choice
of men but chance of success at the
polls is the dominating thought, the
politician is in his element. Under COW
er of his greater experience and pre-
sumably superior judgment, he leads
and advises. Patriotic delegates de-
fer 10 him and are eager to know his
opinions. His dictum as to which man
will bring the best chance of election
carries great weight with ii. Under
such circumstances men lay their choi-
ces upon the party altar. They do
this in the district convention, where
instructions for the popular favorite
are refused on the plea of waiting TO
see what is best. They do it after
they assemble in the national conven-
ton.
This year no such conditions prevail.
The privates of the party are taking
things into their own hands. The pol
iticians to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, they are going 10 have their way.
That this is so Is shown in the temper
of the party a 5 ii is gathered from news
paper reports, and also in the counsels
OF the leaders. The big men, accus-
toned in the past to directing opin-
ion, are now discovering that the only
safe thing is for them TO follow. Ad-
missions of this sort / have heard re-
luctantly given in significant quarters
not properly mentiOnable. 1t is as
true here the popular sentiment runs
strong in favor of Speaker Reed or
Senator Allison as il is where the
choice centers upon Major Mckinley.
But the last named, being overwhelm-
ingly the popular choice, considering
the country as a whole-this no one de-
nies-he is a candidate who viii gain
most advantage from the obvious de-
termination of the Republican people
to have their sentiments voted in the
national convention.
Speaker Reed, Major McKinlev'5
chief rival has not gained strength
since the meeting Of congress. In fact,
he has lost. This IS admitted by his
friends. It is not his fault, but a nat
ural and an expected outgrowth of the
conditions by which ne was surrounded
through the course of events. Mr..
Reed would gladly have escaped the
SpeakerShip of this congress could he
have done SO manfully, for he well IN
derStoOd that occupancy Of that Office
would weaken him as a presidential
candidate. and might easily ruin him
But 10 run away from il would have
been deemed CowardIy. and he braveIy
faced the ordeal As speaker he has
had many trials. but IN the main he
has borne himself with dignity and
poise. He has anything but a united
party behind him in the house. and
nothing thar has occurred IN that body
either up on or below The surface. has
brought him 4 whit nearer the presi- !
Dental nomination. Mr.. Reed realiz-
es this. ana his friends realize ii. The /