The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-08
| Chat Of the Capital
Washington Gossip. Political AMI Other
!. wise. for thssQeadsrs u the 0iobs.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-(special.)-
Very little definite information can be Sc
cured at this time regarding the inten>
ton of President Mckinley to make
trip to San Francisco and other Western
points early inS the 5spring. That he
promised a majority of the members of
the California delegation and the repre-
sentative Of the Union Iron Works of
San Francisco that he would do his best
to visit San francisco in time to witness
the launching ofsthe new battleship Wis
consin Is known to be a fact. Talks with
members Of the9delegation which called
on President Mckinley indicate GER
tainty that he Will be In San Francisco
at the proper time, and other Western
coast representatives also feel assured
that IL he goes to the Golden Gate me-
tropons he will visit Seattle, Portland
ana, on his way home, stop In ST. Paul
ana minneapolis, with a bare possibility
1nat ne may find 1t convenient to again
spend an hour or two In Duluth.
1t has heretofore been pointed out that
senator Hanna Is anxious to have Maj.
mckinney make this kind of trip, be-
HeVing that by making judicious speeches
at various points In the several states he
VIII travel through he would add to his
popularity and make votes next Novem-
Der. In this connection it is also known
TO be fact that Acting Chairman Dick,
OF the national Republican campaign
committee, and Henry G. Payne, national
committeeman from Wisconsin, have adj
Vlsed the chief executive that 1t would
not be impolitic upon his part, though
1t would be unusual, to make this kind
or trip on the eve of a presidential
election
Had the president had the opportunity
ne would have gone to the West coast
states when he visited Minnesota, the
Dakotas, Iowa and other states last
August. His time was so limited, how
ever that he could not make the trip,
and 1t is believed that he is really
anxious, not only to further his own
chances In the next campaign by making
journey of this kind, but further that
ne Will be highly pleased, if he can get
the necessary time, to spend few days
In California, Washington state, Oregon
and then journey home by easy stages
through Montana, North Dakota, Minne-
sofa, Wisconsin and Michigan
Shortly after thetipresident returns
from this Western trip if he makes il,
tain that he will, he will go to the New
England statess ands while in this sec
ton will make aboutsthe same kind of a
speech-making journey that he will in the
West
As has before been pointed out in the
Washington dispatches to this paper, it
Is very unusual for the chief executive
| of the nation to go on a campaign tour
| In the year in which he is a candidate
| to succeed himself. A new era, however,
| may dawn in 1900, and Maj. Mckinley will
probably be the man to inaugurate it.
Benjamin Harrison, while president, 1t
will be recalled. made trip through the
South to the Pacific coast and back
through the Dakotas and Montana, and
he made a good many good speeches
while he was away from the national
capital. This was the year before he
was renominated to succeed himself,
however, and while his speeches met the
approval of a good many of the auditors
it was evident in November, 1892, that
his trip did not do him much good with
the voters. 1t will be recalled that he
was overwhelmingly defeated by Grover
Cleveland for the presidency in that
year. Whether or not Maj. Mckinley
will have the same luck is a question
that can only be decided after he makes
the trip and after the people ballot at
the polls the second Tuesday in Novem-
Der.
There seems to be a determined effort
upon the part Of certain Republican poll
ticians to force Gov. Roosevelt, of New
York, into the contest for the vice presi-
dency at the Philadelphia convention
| next June. 1t is well known fact tina
Col. Roosevelt IS not at all anxious TO
have his Republican enemies put him on
the vice presidential shelf, and today, it
is asserted here, he has positively de-
ciined Even If he was assured In adj
vance that he could be nominated and
| elected. it is practically certain that the
| New York governor would much prefer
| to be reelected to his present position
| and await his turn to secure first place
| on the national presidential ticket In
| 1904. His friends are certainly advising
| him not to be coaXed into permitting his
| name to be used as Maj. Mckinley
| running mate this year. 1t has been
| proved that it. Is ordinarily an unW1ss
| act upon the part of any rising politician
| to permit himself to. accept vice presi-
| dental nomination. Even If elected there
! is very little honor in the Office and fail
| ure to secure election generally results
| in retirement to private life
| The Republicans as a matter of fact
have plenty Of vice presidential timber
without calling upor. Gov. Roosevelt to
| make the sacrifice he would have to
make in accepting this nomination. That
he would make good campaign, perhaps
better than his chief could. is admitted.
Even If not nominated he would be will
snp to do as he did last year, that Is, to
make campaign speeches throughout the
| country and do his best to bring about
| the success of the national Repuollcan
| ticket and it IS considered by many
shrewd Republican politicians here that
his influence would be greater as an
orator In the coming campaign II ne
| smoke not as a candidate, but as the
| chief magistrate of the greatest state IN
the Union.
! Senator Platt and other politicians are
| NOT personally advising Roosevelt to per-
| nit the uses Of his name for the vice
presidency. but they are doing their best
| 10 create a sentiment in his interest
| throughout the country, thereby hoping
that the delegates to the Phiiadeipma
| convention will become enthusiastic
enough to unanimously tender the place
| To him ard demand that he accept It,
j S. Van Antwerp.
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