The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-19
HOW THE VICE PRESIDENCY
PURSUED GOV. ROOSEVELT

party is in New York state. and if the
party should see fit to TenOminate me
for governor, I can in that position help
the national ticket as in no other way.
I very earnestly ask that every friend
of mine in the convention respect my
wish and my judgment in this mat
ter"
The document was in his own hand
writing in lead pencil copy, and he read
it with the same complacence that he
would have given a platform speech.
The scene bOrdered on the dramatic
Sitting near him as he spoke were
Congressman LittaueT and Sherman Of
New York and Professor jerks of Co
lumbia college, who have all along
urged the governor not to accept. just
behind the row OF newspaper men stood
Frank Plat, Lemuel QUigg and 3. B.
O'DeH Of the New York organization
As the governor read and waited for
the newspaper men to write down the
statement he frequently glanced in the
direction of the group of politicians
When he finished he said:
"Gentlemen-That is all; have moth
ing more to say"
Mr.. Quigg and Mr.. Frank Platt sim
ultaneOusly declared that they believed
the statement unwise, and they left the
room, refusing to talk to the waiting
newspaper men.
It was pointed out as significant that
Governor Roosevelt will not assert that
he viii decline the Office if nominated.
He hopes, however. with the aid of
Senator Hanna, to defeat the plan to
nominate him.
Stampede to Roosevelt.
The stampede in Roosevelt's favor
started yesterday threw the town into
delTium. It swept through the deiega-
tiOns who had come with favorite sons
to present like a prairie fire. Like an
immense tidal wave it bore down every
thing before il. The booms for the can
didates of other men collapsed like
shells when it struck them. The secret
was not hard to find. Platt and Quay,
whose object was to humiliate Hanna,
claim victory, but the secret lay down
in the hearts of the Republicans Of the
country. ROOsevelt's name, unlike that
of other candidates, instantly struck a
responsive chord in the popular breast.
It mattered nothing to the rank and
file that Hanna and Allison and eros
venor and Thurston and others felt
chagrined and strained every nerve to
stamp out the fire. It mattered not
that even Roosevelt and his friends
poured water upon il. Their efforts
We're as futile as hand grenades against
/ a conhagratiOn. The people would hear
of no one else. The town was RoOse-
welt mad
The governor himself was anxious to
avoid the nomination. General Greene.
in his behalf, even called on the dele
cations, and in his name asked them
not to support him. But the temper Of
/ the convention was undeniable.
Surrendered to Convention.
Human nature has its limits, so at (
/ terrific pressure from both sides, ROOse-
Welt issued d statement. Though it
/ thrust aside the crown in words. il was
/ regarded as a virtual surrender 20 the
win of the convention. The inside his
/ tory of the struggle which preceded
! Roosevelt's announcement, the secret
/ conference Of Hanna and his friends,
! the Joint conferences with Roosevelt
the persuasion, appeals, entreaties and
l even threats that were said to have
/ been used viii make a chapter forever
memorable. Every sort Of story was
/ afiOat. Ii was said that Hanna served
notice that ROOsevelt's candidacy. al
/ though It would have been eminentIy
! acceptable at first, put forward as il
was by the enemies of the administra-
ton, did not meet now with approval,
and that the fight would be carried to
/ the last ditch. Roosevelt was said to
/ nave pe6n lplu ny his ifltHuS LHaL 10
/ yield would be 10 stand in his own light
/ as a candidate for president four years
/ hence; the vice presidency was a grave
yard from which he would never be re-
/ suscitated. His place, they urged, was
at the head Of the ticket in New York
again this fall In the last proposition
Roosevelt cOncurred-
On the other hand, it was said. Platt
/ emissaries argued that to turn his back
on the manifest wish of the Renublf-
cans Of the country would be to forfeit
his right TO the future support of the
New York organization. and the Re
publicans Of the state would look else
/ where for a candidate for governor. OF
! course there are those who are always
/ uncharitable enough to attribute sin
lister motives to Platt. They minated
that he desired to kill two birds with
one stOne-eiiminate Roosevelt from
New York politics and humiiiate Hanna
for his uncOmDiimentary criticism of
woodruff Gossip among New Workers
even went so far as TO suggest that