The Portland daily press., 1900-06-21
Quay Proposes to Reform System
of Representation.
Maine Delegates Favor the Idea But
Hanna Does Not.

Phi iladelphia, June 20.-President Nc
Kinley was not nominated at the session
of the Republican National convention
today. But tomorrow will witness, In
all probability, the unparalleled spectacle
Of both the Presidential and Vice Presi-
dential candidates being nominated by
reclamation. Senator Hanna threw up
the sponge today. He found he could not
stem the tide of the popular favorite
without using the direct influence of the
administration at Washington. And this
he could not get. Possibly even with 1t
he might have failed. But without 1t the
task was hopeless. The President would
have no hand In an effort to control the
convention. He made known to Mr..
Hanna his wish that the win of the con-
vention should not be thwarted and when
the equivocal word came Mr.. Hanna re-
luctantly abandoned the fight. With his
retirement from the contest against the
Empire state governor, both nominations
could have been made before the conven-
tion adjourned today. The original pro-
gramme was to renominate Mckinley to-
day and to nominate the candidate for
Vice President tomorrow. But the Ma
tional Republican committee had made a
compact with the local Philadelphia COM
mittee to keep the convention here for
three days and 1t was feared that If the
nomination for President was made to-
day, the convention might take the bit in
its teeth and wind up the proceedings be-
fore dark. All the preparations for the
Presidents denomination at this session
have been perfected. Hundreds of beauti-
full red, white and blue pampas plumes
attached to long staffs had been taken
down into the delegates pit before the
convention met and there slowed against
the inevitable moment when the climax
should be reached. AS they were carried
into the pit by the ushers while the con-
vention was assembling, they recalled the
magnificent scene at st. Louis four years
ago, when similar plumes set the conven-
ton mad with delight during the famous
Mckinley demonstration. Knowing the
temper of the delegates and the crowds,
Mr.. Hanna decided to take no risks and
consequently the immense crowds which
blocked the vast amphitheatre today
with the routine incidents connected with
the permnent organization, an grafton by
Senator Lodge, the permanent chairman,
and the scene which attended the unani-
nous adoption Of the platform. They re-
turned to the city to await another
twenty-four hours for the nominations
which they have travelled some hundreds,
some thousands of miles to witness. 1t
was great disappointment to most of
them. The machinery of the convention
moved so smoothly that the session did
not afford them an opportunity to let of
steam. There was not the slightest jar.
The wheels moved as noiselessly as Cor
liss engine. The hand of Hanna was at
the helm. He is an experienced and an
accomplished engineer. At one point
when the convention scraped on a sand
bar over proposition advanced by ex-
Senator Quay of Pennsylvania, to cut
down the representation from the
Southern States In future conventions
to basis of votes polled for the Republi
can candidate, the lever was reversed and
the convention promptly backed off, thus
avoiding the threatening shoal by post.
poning a decision upon the subject until
tomorrow. The Southern delegates with
out regard to color, race or previous con
dition, are very much ineensed over what
they regard as blow at their power in
national conventions, and the growl
they emitted today indicates that they
propose 70 fight in their effort to avert it.
Again today Governor Roosevelt carried
off the honors. His entrance was again
the signal for the most pronounced
demonstration Of the session. 1t was as
dramatic as that Of yesterday and was
practically a repetition of his experience
then. He still wore his rough rider hat.
Some of his austerity had departed. With
the relaxation of Mr.. Hanna's opposition
the governor realized that he must sue