The age-herald., 1900-05-26
POLITICAL GOSSIP AT
 THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

WaS11nStOn, May zo.-IOpetlahi
 present moment the democratic nomination
 for vice-president seems to lie between ex-
 Congressman shively of Indiana and Elliot
 Danforth of New York. So great is sthe
 opposition of democratic leaders to indors-
 ing the action of the Sioux Falls populists
 that while Charles A. Towne's name will
 probably be mentioned in the Kansas City
 convention and receive some support he
 does not seem to be a possibility. Rear Ad-
 miral Schley's name is still considered
 though it is understood that schley does
 not care to have his name used. There is
 no present consideration given to Admiral
 Dewey in connection with the vce-presi-
 dency both because he sneers at the idea
 and the friends of MT. Bryan do not look
 very kindly upon him.
 Adhi E. Stevenson, who was vice-presi-
 dent during Cleveland's second term, has
 many friends who urge him as the most desirable and most available timber. They
 point to his good record as viee-presdent, l his lack of sympathy with MT. Cleveland's political policies and his popularity throughout the country. Representative suzer of New York, though his boom bu-
 reau is still industriously at work, is re-
 ceiving no serious consideration. George B.
 
 York; have been discussed, but they do not seem to be in it. Neither is George Fred Williams of Massachusetts.
 There are a score or more other demo-
 crats who have been complimented by hay ing their names considered, but the names
 most prominent in the minds of democratic
 leaders are Shively, Danforth, Schley and
 Stevenson. The strength of Shively and l,,fn fo ha far orc a
 that of any other candidate. Of course there may be developments between this and the meeting of the convention at Kan sas City, which will change the aspect of i affairs, but at present Shiverly and Dam forth are the favorites and the odds are decidedly in their favor.
 MT. Shively had good and clean record
 in congress. He comes from a state, In- diana, which the democrats think offers a splendid opportunity for campaign work,
 and which they claim they can carry. It
 is argued in Shively's behalf that he is fully in accord with MT. Bryans views; that he is popular at home; that his with drawal from the gubernatorial race will en-
 able the nomination of some one in Indi- ana belonging to an opposition faction and make the party stronger there. MT. Dan-
 
 | always been reguar because he is rather 1 negative individual, who has not stepped on any ones toes; because he is popular, very popular, with all factions of the de- l mocracy in New York, and because he comes from that state which the democrats | will make their greatest effort to carry. l Should the democrats and the populists 1 be unable to agree upon vice presidential | candidate; that is, if the populists insist upon having Towne stay their ticket and refuse to endorse the Kansas City vice presidential nomination, agreements will have to be made in the several states for the division of electors between the popu- lists and the democrats. That division would naturally be dependent upon the vot- ing strength of each party The democratic | leaders, while not looking with very much satisfaction upon the prospect of such a division of electors, are quite ready to pro- vide for it in order to improve MT. Bryan's prospects.
 In the event of such a division and the | election of MT. Bryan by a narrow ma 1 jority in the electoral college, an interest l ing possibility presents itself. Bryan's elec- | tion by close vote in the electoral college would mean that there would be three vice presidential candidates for whom electors might be expected to vote, the republican candidate, the democratic candidate and the populist candidate. The election might be so close that the republican vice presi- l dential candidate would have more votes in l the electoral college than either the demo- | crat or the populist candidate. If provis- l ion were not made for this contingency no l election of vice president might result. | But in order to prevent such a contingency, | democratic leaders would meet after the | election and with the populist leaders pro- | vide for the casting of the solid democratic | and populist electoral votes for a vice presi- | dential candidate, and as matter of con- promise that man might easily and prob- | ably would be third party who was not | on either ticket.
 It appears that Senator Fairbanks has | not encouraged the of his name in con- l nection with the republican vice presiden- | tial nomination. MT. Fairbanks does not | want to be nominated, and his Indiana l friends arc opposed to his selection. They | regard him as good presidential timber for | 1904, and fear that it might injure his | chances then to be presented for the vice | presidency this year.
 l Governor Shaw of Iowa is not an active | candidate for the vice presidency, but he is l in receptive mood, Senator Allison re- | gards him especially strong.
 In speaking of the selection of Bryan's running mate, Representative Bankhead of Alabama said today:
 ''We should select some strong eastern 1 democrat for vice president. We want | some one who Is absolutely in line with the | party. Such a man would strengthen the democratic ticket in the section where it would do most good"
 During the debate on the resolution au- l thorizing the committee on ways and