The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-14
FOR RUNNING NAIE
Mckinley Is Said TO be De-
handing Roosevelt
DESPITE HIS RELUCTANCE
Elements of Strength Needed
That He Can Supply.
DESPITE HIS RELUCTANCE

for vice president on the ticket with
President Mckinley. Governor Roosevelt
is not willing to take this nomination,
and has made his wishes known in an
unnistakable manner. He says he wants
to be reelected as governor of New York
and believes he can be Of more service
to the party in that role than as a can
didate for vice president. But President
Mckinley, it became known today,
wants Roosevelt on the ticket and is in
clined to insist that the governor yield
his political preferences for the good OF
the party at large. There was discussion
of this matter at the cabinet meeting to-
| day, and as Senator Hanna had just re-
| turned from New York, where he had a
! conference with Ex-Secretary Bliss, it
was understood he had reported Mr..
| Bliss unwilling to take the vice presi-
Dental nomination and advising that
Governor Roosevelt be pressed into SER
! vice. 1t cannot be said with truth that
the question is irrevocably decided, but
present appearances are that President
Mckinley will personally urge Governor
Roosevelt to take the second place on the
| ticket and almost refuse to accept de-
clination for an answer. Either this or
the Philadelphia convention will be given
the tip to go ahead and nominate Roose-
welt despite the governors destinations
Of unwillingness. Those who advocate
this course say Governor Roosevelt is
| too good a party man to refuse to re-
spond to such a call, and that he will
accept and take the stump
There are many reasons why Gov
RnncnIyplt jc wa Mt ba
this year. All Of these reasons are COM
plimentary to the governor. First, there
is in Washington and in administration
circles, as everywhere throughout the
country, a recognition of the probability
that Governor Roosevelt is the coming
man in this country. The horoscope
read, not in the stars, but in the minds
of the American people, point to this
brave and capable young American as a
coming president. Governor Roosevelt's
| friends here say he has himself, to some
extent, caught the spirit of the day, and
that he is, naturally, willing to so shape
his career as to meet the wishes of the
people. In accordance with this it is his
desire 10 be reelected governor of New
York and not to identify himself with
national politics until the time comes
when the people may want him at the
head of the ticket. But all the gov
| errors friends do not take this view of
the situation. Some of them think the
! best thing he could do would be to get
out of New York politics, which at best
are hazardous. with a boss ruling the Re
| publican party there with an iron hand
! and methods which are not always over
! scrupulous, and become once more a
truly national figure. In President Nc
Kinley's mind there Is no hostility to
| Governor Roosevelt, nothing but the
kindest feeling and desire to aid in pro-
noting the future career of that brilliant
young Republican In line with this is
the suggestion that he be drafted now.
But the chief reason why. Roosevelt IS
wanted by President Mckinley is to
strengthen the ticket. It is conceded by
the president and by his closest advisers
that the naming of the hero OF San Juan
Hill for vice president would be the best
politics for the Republican party. No
one now attempts to disguise the fact
that the Republican party has got a big
fight on its hands this year. 1t is not
going to be plain and easy sailing. There
are many weak points, and some of
these the nomination Of Governor Roose-
Welt would close up. If the Democrats
should happen to name Dewey for vice
president on the ticket with Bryan, as is
the latest gossip in the higher political
circles here, then there would be all the
more reason why the Republicans should
have upon their ticket a hero of the late
war with Spain. When it comes to war
There is still another reason why Roo
sevelt is wanted on the ticket. 1t has to
do with the practical part of the campa-
ism. President Mckinley cannot take the
active part in the campaign this year
that he did, in 1896. He is President
now. and something is due to the dignity
of the Office. He does not feel that 1t
would be becoming Of him to tour the
country making speeches, nor even 10
have delegations visit him, as at Canton
four years ago.
Hence It is desirable that there be some
man on the ticket who can go into the
campaign with enthusiasm. with eloquen-
ce with energy and carry the imagination
Of the people with him. No one conld do
this better than Roosevelt. He is one Of
the greatest campaigners in the country.
He would be fair match for Mr. Bryan.
and even for Bryan with Dewey tagging
on behind as a hero Of the war.
In many ways the governor Of New