The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-07-07
The Man and tho Issue.

1t occurs to US that all the uncer-
taanty and speculation concerning |
the selection of . running mate for
Mr.. Bryan might be obviated by I
the application of thin coating of
logic and Judgment. Obviously. it
il now the purpose of the Demo
cratic leaders to make q nomination
for the vice-presidency that will in
Z measure offset the glamor and
glory popularity supposed to cluster
about the Roosevelt candidacy.
Several suggestions have been made,
including one from Ohio, which
names Buffalo Bill as the one man
who can add luster to the Kansas
City ticket and at the same time put
the dynamo OF the opposition out
of business Mr.. Cody is an excel
lent specimen OF American courage
and vslor, and would make a pic
turesque vice-presidential candi ate.
We have no doubt that he would at
tract fully as much attention as Mr..
Roosevelt, but he has a very profit
able show OF his own at the present,
and it is not at all likely that he
would care to close up his business
in the middle of the season to join
Mr.. Bryan's aggregation.
But the Democrats have a hero
within their ranks who, unlike Buff
falo Bill and Mr.. Roosevelt, is dis
engaged. He is a private citizen
chosen profession, but we are con-
fdent that if his party calls upon
him in the proper manner he will
make the sacrifice and respond.
We refer to Mr.. James Creelman,
journalist, soldier, and, as things go
these days, we might add statesman.
In Mr.. Creelman the Democratic
party would have the satisfaction of
pointing to a vice presidential can
didate who had participated in
three distinct wars-the Chinese
Japanese, the Spanish American,
and the conflict in the Philippines.
is limited only by the opportunities
he experienced.
But it is of Mr.. Creelman's par.
ticlpation in the war in Cuba We
desire particularly to speak. Here
it was the zenith of his military ca.
reer was reached. Here it wa.
Creelman, realizing the desperate
nature of the situation, cast ofhcia
red tape to the dogs, and con
ceived, planned, and executed tn,
movement which resulted in the un
doing of the Spaniards and tn,
complete victory of the American
forces. 1t is needless to state W.
refer to that brilliant charge ant
capture of San Juan Hill. 1t wa
the intrepid bravery of Creelma'
that inspired the American force
to follow him into the vortex O
Mauser- bullets. 1t was Cree1man'
logged persistency that finally car
ried the day and forced the evacu
alton of the enemy. Creelman wa
the only leader of the America
forces to feel the sting of Spanis
lead, but. unm;ndful of pain an
the loss Of blood, he continued I
lead the way until the SPANS
colors on the block-house had bee
replaced by those of the Unite
States.
While at this particular point it
well to bear in mind the fact tn;
there is bound to be considerably
controversy concerning the batt
of San Juan Hill. Former Co
Frederick Hopper, of the Sevent!
first New York Regiment, an
former Lieut.. Clinton H. Smith,
the same command, have assume
to question the Roosevelt theory
that battle. Both these gentleme
aver that the Republican vice pres
dental nominee and his entire con
mand charged up Kettle Hill il
stead of San Juan Hill, ard tn
there were but fifty Spaniards /,
Kettle Hill instead of the thousan.
pictured in Mr.. Roosevelt's thriilir
work which some ribald person h,
called ..Alone In Cuba" Moreove