Washington sentinel., 1900-05-19
Hon. VIM. Sulzer.

For the first time in the history Of the
country since nominating conventions
were invented, the people OF the United
States appear to be certain that one of
two men will be selected for The high
Office Of President. Unless death inter-
feres il now seems as certain as anything
that ran be in the realm of practical
politics that Mckinley will be nominated
by the Republicans at Philadelphia and
that Bryan will be nominated by the
Democrats at Kansas City. Nine out of
ten men agree that the name OF the next
President will be either William McXin-
ley or William Jennings Bryan. Were
anything needed to demonstrate the
truth Of this assertion, the recent
announcement of Admiral Dewey that
be would be a candidate for President,
and the complete break down of the
boom for the hero of Manila proves that
the Democrats are thinking of nothing
but Bryan, and that the Republicans are
thinking of nothing but Mckinley.
1t has not been ever thus in the history
Of the people has been narrowed down
TO one man on a side. -Four years ago,
for instance, even admitting that the
nomination OF Mckinley could have
been predicted in spite of the active
canvass made by the friends of Reed and
Morton, few men could have been found
to predict the nomination of Bryan by
the Chicago Convention. In 1892 the
denomination Of Harrison might have
been taken for granted, but with the
vote of New York State pledged to
David b. Hill, Cleveland's chances
appeared anything but bright, and even
Cleveland himself had written letters to
his friends expressing a doubt as to
whether his denomination would prove
for the best interests Of his party. In
1891 the Republicans had troubles OF
their own, and eight ballots were
required TO nominate Harrison as a
compromise candidate though Cleveland
was named at St. LOUIS by scclamatiOn.
In 1884 alter interesting contests In both
conventions, it required two ballots to
name Cleveland and four to name
Blaine, while in 1880, thirty six ballots
were necessary to bring about the NOM
nation of Garfield by the Republic ans,
and two ballots were needed to select
Hancock as the Democratic standard
bearer In 1876, after long and bitter
strugg e, Hayes was nominated as a
compromise candidate by the RepublI-
cans, though it needed only two ballots
for the Democrats 10 nominate Tilden.
Four years earlier, Grant was nominated
unanimously by the Republicans at
Philadelphia, but the nomination OF
Greeley could not have been anticipated
in 1879. There was no question about
the denomination Of Lincoln in 1864, but
not even the most daring political
prophet would have predicted the
naming OF Mcclellan by the Democrats
a few months before the meeting Of the
National convention. Lincoln himself
was a compromise candidate in 1860,
while the period of storm and stress
which resulted in the famous split OF the
Democrats that year, and the naming OF
Douglas and Buchanan, respectively by
the two wings of that party, will never
be forgotten in the annals ol the political
history Of the country.
The people having practically selected
their candidates months in advance OF
the gathering Of the different political
clans, public interest naturally centers
upon the choice OF second place upon
the ticket. On the Republican side Of
the House, It looks at this time as
though Roosevelt would re nominated
despite his statement to the effect that
he would prefer a denomination for
Governor OF the State of New York. If
Roosevelt is selected by the Philadelphia
Convention as the candidate for Vice
President, it seems certain that the
Democrats will turn to the East ia
search of running mate for Bryan,
Bryan comes from the West, and geo.
graphical considerations which are often
powerful motives in debating the make.
no OF national tickets alone, would see m
to require the selection of q candidate
for Vice President from the country east
of the Alleghenies; but this year, NOR,
perhaps than ever before hich mart,