The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-01
NOBODY
WANTS IT
Republican Vice Prtsi-
Dental Nomination
SENATOR HANNA DODGING II
The Position Is Generally Regarded as
Fatal to the Ambition Of
the Victim.
SENATOR HANNA DODGING II

Washington, D. C.-The determina-
ton, one year in advance OF the as
sembling of the next republican ma
tional convention, that Theodore
Roosevelt shall head the ticket in the
campaign of 1904, has served to arouse
unusual interest in the vice preslden-
cy Not the same interest that would
be shown in the presidential nomlna
ton. if that was an open question, for
the vice-presidency is an ONCE from
which most public men steer clear
Speculation at the present time Is
as to what man can be pressed into
accepting the office, and not as to
what man among numerous aspirants
will be chosen for the honor OF run
ming with Roosevelt.
Nobody Asked Him.
1t is a peculiar thing that no man
Of consequence whose name has been
suggested as vice presidential pos
sibility, has grown enthusiastic ovel
the mention OF his name. OF course
the shrewd men do not declare thai
they will not accept an office that has
not been offered to them, although
some others have seen fit to have
themselves interviewed. in order that
they may decline to become ROOse
velt's running mate Governor Yates
of Illinois. who was never thought OF
for the place, except by himself, was
the most striking example OF this
kind.
Humor In the Situation.
One of the humorous bits of vice
presidential gossip that has been go
ing around lately is the mention OF
Senator Hanna for the second place
on the republican ticket. Mr.. Hanna
does not seem to regard his boom
as a joke, for he has his eye on The
presidency, and would of course never
consent to play second fiddle, especial
ly to Roosevelt. He now recognizes
that he cannot become the republican
nominee in 1904, and he has wisely
concluded to withhold his name from
the next convention, and await his
time four years later. He will not be
side-tracked on the vice. presidential
shelf, if he can help it.
In the opinion of experienced poll
ticians the vice presidency will not
be settled until the convention actu-
ally meets. That one problem will re
main open until the end, and the del
egates themselves will choose the
man, as they did in 1900. when Theo-
dore Roosevelt was forced to accept
an office he did not want. There has
been intimatiOn that this man or that
man is ROOsevelt'S choice for vice
president. but such reports are ridi
culous. The president is enough OF
a politician to avoid such indiscreUiOn
as the expression Of preference for
any man as his running mate. He is
perfectly willing that the convention
shall name the man.
Question of Craftsmanship.
For the present. at least, specula
ton as to the next chairman of the
republican national committee has
been lost sight of. AS pointed out in
these dispatches heretofore, there is
good reason to believe Mr.. Hanna will
not again hold that high office. al
though strong efforts will be made to
persuade him to serve a third time.
However, he has not the personal in
terest in the campaign that he had in
was the standard bearer Of the party.
There are many excuses he could give
for declining a third term as chair
man, and these will probably have to
be satisfactory, although no one APP
preciates the effective work of Han
ma any more than does President
Roosevelt.
But there is apparently less need
for a clever manager Of the next
campaign than there has been in past
years. for seldom if ever before has "a
candidate gone before the people with
such a strong personal following as
has Roosevelt today. Recognition Of
this fact is one thing that makes many
democratic leaders hesitate about
coming forward with presidential
boOms in their own behalf.
Deafness Cannot Be Cured