The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-19

Review of Conditions Preceding
Opening of the Convention To-Day.

Review of Conditions Preceding
Opening of the Convention To-Day.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. June 1s.-To-mor-
row. on the forty-fourth anniversary Of the
day on which Gen. John c. Fremont was
nominated by the first Republican conven-
ton, held in this city, the national Re
publican convention will assemble in the
great Export Exposition building. in West
Philadelphia. Here. amid the swelling
memories of half century and in the
presence of men who saw the blood-stained
clouds lie across the sunrise Of the party.
the Republicans will meet in the high tide
of their glory to name their national can
didates and enunciate the platform for the
coming campaign.
The cymbals of conquering army never
clashed with more vigor than they do here
tonight. Amid the thousands of war
riors there is but one choice for leader.
His face is engraved on banners and but
tons, it is framed I'm flowers and it adorns
the windows Of shops and looks down upon
the swarming crowds from every conspic-
uous place. Mckinley again will lead the
graybeards and the young men in the No
vember battle Banners are dipped before
his portrait and the mention of his name
arouses enthusiasm. When Senator For
aker concludes his peroration in the con-
vention on Wednesday a storm, wild and
tempestuous, will shake the great hall.
But that outburst of enthusiasm will only
be the forerunner OF the pandemonium
that will reign II Roosevelt should be
named to stand beside him in the coming
battle. The stampede in his favor started
yesterday threw the town into delirium.
1t swept through the delegations, who had
come here with favorite sons to present,
like a prairie fire. Like an immense tidal
wave, 1t bore down everything before it.
The booms for other candidates collapsed
like eggshells when it struck them. The
secret was not hard to find. Not Platt and
Quay, whose object was TO humiliate
Hanna, could claim the victory. They
might congratulate themselves that it was
their work. But they welded no magi-
clans wand. The secret lay deep down in
the hearts of the Republicans of the coun-
try. Roosevelt's name, unlike that Of
other candidates, instantly struck re-
sponsive chord in the popular breast. 1t
captured the heart of the convention. 1t
mattered nothing to the rank and file that
Hanna, and Allison, and Grosvenor. and
Thurston, and others, felt chagrined and
strained every nerve to stamp out the fire.
1t mattered not that even Roosevelt and
his friends poured water upon 1t. Their
efforts were as futile as hand-grenades
against conflagration. The people would
hear of no one else. They wore his pic
lures, they shouted his name. They con-
sidered him to-day as already nominated.
The town was Roosevelt-mad.
ACCUSED OF FLIRTING.
The Governor himself was sincerely anx-
ious to avoid the nomination. Some Of the
friends of other candidates, embittered by
the havoc his sudden appearance created
with the prospects of their favorites, were
harsh enough to intimate that he had been
flirting with the situation from the first.
But his closest friends knew that honestly
he wanted none Of It, He appealed to them
to stem the tide, and they did what they
could. reinforced at every point by Hanna
and his lieutenants. General Greene in
his own behalf. even called on delegations,
and in his name asked them not to support
him. But the temper of the convention
was undeniable.
=
O'Clock this afternoon, after a day of ter
rifle pressure from both sides, Roosevelt
issued statement. Though it thrust aside
the crown I'm words, IL is regarded as
virtual surrender to the will of the conven-
ton.
The inside history Of the struggle which
preceded Roosevelt's announcement, the
secret conference of Hanna and his friends
the joint conference with Roosevelt, the
appeals, entreaties, and even
threats that were said to have been used
will make a chapter forever memorable in
annals. Every sort of story was
afioat. 1t was said that Hanna served no.
tice that Roosevelt's candidacy. although
II would have been eminently acceptable at
first. put forward as 1t was by the enemies
of the administration. did not meet now
with approval, and that the fight would be
carried to the last ditch.
Roosevelt was said to have been told by
his friends that to yield would be to stand
In his own light candidate for Presi-
dent four years hence; that the vice pres
idency was political graveyard. from
which he could never be resurrected. His
place. they urged. was at the head OF the
ticket in New York again this fall In the
last proposition Roosevelt concurred.
On the other hand it was said Platt en-
ssaries argued that to turn his back on
the manifest wish of the Republicans of
the country would be TO forfeit his right
to the future support of the New York or
yanization, and the Republicans of that
State might look elsewhere for candidate
for Governor. or course. there are those
who are always uncharitable enough to at
tribute sinister motives TO Plat. They in
timated that he desired 10 kill two birds
with one stone-eliminate Roosevelt from
New York politics and humiliate Hanna
Tor his uncomplimentary criticism OF Wood
-uff Gossip among New Workers even
vent so far as 70 suggest that with Roose-
relt transferred 10 the national ticket
was already agreed on as the
for Governor of New York.
had also other advisers. who in
sisted that IT would be suicide to decline
he nomination.
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