The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-10
REPUBLICANS PLAN CONVENTION
Opponents of RooseveIt's Nomination
Lying Exceedingly Quiet.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 10
The meeting of the republican national
committee here this month to deter
mine the time and place Of holding
the next national convention, formal
~ opens the presidential contest From
this time forth plans for the campaign
viii steadily progress. Republican
opponents of President Roosevelt's
nomination are now lying exceedingly
quiet. They realize that it would be
an exceedingly uphill fight to attempt
anything, not only on account of Mr..
Roosevelt's unGeniably strong popular
hold. but because of the tagOnism
which his only logical opponent-Mr.
Hanna-WOU1d inevitably arouse.
PIatt and Quay would much rather
have Roosevelt nominated than Han
ma, and this means a considerable
block of delegates. The New England
states could not be switched away
from Roosevelt Attempts to break in
upon the decreed program of parties
have not in the past proved so sue
cassful as to encourage similar eff
forts now. Mr.. Blaine who had left
the cabinet Cf Harrison in 1892. to be
| come candidate for the presidential
nomination, took that step with ex-
tremely strong backing. Conditions
seemed ripe for the overthrow OF the
reigning dynasty, yet it came to
naUght.
Whether this attempt and its failure
| had anything to do with Harrisons
defeat is a question on which opinions
will differ. 1t is noticeable, however
| that the republican conventions in
| which there has been a strong faction
al fight for the nOminatiO have been
| Invariably followed by a troublesome
| contest at the polls. 1t seems to be
agreed by many of Mr.. Roosevelt's
| opponents that it would be better to
| let him have the nomination, taking
| their chances in 1903. than to endanger
| party success by a struggle to dis
lodge him now.
The striking fact of the present poll
teal situation which is likely to at
| feet the calculations of both parties is
| the exhibition of democratic strength
in New York. Politicians here believe
| that by making a compromise between
| the vote for Coler last year in the
greater city and for Mcclellan this
| year. it is reasonable to predict a dem
| ocratic majority for a conservative
! candidate in that city of 100000 Cir
| cllmSt9ncaS MIGHT 6ava1op which would
greatly increase this lead. How heavy
an offsetting republican majority the
rest of the state will send down de-
ponds on developments. Under normal
conditions New York may thus be re-
| Sarded as a democratic state and next
years balIoting. with a conservative
| candidate. would go far toward re-
storing normal conditions. Both sides
are talking of this. It will affect dem
ocrauc candidates and platforms more
| than the republican program, which is
in large measure mapped out The
| democrats will try to get a man who
will make the strongest appeal to the
voters of New York and at the same
time somebody whom Mr. Bryan would
| tolerate.
| The state next in Importance to the
J democrats is Illinois, and in its south
ern counties. Mr. Bryan's personal
hold is still too large to be disregard
ed. Should New York and Illinois,
| through their great urban population
throw their electoral votes with those
of the solid south, democratic success
would be practically assured.
| He-1es. It's only the man with
pull that gets ahead. She-But it's