The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-11-13
Thelemurraf-S Star
WUEREARETHE PALMER DEM
OCRAT'S?
Y. o. Times Democrat.

Now that the election was over, Tue
figure that the Palmerites, or so-called
National Democrats, cut in politics Is
scarcely as good as during the cam
paign. The indianapolis party was
born. we were told. for the express
purpose OF preserving the Organiza-
tion OF the party. Its members de-
clarcd that they were unwilling to
support Bryan and the Chicago plat
form, but, being Democrats, they
could not vote for Mckinley; and they
proposed to elect the latter-f0r that
was their avowed p%urpose-by taking
votes from Bryan which he would
otherwise get, because he was the
party candidate. by putting up an
other Democratic candidate it was
thought that it would sOOthe the con-
science of a number Of former Demo-
Gratis, who would thus help Mckin-
ley without DESERVING the name or
standard Of Democracy.
The ''sound money" Democrats, we
we're told at the time, numbered over
a million; and it was estimated at
first that Palmer would poll nearly a
million votes. This estimate was
considerably reduced as the campaign
progressed, but 100000, or 9 per cent
OF the total Democratic votes, were
expected TO go to the Generals, enough
to give them control OF a number OF
Democratic States.
The election returns have cOnsidcra.
bly, changed these figures. The
Palmer vote has everywhere fallen far
below the first estimates. The total
will be much less than the Prohibi
zionist candidate got in 1892, and Is
possibly not as great rs the vote OF
the Socialist and other minor parties.
1t is so small in Illinois, being below
the . per cent of the total which the
election law requires to make 1T a po-
litical party, that it cannot be allowed
recognition on the official ballot in
any future election.
The peculiar thing about it is that
so few Of the men who declared they
were for Palmer voted for him. III
the Chicago Records postal card con
test some II per cent Of the Demo
Gratis declared their intention TO vote
for Palmer, but the returns show that
not one.Hfth OF them did so. Here in
New Orleans the ''sOund money
Democrats found no difficulty in Sc
curing one thousand signatures To
the nomination papers required tt
put their electors on the official bal
lot; and they claimed some 5000 votes
but they cast only 764 votes in New
Orleans, and 1900 or 1900 in the entire
State. This popularity is not con
fined to Louisiana. The "sOun(
money! vote everywhere fell below
claims and expectations. The "sount
money Democrats voted, but some
how the boxes did not contain tn
Palmer votes which they claim t
have cast.
In a number of States there is n,
concealment about this phenomenon
and it is frankly admitted that wheI
it came to the final test the "sOun'
money" Democrats went over to tn
Republican party, and swallowe
Hanna, Mckinley, and the entir
dose. They were afraid that II the
east their votes for Palmer it Nigh
not elect Mckinley, and thought
safer to vote directly for the latte
The secrecy of the Australian ballt
protected them in doing so. Tho
could still claim to be Democrats, b
cause they had announced their !
tention to vote for that "stalwa
Democrat" John NJ. Palmer; al
they could ut the same time salts
their personal wishes by dropping
vote in the box fer Mckinley. 1t
said that in one OF the precincts
this city where there are six web
ment Palmcrites all Of them vote
only one Palmer vote was cast, whit
caused a great deal OF suspicion OF u
six toward each other until 1t "
suggested that it must be due to
election irregularity. AS 1t was, sill
liar Irregularities occurred not on
all over New Orleans and Louisian
but all over the Union. The Palm
Democrats save a few, and many
these through ignorance-did not yo
for Palmer.
The question is likely to arise as
the position OF the PaInierites iowa
the party. The Nationals claim
that it was their purpose to preser
the integrity of the party and rec
ganize it after the fight; but there a
rather few OF them to do much in q
reorganization line. a party, or ia
tiOn, when oareIy l-VV
1900 In the State, or about l per ce
OF the Democratic vote, is not like
TO do much In the recognizing way
TO figure very conspicuously in po
tics. They might have done SON
thing II they had shown sol
strength, but without votes one ca
not accomplish much In politics.
1t might be worth while for t
oddities to secure the names Of t
764 Democrats who voted for Palm
in New Orleans, for we are afra
there are a great many claiming TIL
honor who are not entitled to 1t, b
who, while Democrats In name a
claim, are stalwart Republicans VIII
1t comes TO voting.