Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-19
THE GENERAL SITUATION.
PHILADELPHIA Filled with Delegates and the
City Wild Tor Roosevelt.

Philadelphia, June 1S.-Tomorrow. on
the 46th anniversary of the day on
which Gen John G. Fremont was
named by the first Republican cOnven-
lion held at Musical Fund hall, on Lo-
Gust street in this city, the national
Republican convention will assemble
in the great Export Exposition building
in West Philadelphia. Here amid the
swelling memories of half a 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 candidates
ana enunciate the platform for the
coming campaign.
The cymbas of a cOnquering army
never clashed with more unison than
they do here, tonight. Amid the thou
sands of warriors there is but one
choice for leader His face is engraved
upon banners and buttons. it IS framed
in flowers and in ivy on the walls, il
adorns the windows Of the shops and
looks down upon the sWarming crowds
from every conspicuous place. Nc
Kinley again will lead the greybeards
and the young men in the November
battle Banners are dipped before his
portrait and the mention Of his name
arouses enthusiasm. When Senator
Foraker concludes his peroration i'll the
convention. Wednesday. storm. wild
and tempestuous. will shake the great
hall
But that outburst Of enthusiasm will
be only the forerunner Of the pande-
monium that will reign if Roosevelt
should be named to stand beside him
in the coming battle. The stampede
in his favor started, yesterday, threw
the town in delirium. 1t swept through
the delegations who had come here
with favorite sons to present. like a
prairie fire. Like an immense tidal
wave it bore down everything before il.
The booms of the other candidates col
lapsed like egg shells when it struck
them. The secret was not hard to find.
Not Platt and Quay, whose object was
to humi'itate Hanna. could claim the
victory. They might congratulate them
selves that it was their work. But
they welded no magic wand. The
secret lay deep down in the hearts Of
the Republicans of the country.
Roosevelt's name unlike that of
other candidates. instantly struck re-
sponsive chord on the popular breast
it captured the heart of the cOnven-
ton. 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 matter
I'd not even Roosevelt and his friends
poured water on it. Their efforts wer,
as futile as hand grenades against
rbp nAnnla would hpHl
of no one else. They wore his picture
they shouted his name. They conside
him. today, as already nominated
The town was Roosevelt mad.
The governor himself was sincerel.
anxious to avoid the nomination. SOM
OF the friends of the other candidate
embittered by the havoc his suddel
appearance created with the prospect
Of their favorites, We're harsh enough
to intimate that he had been flirting
with the situation from the first. Bu
his closest friends knew that honestl,
he wanted none of it. He appealed t
them to stem the tide and they di
what they could-reinforced at ever
point by Hanna and his lieutenantS
Gen. Greene in his behalf. even Gale
upon delegations and in his name ask
ed them not to support him. But tn
temper Of the convention was undenia
bic.
Human nature has its limits, so a
O'clock this afternoon, after a da
of terrific pressure from both side
Roosevelt issued statement. Thong
it thrusts aside the crown in word
it is regarded as a virtual surrender
the will of the convention.
The inside history of the strugg
Which preceded Roosevelt's announce
ment, the secret conference with Han
ma and his friends, the joint confer
ehce With Roosevelt. the persua sio
appeais, entreaties and even threat
'hat We're said to have been used, wi