OCR Text |
Show ' INSIDE STORIES OF FAMOUS COMEffilSj A. A By GILSON GARDNER. The Republican convention of 1900 vrns a "fixed" convention. It was the unchallenged wish of the party that William McKlnley be given a second term, and he was. nominated unani-mouoly unani-mouoly on the first ballot. The only interest In this convention, which was held, at Chicago, was in the choice of Theodore Roosevelt for vice president. Roosevolt had organized his famous Rough Rider regiment and had been a spectacular figure In the war with Spain. This prominence ha'l led to his choice as Republican governor of New York. Ho aspired to a second term as governor, and at some time, hoped to be presidential timber. Senator Tom Piatt was then Republican Repub-lican boss of New York, and he did not particularly like young Roosevelt. lie wasnot much in favor of Roosevelt governorship and presidential program. pro-gram. So he decided to "kick him uft stairs" out 'of the way by putting him on jhe ticket with McKinley as vice president Roosevelt recognized (he intent and did his best to escape the nomination. While the balloting on McKlnley wasj in progress various conferences took place. Roos"evelt protested vigorously. He finally decided to yield. As history had changed things, this Is seen to have been a critical decision. de-cision. The death of McKlnley . a year later placed Roosevelt In the White House charged .with carrying out for( three years the policies of the dead president. The Democratic convention of 1900 was also devoid of dramatic Interest. It was the unchallenged will of the Democratic party that Bryan should he the Democratic candidate and he was named by acclamation on the first ballot. Thes liver issue had waned since 1896, and the campaign went off chiefly chief-ly on the "paramount issue" of "Imperialism." "Im-perialism." Both the Republican and the Democratic Demo-cratic conventions In 1904 wero "fixed"' conventions. The Republican wns fixed for the renomination of Roosevolt Roose-volt and tho Democratic convention was fixed for the nomination of Alton B. Parker. Roosevelt knew the value of public opinion and always used it. That was his "big stick." -.e bolieved, if he left tho choice of candidate to the national convention, the delegates would be manipulated by Hanna, Piatt and the "old guard," and that these manipulations manipula-tions would 'limlnate him. So he began about eight months before be-fore the convention to stir things up. Ho announced hlnfaelf a candidate for renomination and put out the slogan "whoever is not for me is against me." In the Democratic party there was likewise a pre-conventlon settlement. Bryan had suffered two defeats. Free silver as an issue was dead. Roosevelt Roose-velt promised to be a formldible candidate. candi-date. There was nothing inviting to Bryan In the nomination. So he was easily persuaded to step aside and lot the torlcs In his party have a try at it Their effort was typically tory. .They set up a cry of: "Let's get back to the Constitution!" meaning the use of that dqcument. to protect big business and special Interests. jThoy passed the hat In Wall street and nominated (at St Louis) Alton B. Parker a New York lawyer, carefull and fully press-agented for the purpose. |