The Washington times., 1901-08-31
Hnnnn and RooseycIt.

Mr.. Bryan is reported as expressing
the opinion that if the Republican Ma
tional Convention were to be held now,
Vice President Roosevelt would be
nominated by acclamation- This is
matter concerning which any man not
| thoroughly familiar with the situation
| may easily be mistaken. Mr.. Bryan
| probably judges by surface indications
"a very unsafe basis upon which to
rest an opinion. Mr.. Rooseveits sup
port is Of the noisy. brass band variety.
If mere popular demonstrations had
been fair index of public sentiment,
or of party preferences, Mr.. Blaine
would have been nominated with
whoop every time he was a candidate.
When we look below the surface there
is every reason to believe that NJ. A.
Hanna is the coming man, no matter
what assurances may have been given
to Mr. Roosevelt at Philadelphia. 1t is
simply impossible to figure out where
Roosevelt could get the votes to nomi-
nate him by acclamation-or in any
other way. His positive and known
strength is in the West, and no reason
than a hundred votes. and there are
serious doubts as to some of them.
These are only about one-fifth OF the
number required to nominate. Mr.
Roosevelt is weak in not having his
own State behind him. True, he may
possibly be able to secure the delega-
ton, but it is ir the highest degree i'm
probable. The farther we get from
New York the more Roosevelt talk is
heard. In the Empire State he is
scarcely thought of. Platt and Odell
not running them in the interest of the
man who conquered Spain.
Fairbanks will have Indiana; Spoon
er Wisconsin. Shaw Iowa, and Cullom
Illinois. Mr.. Hanna will have Ohio. and
probably Pennsylvania. But more i'm
portant still, there can be no earthly
doubt that every particle of Admins
tration influence will be thrown to him
whenever he needs it. The Admins
tration can do nothing else than sup
port Mr. Hanna, for it is irnpelled
thereto by every consideration, both
personal and political. This means a
practically solid South for the Ohio
boss. To be sure, the negro delega-
tions from the South must be first
bought and then paid for remaining
bought, but that will not help Roosevelt
any, while it may be turned to the ad-
vantage of Senator Hanna
Besides all this. there are the trusts
behind Mr.. Hanna. Not long distance
behind, either, but close up and push
ing with all their might. There is the
Armor Plate Trust, and the Shipping
Trust, and the Sugar Trust, and the
Steel Trust, and the Coal Trust-but
what is the use Of naming them? They
are all with him, and for him. To talk
about Roosevelt standing a chance
against a man like NJ. a. Hanna is al
most absurd. The unquestioned leader
of the Republican party is willing that
there should be a little Roosevelt noise
in remote places, because he knows that
it will do no more harm than does the
beating OF Chinese tomtoms when an
army OF Celestials is marching to bat
tie.
Probably Mr.. Roosevelt feels that,
apart from his distinguished military
services, the assurances expressly or
implicitly given him at Philadelphia
place the party under moral obligations
to nominate him in 1904. But the Vice
President is young yet, and although
he has had some experience with
"Plattism,'' he still has much to learn.
In he fullness OF time 1t will dawn
upon him that moral considerations
long since ceased to count in Repub-
lican politics, and that a candidacy
based upon any kind Of moral grounds
is precisely what the Republican lead
ers do not want. No more do the
trusts.