The Washington herald., 1907-12-08
By DEXTER MARsHALn.

IN PRINT Tor The nrSt time.
The nomination was brought about sin
gle handed by the late Matthew Stanley
Quay. Of Pennsylvania and for a reasoh
which he then explained to no one The
notion that hhe nomination was cOnpassed
by Thomas Collier Platt is a mistake.
1t is true that Platt wanted Roosevelt
removed from New York, and therefore
used every possible means to have him
named for the second place. But the op-
position was too strong for Platt When
he was forced because of broken rib to
retire to New York on the first day of the
convention he had every reason 10 believe
that Senator Deliver. of Iowa would DE
nominated. as he would have been but
for QUAY
The winning card in the game 10 nomi-
nate Roosevelt was played on Wednesday,
June %, the second day ~ the convention.
on the morning OF that day the air in the
big Philadelphia Exhibition Hall was tense
with uncertainty. There was little Ques-
ton as to the head Of the ticket. since the
denomination of President Mckinley had
long been agreed upon; for the first time
in the history Of national conventions the
Vice Presidential nomination was the
burning question.
Was "A FavOrite.
There were several second-place possi-
bilities. but they We're all unwilling ones.
The young governor Of New York. who
had been d picturesque figure In the brief
war with Spain two years before. was the
general favorite-with the people because
he had been a bold soldier, with the dele
gates because they knew how the people
felt. and with the Republican leaders of
his own State because they wanted to put
him out Of the way. as their successors in
Empire State politics would be glad to
have Gov. Hughes out of the way to-
day. RooseveIt's nomination by acclama-
ton was a certainty but for two things.
First, Roosevelt himself declared that
nothing would move him ito take the
place. He didn't like the idea Of being put
out of the way in New York State. where.
he thought he still had plenty Of work
10 do. Second. President Mckinley and
Senator Hanna were emphaticaIIy. almost
bitterly. against having Roosevelt on the
ticket They didn't want him in Wash
lngton any more than Senator Plat want
ed him in Albany, and they had spent
days in the grooming of other candidates
They had labored to get Cornelius "
Bliss TO take the place, but without sue
cess. They had offered IT in vain 10 9TH
er Republican leaders. and finally had
secured the reluctant promise of Senator
Deliver, of Iowa, that he would accept
the nomination if il came unanimously.
Col. Lafayette Young. who had been in
Cuba with Teddy" who admired him i'm
mensely. and was anxious 10 prevent
Roosevelts nomination because of 10y
atty to Roosevelt. was to make the nomi-
mating speech for Deliver. and had care
fully written it out and rehearsed it until
he knew it be heart
Quay's Hand II Seen.
II looked as if the anti Roosevelt forces.
headed by Roosevelt himself as they
We're. would win. Undoubtedly they
would have won had it not been for the
adroitness OF Matt Quay, who had been
United States Senator from Pennsyl-
vania. and wanted to represent the Key
stone State again in the upper House
Matt Quay. who had been through a
series of fights with Senator Hanna.
John Wanamaker. and all the reformers
IF his State, and had been thrashed all
round; Matt" Quay. who had been
given over as a dead one" by the ma
jority Of his old-time friends and ad-
mirers, even who had got the worst
of "A decision and whose past achieve
ments they recounted to one another al
most as if he were really dead and buried:
Matt Quay, battered and worn. and
supposedly down and out forever As
soon as he appeared among the conven-
TONERS Quay let everybody know that he
was in favor of ROosevelt's nomination 20
the Vice Presidency. but he told no one
why. Everybody supposed il simply a
case Of loyalty 10 his friend Plat. and
Quay allowed everybody TO keep right on
thinking So
Quay sat In his inconspicuous place
among his fellow delegates from Pennsyl-
vania on the second day. all ready to put
through his plan He had talked briefly
with Platt about the situation and had
asked II he We're in earnest in his desire
10 have Roosevelt named Plat said he
was, and added frankly that he wished 10
get rid of Roosevelt as governor of New
York.
Gets Resolution Passed.
Very we'll then" said Quay. L will
get a resolution passed by the Pennsyl-
vania delegation calling for Rooseveits
nomination If you viii do the same with
your delegates"
Plat was delighted. Quay easily Sc
cured the adoption Of the resolution by
his delegation. but Plat was not able to
get the New York delegates to act:
Roosevelts objections 10 being shelved"
were so strong that the delegation
wouldn't overrule them.
The first thing of any consequence done
on the conventions third day was the Sc
. lection of Henry Cabot Lodge as perma-
nent chairman. Cows Shaw. Of Iowa. and
Roosevelt. of New York were delegated
to escort Lodge to the chair. Shaw was
pleased with the prominence Of this de-
tail, but Roosevelt was not; he was afraid
ii would stampede the delegates 20 him
and make II impossible for him TO remain
at Albany. Both Shaw and Roosevelt
would have been startled could they have
foreseen that day how closely associated
they we're 10 be later, one as President
and the other as Secretary Of the Treas
ury.
Started the Ball a-ROIIIng.
Senator Lodge. being an Intimate friend
of the New York governor and in SYM
patty with his wish not to be nominated.
3 helped Roosevelt to get off the platform
quickly, thus avoiding much of a demon
stration. The reading of the report by the
committee OF rules followed. Then Quay
started the ball a-rolling that WAS TO
nominate Roosevelt for the Vice Presi-