Evening star., 1923-09-19
Politics at Large
by N. O. MESSENGER


ticians the dramatic incident. a pro-
posal to limit representation. which
made Theodore Roosevelt first Vice
President and then President of the
United States. It was in the national
convention of 1900, in Philadelphia.
There were three masterful leaders
in that convention-Marl< Hanna of
Ohio, Matthew s. Quay OF Pennsyl-
vania and Thomas c. Platt of New
York. Quay and P1att were playing
together, Hanna was playing his own
hand. Hanna wanted Long of Massa-
chusetts for Vice President on the
ticket.
But Mr.. Piatt had other fish to fry.
He desired TO get Col. Roosevelt out
Of state politics in New York, for he
could not alweays rely on being able
to do business" with the colonel
nor count upon doing what the PIatt
machine wanted done. Mr.. Platt
knew that the subject OF proposed
reduced representation from the
southern states was q sore one to
Mr.. Hanna.
So he went to his ally, Mr. Quay,
and took counsel how to bring re-
oalcitrant Mr.. Hanna to listen to the
voice of reason and consent to the
nomination Of Col. Roosevelt for the
vice presidency.
x X
Mr.. Quay thought it over and one
fine day bobhed up in the convention
with simple little resolution, which
In his blandest way. ne asked the
convention to adopt. When Mr.. Quay
was most bland was the time that
all the hard boiled" politicians
looked keenest for what he might
have up his sleeve and metaphor
ically "frisk" him for political brass
knuckles, slung-shots and automatics.
When they read the resolution 1t
did not take them long to appreciate
that it was a sawed-ofr shotgun, load
ed with buckshot. It read: THAT
hereafter each state shall be entitled
TO four delegates at large and one
additional delegate for each 10000
votes or majority fraction thereof
cast at the last preceding presidential
election for republican electors; and
six delegates from each organized
territory and the District of Column
bia; and that the methods for the
election of such delegates shall be
provided for by the national commit
zee"
Wen, when Mr.. Hanna grasped the
full import Of this innocent-sounding
resolution he went up in the air"
He knew it would mortalIy offend
the southern delegates and he had a
bloc Of them who had been very
useful TO him. When Mr.. Platt solennIv
approved the Quay resolution. the
astute Mr.. Hanna realized that he
was up against II" and was facing
a defensive, if not offensive alliance
between these two masterful political
craftsmen.
So he ceased 70 press the Long
candidacy for Vice President. and
strangely enough the New York
and Pennsylvania leaders manifested
waning interest in the reduction reso-
luton, while the candidacy of Col
Roosevelt waxed fat and fourished to
contamination.
"
IN 1908 the southern representation
question again figured in the noni-
nation of a Vice President: that Is 70
say the very thing which Mr.. Hanna
mad fought for, namely, holding in
tact the big southern bloc OF dele
gates, operated to the nomination
of James S. Sherman for Vice Pres
ident.
In will be recalled that fearing a
possible attempt to stampede the
convention for Roosevelt and make
him take third term despite him
self, the "allies" had a number of
candidates for the presidency in the
field. as favorite sons, and were
guarding them closely. By some
foresight a goodly number of south
ern delegates had also been gath
cred in and were being held in leash.
Tho "allies" wanted James S. Sher-
man or New York for Vice President
and largely with the aid of the
enabled to put him over"
The republican national committee,
in it's call for the convention to be
issued along in the first or second
for the reduced representation from
these states. which were deficient in
producing republican votes in the
presidential election OF 1920. The
delegates chosen under the new reg
ulation VIII come to the convention
and present their credentials TO the
committee, which will make up the
temporary roll.
Then. if the faction which is in
the majority deems any "steam roll
can be placed in the permanent roll
or not, as the majority wills.
But the best posted republican
leaders do not apprehend the neces-
sity of any steam roller operations at
any stage OF the convention.
In the first place they do not think
President Coolidge would countenance
II, even IL 1t were urged upon him
py entnusiasuo supporters as an al
X + *
President Coolidge continues to be
regarded by republican politicians as
the logical and, as thought by many,
the inevitable candidates for the pres
idency, after the "favorite sons" of
other states or sections have had
their complimentary trot around the
track. Indeed, I find this thought to
be shared by many democrats, as
well-that is to say-they think that
the republicans countrywide will
feel that he Is their one best best in
the stiff game which the democrats
hope to set up for the ides of Novem-
Der.
This prospect of the inevitability
of Mr.. Coolidge's nomination, many
democrats say, will make the game
much harder for the democrats to
play. Up to the time of President
Harding's death they were building