Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-20
CH|CACO'SCONVENT|ON
Youngsters Have Pushed Up
to the Front.
ARE GOING TO STAY
OLD STAGERS ARE GIVEN THE
BACK SEATS.
Indignation Being Vented Now, but
There is No Bitterness Except in
Wisconsin Case.
ARE GOING TO STAY
Special Correspondence Of the Evening Star.

Vice President are to be nominated is re-
marked by the old stagers. They have not
quite got their bearings
1t might be put a little more bluntly by
saying that the elder statesmen. those OF
the past generation of political manage
ment, and even OF more recent date. find
that back seats reserved for them. The
youngsters have pushed up to the front
and even the platform. Some Of them are
there by mere accident and will get set
back. But others have got to the front to
stay They are ambitious and they are not
disposed to step aside. That is really at
the bottom of what is going on
II there were any doubt about the presi-
Dental nomination, and even II the vice
presidency were not practically settled. less
would be seen and heard Of the new ten
denotes. But with these matters deter
mined. there is a chance to know what is
going on in the depths well as on the
surface.
The condition today is like that Of a
Methodist class meeting, when every one
tells his experience The old leaders all have
had experiences, and are telling them to
one another. 1t is a passing phrase of the
political situation and no friend Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's administration need be
worried about It, At the same time 1t would
be unwise II politics Of the courtier sort
caused 1t to pass unrecognized. After
everybody has spoken out in meeting.
everybody will feel better and the campaign
will go forward
Vent to Pent Up Feelings.
The Indignation meetings. which have
been held and which may continue for two
or three days longer. are a necessary vent
to long pent up feelings If these feelings
were entirely smothered for policy's sake.
the vent would come during the campaign.
81 y,-~ II
sign is that everybody is saying what he
thinks that is. everybody who thinks he
has a grievance So far as have been able
to get from the delegates who already are
on the ground and from the local leaders
who always accompany the delegates to a
national convention. the mass Of the party
Is not stewing or fretting
1t has to be taken Into account that the
Washington atmosphere Is always the
same. Everybody at the national capital
is for the administration. Senators and
representatives. national committeeman and
state chairmen when they come to Wash
ington, or when they are there, usually are
performing perfectly legitimate function
cumstances their words are honey. They
cannot for the life OF them see anything
with which to find fault.
Away from Washington 1t sometimes is
different. After couple of days in this
different atmosphere l have still found
myself unable to fully sympathize with the
old stagers. They are sincere enough in
telling their grievances, and 1t pains them
to run across some one who Is not in a
sympathetic spirit. why didn't you say
these things in Washington I asked one
OF the disgruntled leaders who COM
planning of Cortelyou's selection as chair
man of the national committee. He had
been there not long ago, and my
recollection was that he had held out to
the newspapers very roseate interview.
The only answer to my question was a
others also shrugged their shoulders when
asked II the senatorial coterie had been
able to agree among themselves in making
a recommendation for national chairman
before Cortelyou's name was mentioned.
Now all this is not very serious. The old
leaders should be taken at their word in
their expressed fear that the party work
ers will not be given sufficient recognition
during the campaign. Nobody wants to
chill the party workers and risk the loss
In some states OF the or 8 per cent OF the
total vote which sometimes determines the
electoral ticket
Cortelyou's Tact.
Chairman Cortelyous tact within a fort
night will be able to soothe the wounded
sensibilities OF individuals. and after that
about all that Is needed will be to see that
the elder statesmen have a pull at the
laboring oar instead of being allowed to sit
on the bank in the shade and tell how the
craft ought to be handled
most pacifying influence is that of
Cornelius Bliss. In addition to their re-
speCt for his Judgment and his skill in cam
paign management. the old leaders-and
the young ones. too for that matter, have
a genuine affection for Mr. Bliss His dis
interestedness helps to shame some of them
out of their own selfishness.
There are things that are easily handled,
II undertaken In the right spirit. The
things that not even the President
himself can do are to turn back the
In nd
younger management The situation
might be put by saying that there Is
reaction from the attempt at political
entail. The young fellows who are push
Ing themselves forward profess to realize
that It is a campaign in which political
generalship Ia even of more account than
zeal. But while acknowledging their own
inexperience they won't give up their van
tage ground. Some came In on the Nc
Kinley high tide eight years ago; others
only got their footing under Roosevelt.
What they will need is a working arrange
ment with their elders.
Some o! them are a trifc too enthusiastic
and arc predicting Rooseveit's election by
majority OF a billion or more; but as to
the party prospects and the kind of a cam
paign that is to be fought, have not found
much difference OF opinion between the old
leaders and the young ones. The most COM
mon sentiment Is that while the country Is
still republican a fight Is ahead. and they
can't ofOrd to make any mistakes. 1t Is
somewhat curious at a republican conven.
ton to get the news OF the democrats but
in half dozen states where the democratic
situation is most uncertain, / have found
that tho republicans here well informed
about the sinuosities of the situation They
arc agreed that the democrats are trying
to get together Also that the democra u
arc hungry and want the offices now hello
by republicans.
This knowledge that the enemy Is watch
ing the chance has helped to smooth ovel
some of the fractional contests where re-
rubicans were roting in the luxury OF fam
lily feuds. That Is not true to Wisconsin
The conditions in the badger state ar.
recognized as peculiar The fight before thu
national committee was looked upon a.
Spooner'c fight. but back of the FRIENDSHIP
for the senator was the feeling that Their,
the Wisconsin contest was one OF those tina
could rot be compromised. When carried
into the national convention 1t may furnish
one of tire dramatic episodes, though Their,
H. no I,esent probability of the action o
the national committee being revoked. 1t Il
an ugly situation. yet so far as l have OBJ
served the feeling of the delegates is tina
Il will be resolved easier by deciding tn,
issue Bquarely. Not all aro of this opinion
but since II is the prevailing opinion Their
10 little more to be said on the subject a
this time.
Old Stagers and the Younger Element
Returning to the matter of the old stag
ers ami the younger element, one Of tn,