Middletown transcript., 1903-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER

/ WASHINGTON, December 18th, 1904.
! DRESIDENT Rooseyelt's nomination as
Republican candidate in 1904 is cer-
tain. During the past week his chances
OF being the choice of his party were dis.
cussed on all sides here and his indorse-
ment was stronger than even his friends
has sntielpafed, IA dozen United States
senators and score Of national commit
feenae5! WhQ know the sentiment in
Etlxe states, have given out
news in which they state positively
the President is the only mar b
1cceed himself. These statements were
issued in reply to an editorial from a
party paper in Ohio which questioned
the advisability of nominating Mr..
Roosevelt. The opinion of the commit
teemen who are now in session here is
especially important. Mr.. George R.
Theldon of New York, said that if Mr..
Roosevelt could not carry the Empire
State, he knew of no one who could.
Governor Murphy of New Jersey de-
clared his state was on record for the
President without doubt. National Com.
mitteeman BROKER of Connecticut gave
assurance that there was no question
about the nomination of Roosevelt in
bis state. Mr.. Van Fleet gave similar
assurance for California. Iowa was
Il 70
Hunt Roosevelt sentiment in the
State of Washington was expressed by
former Senator Wilson, and Colorado's
by Committeeman Stevenson. OF the
Southern states, Virginia, Louisiana,
Georgia, Florida, and Maryland and
Missouri will send Roosevelt delegates to
the National Convention according to
the assurances of their committee repre-
sentatives attending the present meet
ing. Politicians from Ohio declared that
Senator Hanna had host of friends but
they knew be would not be a candidate.
Other committeeman added their names
to this list of Roosevelt indorsers, and of
all who expressed their opinions only
two states, Alabama and Mississippi were
opposed to the President. In these states
there had been quarrels over the federal
patronage. Of course neither of them
will count anything for the Republican
candidate in the final election. Senators
Frye, Hale, Dolliver, Penrose and Platt
of Connecticut were among those who
issued statements earlier in the week to
the effect that the Presidents nomina-
ton was certain. Opponents of the Pres
ident's nomination have been crushed
and no doubt silenced.
Nv
"All OF interest to the Republican
party that centers in this meeting can be
told in one word, that is success. And Z,
all that is necessary to bring about that
result is to stand pat upon the principles
and policies" These words from Sena-
tor Hanna, as he called to order the
Republican national committee, in its
initial meeting at the Arlington Hotel,
brought forth hearty applause. As the
roll call of all the states was read there
were but twelve absentees, who were re-
presented by proxy. A blank proxy
sent to Senator Hanna by an absent men,
Der was filled in by Perry S. Heath, the
secretary of the committee, who will
thus have two votes. The first business
before the committee is the selection of
the city in which to hold the convention.
Chicago and st. Louis lead in the con-
test, with chances in favor of the former,
although st. Louis is making "yery at
tractive proposition" Among the COM
munications read by the Secretary was
one from committee of New York citi-
zens asking they be heard in executive
session on the defense Of the rights of
disfranchised voters in the South, and
another from the Economic League of
New York asking hearing on the ques-
tion of the prevention of the growth of
Socialism. In the afternoon the MEM
bers of the committee were received
by the President. He knows nearly all
of them personally and the greetings
were cordial. Mr.. Heath was not pre-
sent at the reception. The committee
will be in session several days.
~
High officials in the War and Navy
are watching closely events
in Panama and are prepared to meet any
in carrying of the Admins.
tration's policy of protecting Panama
against an attack from Columbia. War
ships are patrolling each side of the Is
thmus watching for Columbian troops,
and marines have been landed in several
places for the same purpose. Three or
four regiments of the Army are ready to
be rushed to the Isthmus from New York
and Newport News, in case the Navy De-
partment cannot cope with the situation.
For several days it has been reported and
also denied that HOO Columbian troops
we're landed from Cartagena, near the
Atratro river on the Gulf of Darien and
near Panama's boundary. Their pur-
pose is to march over land to the cities of
and Colon. As such march is
extremely difficult, if not impossible,
md as it would take at least month, the
War Department will have plenty of
lime to intercept the invaders. Such
war like action on the part of Columbia
s strangly DEPRECATED by DR.. Herran, the
charge d'affairs at Washington, and Gen.
,ral Reeves, who is commander-in-chief
If the Columbian forces. Owing to Sec
'etary Hays illness, General Reyes has
been unable to see him to terminate his
mission. 1t is know that the general.
las informed bis government that thera
8 no hope of prevailing on the United
states, to retrace its steps, and that the
'nly chance of accomplishing anything
8 the secure satisfactory peace terms
With the new Republic.