The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-18
Hannn,s sphinx Riddle.

The only thing that seemed certain in
Philadelphia yesterday. respecting the Vice
Presidential nomination, was that Hanna
was irritated and angry at Plat. and
that the latter was still suspected Of dark
| designs against the peace and dignity OF
Theodore Roosevelt. 1t is one of the
cheerful features Of the situation that the
Rough Rider, who is on the ground to
conduct his own campaign to escape nomi-
nation, is compelled continually to show
his teeth and swear that he does not want
it. will not have it, and will refuse to
accept it II given to him. Yet large
number of people identified with the
| Hanna majority refuse to believe the Gov
ernor and fully expect to see him Bomi-
mated and forced to take his medicine on
Thursday next
Whatever may be their other differences,
there is one point upon which Hanna and
Plat are in entire agreement. Their COM
mon friends, the trusts located in New
York have notified both of them that
Roosevelt must not be reelected Cover
nor The great railway interest which
owns a seat in the Senate is thoroughly
in accord with this warning. and Hanna
is quite as much Impressed by it as P'att
could be- To disregard it would be to
roll the barrel into the campaign with
horrid vacuum in its inside.
If the Administration were able to act
as it liked. the pyrotechnic Roosevelt
would be thought of neither for the Vice
Presidential nor yet the gubernatorial
nomination. He is not liked by Mr.. Nc
Kinley. by Hanna, nor by their masters.
the trusts. But he enjoys reputation
for honesty, which would be of enormous
value to ticket blotched with the blum
ders. hypocrisy, and corruption of the
last four fyears and. moreover the best
of men EwSald be powerless to hamper or
thwart the exploiting and loo.ins tenden-
cies Of the, party. if shut up in tie Vice
Presidential bird cage.
But thfsotobdurate man. as Plat calls
him, is not pleasantly affected to the
scheme Prepared by the New York railway
and trust combination through his friend
Hanna.oHe fully believes that if he were
made MIR. gMnKinley's running mate the
magic of his name would pull the ticket
through, and that four years hence the
second experience of the country with
Hannaism would snow the Republican par
ty under and spoil all his chances for the
Presidency. Yet, in spite of all these
considerations, it is political possibility
that Roosevelt might recant at the elev-
enth hour and consent to become the red
ribbon on the Mckinley elephants tail.
Hanna might find means to convince him
that the whole force OF the Administra-
lion, added to that of the New York ma
chine. would be used to prevent his re-
nomination for the Governorship; in which
case he might perhaps come to the conclu-
sion that half a loaf is better than no
bread. and cave in at last. We have still
considerable confidence in his Dutch obsti-
macy and he may perhaps believe that in
tug of war with Plat in New York he could
show the stronger pull. II he entertains
such a notion il is rather safe to predict
that he will refuse to be placated. Mere
Iy In the interest of American humor 1t
would be ar excellent thing were he to
take that course; because then we should
have the promise of such an amusing ex-
hibition in the Empire State as the his
tory of our politics has seldom presented.