The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-18
BY JAMES CREELMAN.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Philadelphia, Pa, June H.-f Is hard 10
imagine anything more dismal than old
Philadelphia on a rainy Sunday. with spir-
ft,ess gathering Of Republicans waiting to
see whether Mr.. Plat will succeed tn fore
ing Governor Roosevelt out Of New York
politics BY nominating him for Vice Presi-
dent. The scene is as dead as the soul OF
the party that was once led by Abraham
Lincoln.
Governor Roosevelt is growing more and
more excited as Mr.. Platt adds to the pres
sure upon him.
1T is damned nonsense" he said to a
friend "I won't have the nomination. ana
1 know my own mind. Nothing could be
farther away from my tastes and tempera-
ment Think Of having to sit in the Senate
with a gavel In my hand and hearing
somebody praise Aguinaldo without being
permitted to throw the gavel at him."
Mr.. Plart sits at a window and watches
the cold rain drizzling into the streets, and
there is rothfng colder In the melancholy
scene than Mr.. Platt's eyes. He has set
his heart on the political destruction OF
Governor Roosevelt in New York State.
and every hour he tightens his grip on
the Governors political throat. He is slow,
passionless, relentless-
This struggle between Mr. Platt and the
sturdy Governor is the only visible sign OF
a contest 1t is the will OF an old man
wrestling with the will OF a young man.
The Governor says that nothing will in
duce him 70 accept the vice presidency. Mr..
P.att is silent. There is hard-set look in
his thin, intelligent face. His agents simp-
ly keep on spreading the Roosevelt move
ment.
As the rain splashes down the forlorn
crowds are herded in the Hobbies and cor
ridors of The hotels. All is languor and de-
pressicn There is no sight or sound or
enthusiasm for Mr.. Mckinley. No one
seems to take much interest in the conven-
ton, or, mt least. there is no expression Of
It heard This listlessness is inexplicable.
I have never seen anything like It before
under similar conditions.
Quay Menaces Hanna.
Now and then We hear distant sounds
from Senator Quay. who has started to
drink again, and that usually means trou-
bile. Mr.. Quay wants revenge. But it is
a different thing to attack Mr.. Hanna here.
for Mr.. Hanna Is In some respects. II not In
ALL the Republican party itself. He is su-
preme, irresistible
+ Mr.. Qusy evidently thinks that Mr. Han
ma does not want Governor Roosevelt Tor
Vice President. and 30 Mr.. Quay announced
to-day that ffty-six of the Pennsylvania
delegates would vote for Mr.. Roosevelt.
When the Governor heard of II he simply
showed his teeth and shrugged bis shoul-
ders. Mr.. Hanna laughed and locked his
fat fingers over his stomach.
Hanna and Plat.
Now the truth is that Mr.. Hanna does
not care much who Is nominated for Vice
President He has Mr.. Mckinley firmly
in his hands. He has control Of the Ma
tional Committee. the platform and the
campaign funds. And he knows that the
Vice President is a nonentity anyhow.
There Is not a prominent leader in the
party, except Mr.. Platt, who seems to take
much interest In the vice presidency There
is no patronage or money in the office and,
therefore, no real incentive to strife. The
name of the candidate for Vice President
could be decided in five minutes were 1t
not for Mr.. Platt.
Mr.. Hanna could settle the matter at
once, but he wants the New York deIega-
tton to agree upon a name IL possible. But
Mr.. Platt Is determined that Mr.. Roosevelt
shall be nominated. so that some willing
Platt mal1-Greene. Odell or woodruff-can
be nominated for Governor Of New York.
Mr.. Platt never engages in national poll
tics except ~ q means OF controlling New
York State. If he can force Governor
roosevelt on the national ticket he viii