Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
Mr.. Cortelyou's Selection.


The next topic of consuming interest was
the protest against the selection of Mr..
Cortelyou as national chairman. 1 made
careful inquiry into that case, and found
that in fact there was an undercurrent OF
resentment among the clans gathered here
against the Presidents selection of a ma
tional chairman without first consulting the
leaders and prospective members OF the
committee. / believe it Is largely case OF
offended pride and jealousy or political pre-
rogative. Here is one view of the affair,
according to statement made to me today
by a member of the national committee:
president Roosevelt selected Mr.. COrtelyou
without consulting any of the leaders. Some
feel that Mr.. Cortelyou has not had expe-
rience in party councils and political man
agement sufficient to warrant his being
chosen out of hand in this fashion.
Those who teel that way, think, further
more, that the national organization, which
is composed in the national committee,
should keep ontrol of the committee and
should select it's company. l do not go so
far as to say that the committee Will re-
fuse to honor the Presidents designation,
but l am sorry this has happened. l am a
sincere friend of the President and l regret
to say that his unexpected designation OF
Mr.. Cortelyou has given his enemies occa-
sion to point to his action as an indication
of impulSiveneSS and tendency 10 rash-
ness II has afforded an apparent ground
for criticism which will be only too gladly
seized by those who are looking for chances
to criticise'
The closing sentence of the foregoing
statement is substantiated by the talk
which is heard all through the lobbles.
Late yesterday afternoon President Roose-
welt sent a long telegram to one of the
lead ders, in which, l am told ne lntimateo
his desire that his designation of Mr.. Cor
telyou should be ratified by the committee
Prompted by that hint and perhaps to
check the increasing murmurs, Senator
Scott last night gave out a statement In
oh ail hat
ident to name the chairman was recog-
niZed.
A movement is on foot however, to
compromise the case. 1t is suggested that
the national committee elect it's chair
man according to it's own wishes Then
to name an executive committee at the
head of which President Roosevelt can
place Mr. Cortelyou to conduct the cam
paign and at the close of the campaign
to retire leaving the chairman of the
national committee in control. 1t is point
ed out that a similar arrangement was
made by President Harrison, who desig-
mated Thomas H. Carter to conduct his
campaign although John S. Clarkson was
chairman of the national committee.
The Presidents friends are confident
that there will be notable reaction from
the present little spell of "anti-Roose-
welt" feeling as soon as the delegates ar
rive in force. 1t is recognized that the
men now on the ground are the old Han
ma followers, and naturally they give
ROoSeVeltian.
But by tomorrow night there will be a
rush of fresh air from the country as the
real Roosevelt people come in that will
dispel some of this political murkiness.
The Vice Presidency.
The vice presidency is attracting rather
languid interest. Senator Fairbanks came
to town yesterday, and for a moment the
vice presidential subject looked up bit,
Tall, ponderous. portentous, Senator Fair
banks stood in his headquarters, a monu-
ment Of silence and conservatism, his face
a study in coldness and inscrutability. He
had nothing to say. He would not say he
was a candidate neither would he admit
that he was not. So the politicians turned
away from him to the more enlivening sub
jects of the Wisconsin scrap and the anti
Cortelyou gossip.
occurred in Senator Fairbanks room last
| night The senator and a few admirers are
| sitting around, the senator delivering care
| fully guarded utterances on generalities
Enter a politician, one of the hustling, en-
| ergetic sort who when they spy the per-
simmon they wish, get a pole and go after
| it. Bustling in, he tosses his cigar stump
| into the corner, and delivers himself some
| thing after this fashion:
Now look here, senator, this thing will
get ridiculous if you don't watch out. I
| think you ought to fish, cut bait or go
ashore. The delegates won't stand it long
If you don't want the vice presidency
enough to say so. first thing you know
| they'll drop you"
With that the politician claps his hat on
| the back of his head and stalks out. But
| the senator didn't say a word.
One Of the interesting sidelights of the
convention shows a struggle over the Nor
mon question.
Senator Dubois, although a democrat. is
| in town trying to push along a movement
among the republicans for the insertion Of
an anti-poygamy plank in the platform.
Senator Smoot is here, and insists that
there is need of an anti-polygamy plank.
He is urging his republican colleagues to
keep hands off the Mormons.
The nearest approach to an announce
ment from Senator Fairbanks was
statement given out this morning by Col
Dan Ransdall. sergeant-at-arms of the
Senate, and his close friend Col. Ransdell
said: Senator Fairbanks is not a candi-
date for the nomination in the sense of
seeking 1t. If the convention wants him
and nominates him he will accept"
Other friends of the senator added that
Continued on Sixth Pa9&l