New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-23
AN EXAMPLE FOR ROOSEVELT

In spite Of the honeyed words of the eloquent
ehairmen Of the State Convention the absolute
and unconquerable unwillingness of the organi-
cation TO lose another term of Governor Roose-
yelt's services at Albany seems to be doubted by
the organization itself. If are 10 believe the
good organization men who talk and the good
organization newspapers which report their
talking, the Governor is still in their belief the
predestined candidate of his party for Vice
President Notwithstanding published reports
from Washington that the Administration in
general and Mr.. Ellhu Root in particular will
not consent 10 the nomination of the Governor
at Philadelphia, and notwithstanding the Gov
ernor's own declaration that he would not be
candidate for Vice President the New-York poll
tcians are talking OF q stampede In that re-
signed tone which is unmstakable invitation
for one
Whether not Governor Roosevelt himself
has been brought, as some profess to believe to
look with more favor upon the idea of being
forced reluctantly 10 respond to the enthusiasm
OF the Nation we do not know. Doubtless he
would rather be Governor than Vice-Presdent
but possibly the organization has convinced him
that many obstacles in his road at Albany
and that the fate of Governor Black awaits him
there, and that the best thing for him is to exer
else generalship and take a position. Be
this il may, certainly the organization is dill
gently at work preparing the way for him TO
yield gracefully If he wants TO by trying 10 make
it appear that if he yields 1t Will be because he
must. IL is putting the idea in circulation that
If the Governor goes TO the Convention he will
be at the mercy OF a stampede, and at the same
time the hint is thrown out that his staying
away would be tantamount to a confession of
candidacy. 1t is also said that never in the his
tory OF the country has q man refused party
nomination after II had actually been made by
National Convention. Hence Governor Roosevelt
is assumed to be at the mercy Of his frends-or
enemies.
But this is not the case. The Vice-Presidency
has been refused under circumstances which
offer a most encouraging precedent for Governor
Roosevelt ia resisting Mr.. PIatt's stampede via
California and Colorado-provided always that
be really wants 10 resist it In the year 1914 the
Democratic National Convention met at Balti-
more and nominated James X. Polk for Pres-
dent 1t also by an almost unanimous vote
dominated Silas Wright of New York. for Vice
President Mr.. Wright was at the Convention
and declined peremptorily. He was requested TO
reconsider and "A committee of the Convention
devoted the night TO stampeding him. but he
would not be stampeded. So the next day the
Convention had TO meet again, and after taking
two more ballots nominated George NJ Dallas
in his stead So Governor Roosevelt has proof
that stampeding in a National Convention can
be resisted. and the example of Silas Wright
ought to be encouraging 10 him when he recalls
how that statesman came home TO New York,
ran for Governor that year and carried the
State by a much larger majority than did Polk
and Dallas This example, in fact, is much
more encouraging to an ambitious statesman
than that Of David B. Hill. who tried six years