The Washington herald., 1907-12-08

dency and land him in the Presidential
chair. Whether Quay would have changed
his course could he have foreseen the rate
bill, the Hartman Roosevelt imbrogliO,
and the other links I'm the resulting chain
of events is an interesting question.
There was a big round Of applause when
Quay's wcll-knOwn short, stocky figure,
clad I'm a light suit with the waistcoat
unbuttOned because Of the heat, was seen
by the delegates as he arose and stepped
into the middle aisle and he was invited
to the platform 20 say what he had to
say
Quay declined this honor at first, but
said he wished TO offer an amendment to
the rules. calculated 10 equalize and in
some cases to reduce State representation
in national Republican conventions. His
resolution provided for one delegate f.
each LOCO votes east. with four delegates
at-large from each State.
Quay'S Move Interests All.
There was an instant uproar. Novices
in politics couldn't understand il. nor
could they understand Quay's interest in
the question OF representation. But. while
the veterans could not understand the
situation completely. they were only pa
TALLY puzzled That Quay really WIS
vitality interested in the representation
they did not for a. moment believe. That
he wanted something. though nobody
knew just what and wanted il bad.
there could be no Doubt.
Meanwhile Quay had sent long state
ment. accompanying his amendment. 10
the platform to be read. The clerk was
struggling bravely with it. but the tumult
was SO great that nobody could hear "a
word. and at the suggestion Of Senator
Foraker Quay finally went TO the plat
form.
He was greeted with an enthusiastic
demonstration that lasted several min
utes. but his inscrutable face showed
hardly trace of the qualification he must
have felt. When the crowd had become
quiet enough for his voice TO be heard
he asked the convention TO defer action
on the amendment for one day and forego
the reading of the statement II was
long. il affected only rules I and XII:
II would be published IN the newspapers
and the delegates would have ample time
90 become familiar with il before they
would be required TO vote upon IL.
Excitement and stormy Protests.
BY this time the old stagers had begun
70 see the light. The adoption OF Quays
amendment would affect the representa-
ton of the Southern states seriously.
since only small percentage Of the Re
publican votes in those States was actu-
ally cast from year to year. but would
make no change worth noticing else
where To cut the representation from
those States materially would seriously
weaken Senator Hanna's hold upon the
convention, since practically all the
southern delegates. many of them ne
groes, were under his control It might
possibly affect the programme 20 name
Mckinley for first place. even Quay
evidently wanted something that Hanna
was able 10 give and nobody thought the
amendment would be passed: Hanna
would be sure to yield 10 any request
almost, rather than have the Southern
representation cut down Such amend
ments TO the rules had been proposed be-
fore and the price for suppression always
had been paid
Some Of the Southern delegates became
excited and protested stormily one of
them offered a substitute, standing on a
chair and gosticulating wildly as he
stroVe TO be heard. He proposed that in
10y A'AfALN nAANAE AlAt ilEnL 10 vote
abridged because OF race. color or pre-
vious condition of servitude. the renre-
sentatiOn in Congress should be reduced
in proportion 70 the extent of the dis
franchisement. Somebody suggested that
this was not germane TO the question.
and Chairman Lodge so ruled Ii looked
Ike "A bad tangle, but everything straight
ened itself out. apparently. when Quay's
motion TO allow rules I and XII to stand
over was adopted and the convention
passed on to consideration of the plat
form.
Wanted Hannn's support.
Quay. meanwhile, was surrounded bv
delegates who were eager to learn what
he wanted. but he would say nothing
until Hanna himself began to ask ques-
tiOns. No one knows the exact wording
Of Quays statement to Hanna. but il was
short, direct and substantially as follows
If you will nominate Roosevelt" said
Quay. j will withdraw the resolution. II
yon won't shall insist upon its coming
to vote. and you know what viii hap
pen then"
Hanna did know what would happen
then. The Southern representation in
National Republican conventions could
nav bNSA Cut III idtL at almost any one
OF the last half dozen conventions if the
resolution providing for the cut had not
always been withdrawn without vote
When he heard Quay's brief answer
Hanna's objections TO the nomination Of
Roosevelt for Vice President vanished
like snow under the rays Of a summer
sun. Roosevelt was not informed of the
situation in its entirety. but Hanna and
practically al the leaders told the young
New York governor that he was the en-
tire conventions choice. and that II would
be little less than treason to the party for
him to object further 10 taking the place
They assured him that his nomination
would be unanimous, and shat with his
name upon il the election of the Presi-
Dental ticket was certain
Convincing Roosevelt.
Roosevelt didn't like the situation. and
said so Some Of his friends also were
thoroughly dissatisfied. and it REQUIRED
the combined and strenuous efforts of all
the leaders to get things arranged. Meet
ings of State delegations had 10 be held
in order to make sure of the unanimous
votei promised on the morrow. and some
OF these meetings lasted nearly all night
Roosevelt himself was the storm center
II seemed that he never would be con-
WINGED, and he did not give in until Dol
liver, who had agreed to take the unweI-
come nomination, but had never wanted
it, added his voice TO the general chorus
of pleadings
1t was then very late. but Young still