The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-10
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
Not Che Committees Choicc.-sepa

Not Che Committees Choicc.-Sena-
tor James X. Jones. Chairman Of the DEM
ccratic National Committee, became very
wroth yesterday when asked BY a Times
representative if it were true that former
Governor Pattison of Pennsylvania IS beng
bocmed by the National Committee Tor sec
ord place on the ticket with Mr. Bry ian.
who has started such a story as tha,
wrathfully enquired Senator Jones. He
was cold that the National Committee s
press agent at Chicago had started the
story-or at least had started the fattison
| boom. The press agent IS a mere en-
ploye Of the National Committee san
Chairman Jones, cooling off a little. He
has no authority to speak for the commit
tee, except as he is directed. The CON-
mittee has no authority TO name caudl-
dates for the party or TO NEEDLE In any way
with the affairs Of candidates. Governor
Pattison may or may not be a candidate
for the Vice Presidential nomination. l
know absolutely nothing about tlat But
I do know that the National Committee has
not asked him or anybody else to become
a candidate for Vice President or for
President. l also know that the National
Committee. so far as | may be alb to IN
fluence its conduct does not intend to go
outside Of its proper and legitimate II ID
OF activity" When it was stated that
Press Agent Abbott had declared that the
nomination. Of Governor Pattison for vice
( President would h7rmOnize the party IN
the East. Chairman Jones said: wei,
maybe it would; but the Kansas City Con-
vcntion VIII be the judge Of that AT the
same time there vas something in tae
manner Of Senator Jones during the inter
view hich seemed to indicate tnat he was
not rs overso TO the PGttison movement rs
his emphatic words were apparently in
tended to imply. Aside from the tact that
/ tGey resent the activity OF employees Of the
{ National Committee in The boom business,
/ leading Democrats in 10th branches CT Con-
gress seem impressed with the suggestion
OF the Pennsylvania for second pa en-
the ticket At any rate nobody has cone
forward with a positive declaration Of op-
position TO Pattison for Vice Pres.d- ut.
An Office Going Notwithstanding
| as it may sound, it seems that good fat
| office is waddling about over the country
seeking a man. How long this realization
Of the ideal relation between the office and
the man will last nobody pretends 10 be
able to predict. Nevertheless. il is true
that the secretaryship Of the new Philip
pire Commission has been offered to at
]
is urquestioned and has been declined by
/ each. When it is known that the gentle
men to whom the office has been rendered
/ and declined are newspaper men OF high
] standing in their profession the wonder
/ grows a little less to everybcdy except the
I hungry politicians. Messrs. Walter b.
( Stevens and Charles NJ. Pepper are two OF
/ the gentlemen who have refused the place.
| The third is too modest to permit his
I name even to be published in connection
with the story. The Office pays salary
of 81. 600 a year, with an allowance Of 81. OGl
/ for expenses. 1t is said that the Com
missioners will not select the secretary
I until they are ready to start TO Manila
! The country, Of course, Is overlooking
I with patriots eager to sacrifice themselves
I by accepting the place. and just why the
| Commissioners should hold the vacancy
/ open till the last moment is something
| Of a mystery. II is suggested that they
/ want to encourage transcontinental rail-
! road travel by waiting at San Francisco
/ a week or two before sailing for the Orient
! while they are selecting secretary 1t /;
/ announced that not until they are ready
| to sail VIII they select the man, and that
not until they reach san Francisco will
! they look into the merits and fitness OF the
! applicants. Thus it is shown that the
/ whole proceeding is strange all around
/ but what else Is to be expected when az
! office stalks forth seeking whom il may
| devour?