The age-herald., 1900-05-30
POLICAL GOSSIPIT AT
 NATIONAL CAPITAL


 Washington. May 29.-(special)-T re- cent meeting of the executive committee of the republican national committee to ar- range details for the national convention at Philadelphia, did not develop as it might have been expected to, any particu- larly strong sentiment for any candidate for the vice-presidency. The general sen- timent seemewd to be that John D. Long is the strongest candidate just at the present, not because of any especially great qualifications or popularity but be- cause there is really a dearth of vice. presidential material. The men who are regarded as being of ice-presidential size are not the men who want the nomination. Unfortunately the feeling prevails that when a man becomes vice-presdent he is politically laid on the shelf, save for the chance death of the president.
 The national committee are receiving many letters showing that the republi- cans throughout the country have been much interested in the vice-presidential business, and these letters emphasize the lack of vice-presidential timber most sur prisingly.
 A difference of opinion prevails among republican leaders as to Secretary Longs strength. The men from New England when asked If the Sampson-Schley con- troversy will not hurt Long before the people, say that it will not influence thousand votes. Men from other sections are inclined to fear that his nomination would cause thousands to vote against him and they cite as an instance of this the cheers that greet Admiral Schleys name when it is mentioned in a theater or his picture is presented.
 Governor Shaw of Iowa is still enjoying boom, and that of Representative of Dol liver of Iowa is again being discussed, while, with the idea that Kansas would be good state from which to take can ddate, the name of Chester l. Long, member of congress from Kansas, is brought forward The general feeling is that a Nebraska candidate would be the best but there Is no one there of suff1- cient ability or prominence except ex- Senator Manderson, and he will not have it. Senator Spooner, a short time ago, was urged to permit his name to be brought forward, but he peremptorily re- fused.
 It has been suggested that perhaps the republican leaders are not as much in the dark regarding the vice-presidency as they seem, but that they want a contest over the vice-presidency at Philadelphia in or- der to add to the interest there. It Is a fact that with the presidential candidate to be named by exclamation and the unani- mity of feeling as to what should be put in the platform the Philadelphia convention will be lacking in some elements of excite ment, yet the contests over delegations from Alabama and Tennessee and Della ware will add to the interest and give the convention some disagreeable work. A contest over the vice-presdency would cer- tainly add to the interest of the convention but it will not do to take seriously the suggestion that the republican leaders have some one up their sleeve. The truth is, as able vice-presidential material. The senti- ment is very strong for some western man If he can be found, and Long, because of his anxiety to be nominated and his prom thence in the Mckinley cabinet has the strongest boom just now.
 The democrats are not wanting in vice. presidential material. The sentiment con- tinues to favor the selection of a New Yorker or an Indiana man. The New York CT most spoken of is Elliot Danforth, and the Indianan is ex-Congressman Shively. It would not be in the least surprising if one or the other of these was chosen.