Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-09
Xxx. THE NJ KINLEr-BRrAS RACE OF 1900

Xxx. THE NJ KINLEY-BRVAS RACE OF 1900.
Long before the national conventions
met in the summer d 1900 everybody
knew that the Republicans would renomi-
nate President Mckinley, and that the
Democrats would again follow the lead
ership of MIR. Bryan. Mckiniey's re-
nomination WAS made certain because of
the great prosperity which blessed the
country, because of the successful issue
of the War with Spain, and because of the
perfection of the organisation of the Re
publican party under Mr.. Hanna and the
coterie of Republican senators that stood
with the administration. Bryan's re-
nomination was made certain by his popu-
larity with the rank and file of his party,
notwithstanding the bitter and intense
opposition Of the gold" Democrats.
The denomination of Bryan In 1900 Is
the only instance of the denomination of an
unsuccessful candidate for President In the
campaign next after his defeat. Jackson
was a candidate in 1928 after his defeat in
1924, but as he had the plurality of both
popular and electoral votes IN the first
race, and as there were no party nomina- |
tlons then hls case Is not precedent. |
Henry Clay was three times q candidate !
for President, but only once was he the |
recognized nominee OF q party, and that |
was in the campaign after the one IN which |
he was defeated for the Wing nomination |
bv General Harrison. Grover Cleveland |
was nominated in 1892 after his defeat |
In 1883, but az he had served one term IN
the White House he could not be con |
sidered a wholly unsuccessful candidate.
No man who has met defeat st every |
turn of his career Ii national politics has |
4 - II L.. -.
of ono of the two great parties with the |
single exception Of Mr.. Bryan.
NEW FACTORS IN POLITICS.
Between the presidential campaign of |
1896 and 1900 things had happened W hich /
were TO change the whole course of AIneri- /
can national life.
War was declared on Spain, and in less
than four months 1t was over. The Ameri- /
can victory WIS complete and the United /
States had suddenly become a world
power in the sense that the phrase is
used in European chancellories.
As the result of the war the United |
States found itself in the possession OF
several things 1T had never had before.
There were the colonies-the Philippines,
protectorate-Cuba. There was the church
laia1e dItSl4bit tfSsi6 H<tS kfft tASld-
territorial proplem and the question, |
''Does the Constitution follow the Flag?"
In addition to these new things, the ma
ton also had a NEW crop of war heroes.
Chief among these was Theodore Roose-
welt Others were Admirals Dewey,
Schley, Sampson and Lieutenant Hobson.
Mr. Bryan had endeavored to become a
war hero too, but the regiment which he
commanded was not permitted to get
further away than Tampa.
HOW DEWEY QUEERED HIMSELF
Admiral Dewey was the great naval hero.
Naturally, he was discussed as candidate
for President He made the fatal mistake
of taking the first mention" as seriously
as If it had been call from the notifca-
ton committee of national convention. !
He accepted q nomination In advance !
of its being offered, and was promptly
laughed into oblivion. Sampson and |
Schley were involved In a controversy
that removed both of them from the hero |
class. General Joe Wheeler had been a |
rebel general and was out of the question
General Nelson A. Miles and
Colonel William j. Bryan did not get
to the front.
Thus it happened that when two years
had gone by and the country faced
another quadrennlaJ struggle for the Presi-
deney, it found that the War with Spain
had produced but one genuine war hero
who had lasted. That was Colonel Roose-
welt. he hadn't been high in command
in the Army, but he had organized a
regiment and had done many
things. He had actually
LII a battle and had proved his
to fight.
The Republicans of New York State
nad taken him up and had elected him
governor, not SO much because they
wanted him, but because he was the onIy
man who could win. AS has happened
since, the Republican bosses found that a
governor so selected might be entirely too
selI-wiIled TO rule the roost at Albany
10 suit the organization. In those days
5he Will o. Thomas G. Plaut was law in the
republican organization in New York
State. Not even Mr.. Roosevelt openly
opposed it then. But Platt knew that be
'ouid not hold Roosevelt down, SO he
decided TO get rid of him. He would kick
lim upstairs.
PUTTING ROOSEVELT IN THE WASTE BASKET
Therefore he went 10 the Republican
Convention az Philadelphia with his plans |
Ill laId. The nomination Oh Mckinley was |
assured. although there was a little Roose-