The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-11

place, but the contest has not reached
d point where any, particular city can
claim definite assurance of having
won the fight. In addition to Chi
cago, the cities of New York, Pitts
burg, Buffalo, Cleveland. Omaha, De-
troit. Milwaukee, indianapolis and San
Francisco have made preliminary bids
for the convention. The majority of
these. however, have dropped out of
the fight and only few will present
their claims to the committee tomor-
row.
The meeting OF the committeeman
has given rise to many reports and
much speculation as to what will be
done by the committee regarding the
presidential campaign of next year.
From statements recently published
there seems to be an impression that
the national committee now in exist
ence will have charge of the next pres
identical campaign in some unexplained
way. and that the conduct of the cam
paign is to be discussed at the present
meeting. AS a matter of fact the pres
ent national committee practically
ceased to have any authority after the
close of the national campaign of 1900.
Its duties and its functions ceased
with the close of the campaign. with
the single exception of coming together
at the present time to fix the date and
place for holding the National cOnVen
| ton of 1904. That duty having been
performed the committee will have no
reason for again meeting. The only
| thing remaining for the present com
mittee after this meeting will be for its
| chairman to call the national cOnVen-
| tion to order and preside until a tenn
| pOrary chairman is chosen, which is
usually done within an hour after the
| body COnVeneS.
The convention itself chooses the ma
tiOnal committee, the committee elects
| an executive committee. and the latter
| chooses its officers. The chairman of
| the executive committee, however, is
usually chosen after consultation with
| the presidential candidate. The only
! Importance attaching TO the present
| committee after tOdaES meeting is due
| to the chance of its chairman and other
members being re-chOSen to conduct
| the next campaign. 1t is understood
| that President Roosevelt has asked
| Senator Hanna to remain at the head
| OF the committee and direct the fight
| of next year. Whether or not the Ohio
| senator has or Will comply with the re-
quest is not as yet definitely known.
The secretaryship of the committee
| is a matter that is exciting much in
| terest among politicians of both par
! ties. In view of the BrstOW report on
| the postal frauds it appears almost
impossible that Perry Heath will con-
| tinue as secretary of the committee.
| Senator tanna, how aTer has stood by
| Heath through thick and thin and in
| case the latter is not inclined to get
| out it is believed he will be upheld in
! hi POSITION by Senator Hanna. In
/ til. event of his resignation the most
| likely candidate for the place now
| seems TO be Harry New, the Indiana
| member of the committee and valiant
| worker ir the republican ranks. New
| is a close friend of Heath, however,
| and will make no effort to get the place
should the latter evince desire to
: stay.
Chairman Hanna after calling the
meeting to order made d speech thank
! ing the committee for their cooperation
! in the last campaign and predicting
future success. He urged them to
stand pat on republican principles as
recognized. BraytOn announced that
he would not present the resolution
contemplated. The meeting adjourned
then till l2:45, after agreeing TO visit
/ the president at 2:30 this afternoon.
! They will decide on the convention city
! tomorrow.
Van Fleet of California. is working
up sentiment in favor of San Fran
cisco for the 1908 convention. Lack of
adequate telegraph facilities alone
prevented San Francisco from enter
| ing the race this year. 1t is predicted.
however, that four years hence Will
see this objection overcome and by
that time San Francisco will be able
| to afford adequate accommodations.
| Brayton. of Rhode Island. has reSo-
(COntinued on Page FOur.)