The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-29
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

No advance COpy."-Two OF three
weeks before tho Republicans held their
National Convention at Philadelphia, ad-
vance copies OF the keynote speeches that
were delivered there were sent to all of the
newspapers Of the country that are served
by the regularly organized nsws ALSO ia
tons. That is to say. the speech which
Senator Hanna delivered In opeaing the
Convention for the Nadonal Committee
made BY Senators Wolcott and Lodge -
temporary and peSmanent chnirmen. This
not only indicates with what crest care all
q these important utterances were pre-
pared, but 1t also attests the fact that near
" everything done at tho Republican Ma
tional Convention was cut and dried By the
party managers. Including PreitGent Me
Kinley, weeks in advance u the meeting
Only five days lie between the present and
the cpccing day of the Democratic Naticnu
Convention; and yet it is not even known
who will be the temporary chairman OF
that gathering. It Is customary for the
National Committee to select this official.
and this MEANS that presumably he has
already been selected. But nobody with
authority to speak has yet been induced TO
give the slightest hint as to who the tom
porary chairman will be. Indeed, it is eI-
tremeiy doubtful if the members OF the
National Connattee yet have made up
their minds on this important subject. AS
to the permanent chairIna1ship, that will,
in fact as we'll a. In form. be determined
only by the Convention az a whole ar er
Temporary organization has been effs.tad
and the committees selected Consequently
no advance copies OF keynote speeches of
the Kansas City Convention have been seat
out by the news associations. 1t would Re
rash statesman who went to tho Hans as
City or any other Democratic National
Convention with cut and dried pro-
gramme. Democrats don't do things that
why. There Is sometimes much regret in
the party Management that theT do motor
rather. that they cannot. But, It 10 ar
gued, IL they should there would be 50 little
difference in tho spirit OF Democrats and
Republicans that after awhile there would
be no fun in national campaigns.
An Interesting KeNtuckiaU.-The |
talk OF nominating the Hon. James B. Nc !
Creary as the Democratic standard bearer
in Kentucky this year instead of the Hon. !
Grips BeckhAm, the interim Governor. re-
calls ono OF the most interesting political !
careers among Southern Democrats. The !
party opposition to BeckhaLn's nomination |
Is based wholly on his youtafulness. He
is about thirty-two years Old. McCreary !
was elected Governor Of Kentucky when
he was less than thirty-fve. This occurred
in 1876. His Republican opponent was Mr.. |
Justice John NJ Harlan of the United |
States Supreme Court, who in mis- day was
ono of the most powerful stump speakers
and adroit campAigners in the South Soon
after the expiration of his four-year term
as Governor. McCreary pitted himself for
Congress against the Hon. Phil Thompson,
then as now one Of the most dasaing and
dangerous men In tho country when
aroused. The contest for the nomination
between McCresry and Thompson created
almost as much excitement and bad blood
in Kentucky as did the famous fight on
tho Hon. w. c. P. Breckenridge in the
Ashland district. which followed the Made
line Pollard affair. Governor McCredry won
tas seat from Thompson. and held it IN
until he went wrong with
as they say in Kentucky. Then
he was retired TO private life, and has
since then managed to work back into the
party organization The Goebel
gave him the much coveted OPP
portunity to reinstate himself in the con-
fidence OF the party managers in the Blue
grass State. and he has utilized it to the
best possible advantage. He has lived all
his life in Richmond, which is near enough
to the mountainous section Of the State to
cause its inhabitants to be more intimate
ly identified with the people Of that region
than with those of the Bluegrass. This
to the mountain voter it is
thought would give Governor McCreary an
element of strength in the coming cani-
paign that could not be claimed for a cand.
date not residing in that region. Governor
is also a candidate for the seat
In the Senate now held by Dr.. Deboe. the
Republican accident who profited marvel
ously by the enbrogiio precipitated in the
Legislature at Frankfort three years ago
by the vaulting ambition of w. Godfrey
Hunter. 1t may be, therefore, that Gov
ernor McCreary is making a demonstra-
ton at present against young Governor
Beckham mainly with the view of forcing
from him and his friends some terms in
the approaching Senatorial struggle.
Croker Seems Observation-Disclosures
can no longer be any doubt of Richard
Croker's intention to create all the trou-
t,,a rnccihlo for tho Hon David Rprnptt