Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-18
CONVENTION Is REALLY on.
Question of Vice Presidency VIII BE
Settled by Night.

RI ll-hl'sLrElA. June 1S.-FrOm a spec
tacular standpoint the convention began
today. Over night the city biossoned like
A flower garden. bright skies smiled and a
cool breeze instilled life and animation in
to the constantly swelling crowds BY
every train they are pouring into the city
and the town awoise to the strains Of mar
tial music as one Of the marching clubs
swung UP the streets headed by a brass
band. playing as il its salvation depended
upon the vigor put into the music There
has not been an hour since when the air
was not filled with music and in which
bands have not been parading in some
quarter of the city meeting and eScOrting
incoming delegations. clubs and distin-
sti-Shr! visitors. The leaders are being
s-rrnaard and the hotel corridors jam
Md VITA s-ethins. struggling crowds
Ana Inc Roosevelt COntaGion IS every
where. The town is mad with delight at
the prospect Of his nomination. His badge
is on every lapel His name IS on every
lip. Nothing else is talked of. In the
ear and the fakirs. with an endless supply
Of buttons, shouted their wares in the
SPORTING Parlance Of their kind: "Mckin-
ley. with Roosevelt for a place
There was the biggest kind of a turnout
of pretty women. and almost without ex-
ceHtion they were wearing the viSnettes OF
the empire state governor. So far as the
popusace is concerned L IS taken for grant
ed that the ticket is already nomlra led.
The crowds will not listen 20 the suggestion
that Roosevelt himself may upset the pro-
gram They say he had as well attempt to
stay the tcrren; Of Niagara
In tho hote.S the delegates were busy
holding state meetings selecting committee
men ami distributing badges. These latter
are The handsomest seen ir years They
consist of simple bronze rledalllons sus-
pended by ribbons from a bronze bar. On
the medallions are the faces of Lincoln.
Grant and Mckinley, superimposed upon
each other. McKinIey's likeness upIermost.
The leaders are pow-wowing. The ma
tional committee held "A final meeting 10
clear the deck for tomorrow, and the con-
Nention is engaged in the distribution Of the
tickets and in adjusting the thousand and
one details which remain TO be attended to.
1t transpired during the conference IN
Rooseve!ts room that Senator Hanna. COM
batting what is now the popular impression
that Roosevelt is the only man who can be
nominated, said
Il think we can nominate some one else
besides Roosevelt
For Gods sake. go ahead and do it,
responded the governor.
That's right" said Senator Lodge. Let s
go ahead anu nominate some other man.
What is the Matter With Long.
what is the matter with Long," asked
Hanna.
Nothing" replied Lodge. Go ahead and
nominate him
Gathering from the tone Of Senator
Lodges remark that, although the sena-
tor was supporting Long. he had very lit
tie hope that Long would be nominated.
Senator Hanna continued:
We'll what is the matter with Fair
banks
Nothing in the world" responded Lodge.
Go ahead and nominate him. Nominate
anybody you can. We are all standing
ready to help you
MIR Odell assured the conference that
New York would take no action forcing
Governor Roosevelt on the convention and
would probably not take any action at all
| or the vice presidency tonight.
A delegation from South Dakota which
called upon Governor Roosevelt about noon
got perhaps the clearest statement from
him thai has yet been put in quotation
marks. He said IN response to a query
from the head Of the delegation Emil
Branch: Gentlemen. I am placed In a
mindful of the honor which you all want
to confer upon me. I do not scorn at 1t or
scof at 1t. but I believe that l can the
better serve my party in New York state
than In the nation. and ] still of mind
that ] should not be nominated for Vice
President. but for governor of New York. "
Then he hesltated until one OF the dele
| CATION asked: VIII you refuse?"
Roosevelt flushed and then said slowly
and distinctly: Il don't see how l could. -
| and then quickly added: But 1 have not
yet entirely made up my mind
These remarks were repeated to Mr.. Plat
and he said:
Il think that without doubt Mr. Roose-
welt will be the candidate for Vice PreSi-
dent"
Long Range Politics.
1t is quite certain that long-ranse
politics is being played in the game
! now proceeding in this staid Quaker
| city. 1t is indicated that Governor
| Roosevelt has aspirations to be the
party's candidate for President in 1904.
/ Those who are pressing his candidacy for
| the vice presidency now have told him
4 that. in the event of his making a great
| campaign the stump this year. the credit
| for victory. # victory again should come
| to the republicans. largely would be his.
| and thus he would be in strong position to
| appeal TO the party for the presidential
| nomination.
Even if Mr.. Bliss finally should consent to
| Is given that. in certain circumstances. ne
4 could be induced to stand-it is question
| able whether to nominate him over the
heads OF the leaders OF the New York re-
| publicans would be desirable policy.
one of the most distinguished partici-
| pants in the conference and dinner at Mr..
| GriScom's last night. when asked today
| whether an effort would be made to stem
| the stampede toward Roosevelt, begun Sun
| day. replied:
| with whom would you stem It? You
cannot defeat something with nothing.
Governor Rooseveits candidacy Is some