The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-22
WHY ROOSEVELT
WAS NOMINATED

lConcluded FROM Page IL
welt, Mark Hanna included, who had
been casting about for q man in whose
person could be centered the elements
in the convention that might be anti
Roosevelt, renewed their efforts. 1t
was an unavailing hunt. Senator Will
liam u. Allison, Of iowa, Hon. Corne-
Illus y. Bliss, of New York, formerly
secretary OF the interior, and Postmas-
ter General Smith were out of the
race even before Roosevelt appeared
really dangerous.
Timothy Woodruff, of New York.
was more distasteful to Hanna
than Roosevelt. Senator Fairbanks,
OF Indiana. would have made splen-
did candidate, and had many things
to recommend him fayorably, but he
did not look with much favor on the
idea, and the Indiana delegation did
not hesitate to say they wanted to
hold back Senator Fairbanks until 1904.
when, as they phrased 1t. he will win
the presidential nomination in a walk"
I'VE don't want TO waste him on the
vice presidency" they continued.
Secretary of the Navy Long was the
man who, after Bliss. Hanna would
like to see the convention name as
McKinley's running mate, but the del
egates said nay.
I'VE want a man with more mag
netism," they said. "A man the peo-
pie can enthuse over" and that's the
| reason they turned their eyes longingly
| toward Roosevelt, the idol of thousands
of Republicans of the country.
The only man mentioned for the vice.
| presidency who could dispute with
Roosevelt the position of being a popu-
| lar idol in his party was Congressman
J. p. Dolliver, of Iowa. Had Roosevelt
been wiped out of the contest Dollver
was the natural legatee of the Roose-
welt sentiment and would have been
nominated, but there were reasons why
Roosevelt should prevail, and he did,
| even against his wishes.
| Wednesday night 1t was evident that
| nothing could stop the movement tow
ard New York's governor and other
candidates dropped out of the race.
| At 1!.30 p. m. Mark Hanna read a
statement to the newspaper men at the
Walton to the effect that Mckinley
and Roosevelt would be nominated by
| acclamation. He proved a true pro-
phet.
QUAY'S PART IN 1T.
The part that Former Senator Quay
played in the nomination of Roosevelt
was one of the interesting features of
the convention. Sunday he declared in
favor of the Rough Rider and in the
days of uncertainty that succeeded
when Governor Roosevelt was fighting
the most unique battle in the history
of American politics, the quiet little
Beaver statesman would smile an easy
smile when interrogated and quietly re-
ply, Roosevelt will be nominated" II
he ever wavered in his belief that such
would be the outcome of the conven-
tion, he gave no intimation of 1t. He
seemed to be always serenely confident
the convention would endorse the man
he believed the best running mate for
| Mckinley that could be selected
During the days Roosevelt was fight.
ing against fate he was unjustlS
charged with indecision and vacila'
ton. He was consistent throughout
He did not want the nomination and ht
plainly and bluntly said so. But il
was quite another thing to refuse tC
accept the call of the Republicans OF
the country to accept such a higf
nomination as that of vice president.
IF ! absolutely refuse to accept,
he said to a friend, the people viii
say that Roosevelt thinks he is TOO
good for the vice presidency. I don
think anything of the kind. 1t is al
office y orthy of the greatest man IL
this great country, but for myself,
believe l can be of greater service t
ri In fn :
candidate for governor than as "A vic,
presidential candidate. Many mem
bers Of the convention seem to look a
the matter in a different light, how
ever"
A Hard Struggle.
1t was a hard struggle for Roosevelt
His ambition naturally leads him t.
look to the presidency as a reward
the future may have in store for him
and ii was only natural that he should
consider the effort TO make him vic
president as a shelving process, to sa!
nothing Of removing him from a fiel,
of action where he believes he has un
finished tasks that demand his at
tention. Small wonder he tried to hol
. back the torrent until he saw it wa
unavailing.
1t will be interesting to watch tn
future career of Governor Roosevelt
Can he do what no preceding vice pres
ident since the United States becam
a fact has been able to accomplish? i
the question that is on thousands O
? tongues here tonight.
Roosevelt is a marvellous man VIII
will rever allow himself to be tram
. meled ny precedents. 1t is among tn
, possibilities that he will pass fror
, the vice pre- sident's to the president
, chair, but the road may be more diff
cult than if he went by way of tn
New York executive chamber.
j. Il. Mitchell.