The Anaconda standard., 1899-12-25
Defeated Chicago in the Conven-
tion Contest.
IS NOT MUCH OF A PRIZE
it VIII bs Cut and Dried Affair and
Will Lack In erest-Co lapse Of
Wolcotts Plan to Retire
Skater
Washin gton Bureau of the Standard,
No. 1145 G., street n w


once and permitted Sleepy Hollow TO
get away with the next republican na-
tional convention. The Chicago COM
mittee did not begin to be equal in
hustling ability to those which have
been sent here in previous conven-
ton contests. 1t was outgeneraled as
1t was outvoted, and Philadelphia Won
by majority Of one on the final vote
Chicago was undoubtedly greatly en-
barrassed in Its contest by the fact
that Henry G. Payne OF Milwaukee,
Chicago supporter was the sponsor for
the project to change the method Of
represen ton in the national conven-
ton. This aroused the animosity of
the colored committeeman from the
South, and they voted almost solidly
for Philadelphia. The members Of che
national committee from the mountain
states were also anected by the came
prejudice. Only one of them, Charles
r. Leonard Of Montana, voted for
Chicago throughout. They were in the
same boat as their colored brethren.
The Payne project looked also to a
considerable reduction in the represen-
tation from the mountain states. I'm
der his plan Colorado would have lost
two delegates and all the rest of the
states Of that region one delegate each.
The republicans of these states are now
In exactly the same position s those
from the solid South. They have no
hopes of carrying any Of them at the
presidential election and are, there
fore, very Jealous of their representa-
ton in the convention with the limited
control that this gives them over fed
eral patronage. OF course this does
not matter so much now, when several
of the Rocky mountain states still
nave short term gold senators in Of
fee. But when it transpires that all
the gold republicans Of the Rocky
mountain states can do to aid the re-
publican party of the country is to
send delegates to the convention it
becomes of prime Importance to send
as many of them as they can. For
these and similar reasons the members
of the national committee from the
mountain group of states lined UP as
solidly against the Payne proposition.
Philadelphia, however, has not won
much of prize after all. The con-
vention will certainly be an exceeding
ly cut-and-dried affair, and it is not
likely to last more than two days, at
most not more than three. 1t will
lack human interest and the attend
ance will not be at all vast. 1t takes
Il political contest to bring out a, crowd
a a national convention, and the Phtla--
delphia affair will be too tame even to
talk about, much less travel far to
see. Mckinley will be nominated by
acclamation, with whatever tail he
may pick out for his kite. There will
not even be vote on vice president.
Whoever is picked out for Mckinley's
running mate will get every vote in
the convention. Boss Hanna has al
ready decided to have it that way, and
everyone knows that what he says
goes exactly as uttered. He told The
reporters this week that the nomiua-
ton for second place should be made
with absence Of friction and contest,
as the effect upon the party through
out the United States and upon the
people of all parties would be most
marked. The republicans would start
In at the very beginning perfectly har-
-moniously and with a solid, impregna-
BILE front. Which is but another way
of saying that they are to start in with
the same old Hanna collars firmly
riveted.
The platform to be adopted at Phila-
delphia will be full of imperial bonn
bast expansion and benef1cence of the
existing tariff. So all there viii be to
the whole Philadelphia show is known
in advance, and it will not be worth the
seeing.
One Of the most amusing features of
the committee meeting was the utter
collapse of Senator Wolcotts alleged
plan to secure the convention for Den
to it. All he got out of his extensive
circularization on the subject was lit
tie personal advertising. The city of
Denver got nothing, and it Is no secret
in the capital that this Is about all
Denver ever gets out OF anything Sem
ator Wolcott essays to do. He is elo-
quent and theatrical But he does not
get there In this respect he strikingly
resembles the hero Of the brief coup
let dedicated to a well-known local
character who was a chronic loser at
the pictured pasteboards:
"Old Bill of Capital hill
Never won and never will
Congressman Hull chairman of the
military affairs committee, introduced
a bill this week which a shrewd observ-
ers at once recognized as being intend
ded to retire General Shafter with the
rank Of major general. The bill does
not mention Shafter, but provides that
the president may select from the re-
tired list an officer not above the rank
of brigadier general. who may have
distinguished himself with a separate
command during the war with Spain
and appoint him a major general" The
bill was carefully drawn to fit General
Skaters case, and upon it's passage
the president will at once nominate
him to the proposed rank. He has al
ways been earnestly in favor of the
paign In Cuba in some striking manner
It is said that General shafter will re-
tire both from the regular and the
volunteer service on the passage of the
bill.
The Rocky mountain senators have
made a good start toward the adop-
ton of the irrigation legislation which
it is hoped to make a feature of the
sessions work. Senators Teller, War
rem and Carter are all on the committee
on appropriations. which will shane
the great appropriation measure. Thus
they are in position to exercise great
deal of influence in the matter IF in
Guiding irrigation appropriations in
the big bills. This is the first time that
the western states have ever hai any
such representation on this commit
tee. 1t seems reasonable to predict
that these senators will be able to
amend the river and harbor bill by in
Guiding heavy irrigation appropriations.
But what will happen to these aonro-
priations in the house is quite another
question. 1t has many times happened
as all the mountain senators can tes-
tify from DainfnI eXperience that his