Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-13
He Considers the Vice Presi-
dency an Honor.
A STRONG CANDIDATE
WOULD ADD WEIGHT TO THE Ma
TIoNAL TICKET.
Roosevelt and Hit Sounds Like "Biff,
Bang" the Way the Republican
Campaign Should Go.

MT. Hit VIII accept the vice presidential
nomination on the republican ticket if it Is
offered to him. He is frank to say that he
would regard his selection as an honor.
This candid admission, so sharply in con-
trast to the coyness of some Others who
have been proposed, is refreshing to the
politicians. The verdict today was that
the Endorsement of Mr.. Hit by the Illinois
state convention as good as nominates him
for the vice presidency.
1t was agreed, further, that Mr. Hit
would make strong candidate, add to the
national ticket. strengthen the party in IL
linois and If elected make an eminently
satisfactory Vice President. He is popular
in Congress. is socially prominent and is
liked in all official circles of the capital
He is Diplomat.
Because Of his service at the head of the
foreign affairs committee and in the State
Department he is often spoken of as a dip
lomat. He is diplomat, but not In the
generally accepted definition Of the term.
He is a disciple Of the school of diplo-
macy Of which William r. Day was an ex-
ponent, irreverently called shirt sleeve
diplomacy" Mr.. Hit has a way Of speak
ing his mind that would lead European
diplomat to Jump at once to the conclusion
that he was trying to conceal his thoughts,
opinions and motives. That was what they
used to call shirt sleeve diplomacy in the
time of Secretary Day, and 1t took the Eu-
ropeaps months to get the curves:
Probably 1t was this quality of directness
which led Mr.. Hit to plump out the truth
when the subject was first broached that
he thought the office of Vice President was
some punkins'' and he would be very much
gratified to have 1t fall to him.
1t was the first case on record in this
campaign where there was no sidestepping,
shying or ducking by proposed vice presi-
Dental candidates. The politicians are al
most like the European diplomats-ready to
fear that the unusual frankness may con-
ceal something else. But they are glad he
was frank about it, and glad II was Mr..
Hit whom Secretary Shaw proposed.
With the republican national convention
only five weeks off, the politicians will be
very glad to have the vice presidency clear
ed up. Roosevelt and Hit sounds like
"bih, bang" and that's the way the repub-
lfcans want to make the campaign go. All
arrangements will have been made for the
republican convention, ticket and platform
as soon as the Hit matter is clinched.
Platform Has Been Drafted.
The Star is in position to state with au-
thority that the platform has been drafted.
1t is not a brief and colorless document, as
predicted by some, but an adequate, strong
and comprehensive statement OF republican
principles. There is no backtracking on
are no sops thrown to any interests, fac
tons or classes. 1t is platform to fight
on and to fight for: 1t is brave and frank
declaration, by which the republican party
will be ready to stand or fall
There will be no squabbling in the repub-
lican convention over the platform. The
draft, which now is in hand will be
by prominent republican leaders
fho Ayya
document finally Is presented to the COM
mittee on the platform at Chicago 1t will be
adopted without amendment. It will be re-
ported to the convention. and no amend
ment VIII be made there.
No policy forms q bone Of contention
among the republicans at present. It is
stated that the questions of dealing with
the trusts and with tariff revision have
been settled satisfactorily, and in a way to
attract the criticism Of no republican fac
ton.
With the candidates practically selected
In advance, and with the platform salts
factory. the Chicago convention may be
rather tame. Having this possibility in
view. the republican managers are now set
ting themselves to work to get up some en-
thusiasm. They realize that 1t would never
do to let the word get around that the con-
vention was a frost" That might dis
courage the boys.
Harmony and Enthusiasm.
So 1t Is proposed to turn the convention |
into kind Of love feast, a demonstration
Of harmony and enthusiasm. The object, |
Of course, would be to present a contrast |
10 the divided democracy which will hold |
Its show few days later, and which is ex- |
pected to be gorgeous spectacle of dis |
cord and party acrimony. At the Chicago |
show there will be harmony speeches and |
much shouting. Platt and Odell will do a |
grand dance and song around the buried |
hatchet and Dick and Foraker, La Toilette |
and Spooner and others will do the twin |
brother act before the eyes Of the country. |
It will be big Roosevelt demonstration, |
and If the plans of the politicians are sue |
sessful, win start the fall campaign with a |
Whoop and hurrah.
Within the next five weeks the question |
If campaign management will have been /
settled. 1t is quite likely 1t will be settled |
along the lines heretofore referred to in
rhe Star, namely. division of labor be- /
.ween two men, one with headquarters in |
New York and the other in Chica po