Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-20
WASHINGTON CHAT.
President is Not Naming Run
ming Mate for 1904.
Reports that He Has signified Pre-
ference are unfounded.
Next Congress viii Keep Down the APP
preparations. i


preference as to his running mate on
the Republican national ticket in 1904,
and with having expressed a view as
to the selection of the chairman of the
next National Republican Committee.
He has been said to have suggested
the ACCESSIBILITY of nominating either
George William Taft of the 4. Philip
pines, or Senator Albert J. Beveridge
for vice-President. AS to the national
craftsmanship, he is said to favor and
oppose the selection Of M. A. Hanna.
The reports that he has taken two
idiametrically opposite positions as to
the national craftsmanship naturally
refute each other.
1t can be stated most emphatically
that the President has made no sug-
| gestionS as to the sVice-Presidential
nomination, and that he has given ex-
preston to no views as to the national
craftsmanship. OF course both the
questions of the vice-Presidency and
that of the national Craftsmanship
have been discussed with the President,
but he has not indicated any prefer
ence on either subject.
1t is quite unusual for Presidential
1
their running mates, both because it
| is impclite to do SO, and because, as
rule, Presidential nominations are not
ordinarily settled long enough before
hand, to make it possible for successful
candidates to name the vice-Presi-
Dental candidates. In the case of
| President Mckinley, the situation was
exceptional. 1t was evident, long be-
| fore the nomination Of 1895, that he
would be chosen, and after his first ad-
| ministratiOn was half over, it was
certain he would be renominated with
out opposition. And yet Mr.. Mckinley
did not dictate his running mate in
either convention. Senator Hanna and
the men who managed the first Nc
Kinley campaign for the nomination
| had candidate for the vice-Presi-
| dency in the person of Carrot A. Ho-
| bart. Mr.. Hobart was entirely salts
factory to Mr.. Mckinley, but he did
not dictate the nomination. He ac-
guessed in the judgment of his friends,
and never had occasion to regret the
! selection of Mr.. Hobart, who, as long
as he lived, was President McKinley's
devoted and intimate friend and coun-
selor Had he lived, and his health
/ been good, Mr.. Hobart would have been
renomnated by reclamation, as was
Mr.. Mckinley
In 1900 President McKinley's friends
were not favorable to the nomination
of Theodore Roosevelt for vice-Presi-
dent. They were as much opposed to
that nomination as Colonel Roosevelt
himself was. But they yielded grace
! ho thn
vention desired his selection, but only
after President Mckinley telegraphed
Senator Hanna that it was wise not to
interfere with the conventions wishes.
President Mcl<inleys yielding to the
conventions judgment was certainly
not dictat ton, and he never regretted
that selection and was making vice.
! President Roosevelt his friend as he
had made President Hobart, when
death made Roosevelt President.
In cutivating the friendship of his
ivice-Presidents Mr.. Mckinley estab-
lished a precedent, for every President
before him had not paid attention to
his President, but had looked upon
that individual very coldly and with
certain dread that was almost super
stitious.
! When there has been a contest for
/ the Presidency it has been the custom
of the friends of the successful candi-
date to trade the vice-Presidency for
votes, Just as Cabinet positions were
traded, to throw it as sop to appease
the faction which had been unsuccess-
full in the convention.
Unless, for some reason unforeseen,
it should seem better to use influence
for some certain candidate, President
Roosevelt will take no part in the
naming of the vice-President. Yet,
should some undesirable man become
too prominent as a vice-Presidential
possibility, President Roosevelt might
ask his friends to prevent the nominal
ton of that candidate. But the Presl-
dents present purpose is not to inter-
fere with the Republican conventions
selection of his running mate, trusting
to its wisdom to choose good man.
The President has, however, been i'm
pressed with the availability OF Sena-
tor Beveridge and Of Governor TAFT.
He knows, though, that Mr.. Beverage
prefers the Senate, and appreciates
that Governor Taft may feel that his
duty REQUIRES him TO remain in the
Philippines.
1t would not be surprising if the Re-
publican vice Presidential candidate
had not been mentioned as yet, and
would develop in the next half year
1t has been the universal custom, how
ever. for the Presidential candidate tt
rane the national chairman. The Ma
tional Committee 6is selected every foul
wears by members of the Republican par
tv nominating convention, each state OF
Territorial delegation naming one member
of that committee. In due time Mr.
Roosevelt will indicate his preference FOL
national chairman, and the Natlona
Committee. as an act of proper courtesy
"A will select that man as its chairman
Who that man will be- President Roose
Welt himself does not now know. IT III
we're selected now it would proba bly,
howeyer. he Senator NJ. A. Hanna, if tn,
latter would accept
l. ~
AS chairman of the House COMMITTEES
on AnnroDriat ions Uncle joe Cannon
foupht earnestly to hold down the ap
preparations Many million dollars ha:
he soved the Government by his watch
: fitness, OF course Uncle joe was Otter
debated in his fight against e&trava
: sauce. The appropriation of recent Con
), Sressas have reached totals that exceed
!, ed what Chairman Cannon thought wise
hut he could not boss. the whole Congress
! In the House his influence was great
hit he could not prevail against the log
.o,i;ns - ,,blfc buildings and river an,