Thevariousclashesbetweenmyselfandthemachine，mytriumphinthem，andthefactthatthepeopleweregettingmoreandmoreinterestedandaroused，broughtonacurioussituationintheRepublicanNationalConventionatPhiladelphiainJune，1900。SenatorPlattandtheNewYorkmachineleadershadbecomeveryanxioustogetmeoutoftheGovernorship，chieflybecauseofthehostilityofthebigcorporationmentowardsme；buttheyhadalsobecomeconvincedthattherewassuchpopularfeelingonmybehalfthatitwouldbedifficulttorefusemearenominationifIdemandedit。TheyaccordinglydecidedtopushmeforVice-President，takingadvantageofthefactthattherewasatthattimeagooddealoffeelingformeinthecountryatlarge。[SeeAppendixBtothischapter。]Imyselfdidnotappreciatethattherewasanysuchfeeling，andasIgreatlydislikedtheofficeofVice-PresidentandwasmuchinterestedintheGovernorship，IannouncedthatIwouldnotaccepttheVice-Presidency。
IwasoneofthedelegatestoPhiladelphia。OnreachingthereIfoundthatthesituationwascomplicated。SenatorHannaappearedonthesurfacetohavecontroloftheConvention。HewasanxiousthatI
shouldnotbenominatedasVice-President。SenatorPlattwasanxiousthatIshouldbenominatedasVice-President，inordertogetmeoutoftheNewYorkGovernorship。Eachtookapositionoppositetothatoftheother，buteachatthattimecordiallysympathizedwiththeother’sfeelingsaboutme——itwasthemanifestationsandnotthefeelingsthatdiffered。MysupportersinNewYorkStatedidnotwishmenominatedforVice-PresidentbecausetheywishedmetocontinueasGovernor；butineveryotherStateallthepeoplewhoadmiredmewereboundthatIshouldbenominatedasVice-President。ThesepeoplewerealmostalldesirousofseeingMr。McKinleyrenominatedasPresident，buttheybecameangryatSenatorHanna’soppositiontomeasVice-
President。HeinhisturnsuddenlybecameawarethatifhepersistedhemightfindthatintheirangerthesemenwouldopposeMr。
McKinley’srenomination，andalthoughtheycouldnothavepreventedthenomination，suchoppositionwouldhavebeenaseriousblowinthecampaignwhichwastofollow。SenatorHanna，therefore，begantowaver。