Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-10
Senator Wolcott VIII Be Temper
orary Chairman and Sen. Lodge
Permanent Chairman.
Foraker to Nominate Mckinley and
Roosevelt to Second It-Roosevelt
And the Vice Presidency-If the
Convention is Stampeded He
Will Decline-Seth Low
qualifications.

Senator Edward 0. Wolcott of Colorado
is to bc the temporary chairman of the
republican national convention according
to the New York correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press. His selection indi-
Gates the restoration to the republican
party of a considerable element which,
while otherwise republican, nevertheless,
held aloof in 1896 because Of its views up
on the silver question
The permanent chairman is to be Sena-
tor Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts,
who is already aware that he IL to be
named for that post. The speech placing
President Mckinley I'm nomination for the
presidency is to be delivered by Senator
Foraker of Ohio. And at the earnest wish
Of the President himself. at least it is so
stated, Gov. Roosevelt Is to deliver the
speech seconding the nomination which
Senator Foraker will make. Probably II
is in large measure due to what the gov
ernor understands, certainly indirectly.
probably directly, to be the desire of the
President that he has decided not to listen
to the suggestions of those of his friends
who warn him to keep away, lest his APP
pcarancc upon the platform to stampede
the CO. -ention that the nomination of
Mckinley and Roosevelt will be made
with unanimous acclaim and in one
breath
ROOSEvELT'S PURPOSE
Having been thus warned and knowing
well that in many parts of the South and
in almost all parts of the West. there is
the strongest determination on the part of
the republicans to nominate him for vice
president. the governors friends. and
probably Roosevelt himself. have seen fit
TO warn the more influential leaders that
he will go to the convention with "A cer-
tain purpose in his mind hoping that it
n n
purpose, but determined to act courage
ously and defantly II there be need OF 1t.
He proposes to deliver his speech sup
porting the nomination of President Nc
kinley that Senator Foraker will make
ans If then the convention is stampeded,
If it insists upon nominating Mckinley
and Roosevelt together and by acclama-
ton or If it later insists upon the nomi-
nation of Roosevelt. the governor. when
he gets the ear of the convention will
make an announcement in effect as fol-
lows:
He will say that while no man could
more greatly appreciate tribute of that
kind nevertheless, he is compelled to de-
clare to the convention that prior to its
meeting he had said both in private and
in public that for reasons that seemed
to him both wise and imperative he must
not be placed before that convention in
the light of candidate for the vice.
fore, done everything that he could to
prevent an action which he had been In
formed was in contemplation. Now that
1t is performed in spite of him. he could
do no more than say to the convention
that he could not accept the nomination
ard carried that determination 80 FAR
that If nominated in spite of that
declaration and elected, he would not
qualify for the office of president
Knowing full well what a determination
of that kind involves, he was fully pre-
pared to retire from public life unless
tie citizens of his own State in spite of
this declination, had public service for
him to perform.
Those who are nearest in personal
friendship to Gov. Roosevelt those in fact
from whom this information has been OBJ
tanned insist that the governor will not
be persuaded. tempted or frightened from
carrying out this purpose.
That, however. is not the opinion OF
senator Lodge or of Senator Platt. or OF
any Of the republican leaders, since they
arc convinced that in the face of that
magnificent and awe-inspiring summons
made by the representatives of his party
Roosevelt will not dare reply in the man.
ner Just indicated. If he does not he Will
as certainly be the candidate for vice.
president as Mckinley will be the con-
vention the name of president the candi-
chance 10 prevent a scene of dramatic
intensity of that kind will be by the re-
Straining of the convention so that 1t Will
not be carried off its feet.
Some of the most intimate and inhuen-
tial of Gov. Roosevet's friends in this city
agree thoroughly with him in the opinion
that his place in the campaign is at the
head of the State ticket in New York
rather than as candidate for vice presi-
dent. They were determined to aid the
governor in heading off If possible the
tendency 10 make him a national candi.
date, but they felt that in order the bet.
ter to succeed it would be necessary tc
suggest some one whose name would ap.
peal to republicans and to thousands OF
! independent democrats. 1t seemed &c
them that President Seth Low had GER
tain pre-eminent qualifications for the
vice presidential nomination. Roosevelt
himself was delighted with the suggestion
I that Low be nominated not merely be
cause that suggestion might distract at
tention from his own name but becaus,
it seemed to him that in a very high de
gree President Low possessed peculiar
/ qualifications. for the office, for the tickle
| and for the campaign.
| LOWS FRIENDS IN CONSTELLATION
! a consultation was held in New Yorl
/ city four or five weeks ago. present a
/ which were two or three senators, includ
I ing Senator Beverage of Indiana. A
first the visitors could not be persuaded
that IL was we'll to do any other thin.
/ than to insist upon the nomination o
| Gov. Roosevelt for vice-president, but /
was shown to these senators that Roose
| Welt as a candidate for governor woulC
do the national ticket In New York Stat
more good than Roosevelt the canddat,
/ for vice president could. And It was ais,
/ pointed out that If the result hinged upon
the electoral vote of New York 1t Nigh
prove to be "A fateful blunder If Roosevelt
were the candidate for vice-presdent in
stead of for governor
| There Is high democratic authority 70
| asserting that il the nomination democ
| racy will make for governor should b
allotted to that part of the state south o
| the Harlem River. Bird s. Coler will be
| yond any question be the man thu
| named. Elliot +. Danforth. chairman @
the democratic State committee, declare,
that Color In all probability will be nomi
mated unless the Buffalo candidate is abb
10 persuade the party that the nomination
| ought to be allotted to some other part o
the State than New York city. Coler un
| questionably would be the most danger
| ouS candidate the republicans could face