New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-08
THE POSSIBLE CANDIDATES.


preparation almost every Democratic news
paper in the land devoted much space for weeks
to lnborious attacks on Mckinley, showing in
the clrarest way their profound anxiety that
he should not be nominated. Not the least
anxiety Of the kind has been shown by RepuD-
lican Journals regarding the Democratic selec-
ton of candidate. Even now. with that con-
yention in session. not the slightest interest
seems to be taken IN the matter There Is no
body whom the Republicans particularly fear
or especially desire to have nominated. anu
they would be only too glad to have the Demo-
Gratis put up the best and strongest man they
can who represents the actual aims OF the
party
Most of their possible candidates have Deen
tested Governor BOiPs. OF Iowa. found his
way into office on the Prohibition issue, and
when the tidal wave against Republicans was
Mt It's height in 1891 was again elected Gov
crnor by plurality of S,21G In total vote or
42O.152, receiving POI .jS0 votes. But two years
later the same man was beaten by 1906 plll-
rality in total vote Of 4l5,j1O. receiving 'S.On
fewer votes than In 1891. The largest vote
ever east for him was smaller than the Repub-
lican vote in 1891 or In 1896. Is there any
sense in suppOsing that a candidate thus beaten
can carry Iowa in Presidential year against
a strong Republican!
Or take the case Of Bland After having
been elected eleven times in succession In prac-
tically the same Democratic district, which
easily gave him majorites Of thOusands-2,1W
in 1S02-he was beaten in 1894 by new and
comparatively young Republican, because the
Populists cast some $500 votes against Silver
Dick" and for a candidate OF their own. Does
il look as IT, in the district which knows him
best. he had endeared himself to the people
by his services? Are the POpullsts elsewhere
certain to support man whom. where he was
best known, the Popusts defeated? Governor
Matthews Of Indiana, is supposed to have
boom concealed somewhere. In the Demo
cratic tidal year he was elected by plurality
OF G.076. receiving 2G06O1 votes. but two years
later the Republicans had "a, 173 plurality, cast
ing 2S3. JO5 votes, the total vote being larger
than had ever been cast In q Presidential cleo
ton. What Is there to indicate that Matthews
could carry his own State? Mclean talks
largely OF Ohio voting for free silver, though
his utmost exertiOns in that State did not pre-
vent plurality Of 1852 for Bushnell last year,
against Campbell, whom some want to make
the candidate now, and 10000 majority over
Democrats and Populisfs combined, with full
vote The Democrats stand In great need OF
candidate who has at least some chance OF
carrying his own State and breaking the great
Republican phalanx. but not one of these seems
to have that chance.
On that basis long headed Senatorial leaders
Of Democracy cOnspired six months ago with
Teller and other silver Senators. who promised
the electoral votes of silver mining States ana
a vast lot more which they fancied bolt would
win from the Republicans But Senator Teller
does not seem likely TO be the Democratic can
didate The five States which produce prac-
tically all the silver taken from United States
mines have only sixteen electoral votes, and
there Is q painful lack of evidence that In any
of the States composing the great Republican
phalanx Teller and the Democrats together
conld poll as many votes rs the Democrats
alone Twenty four years ago Democrats NOM
mated n more distinguished and nbler Repub-
lean than Senator Teller. and were able to cast
for him 40 few Democratic votes that, with all
the Republican support he received, his total
vOte-Omitting the four States which had not
voted in 1S6S-was 2,Gl3.210, while Democrats
alone had cast ., 7O9Gl3 for Seymour four years
earlier. The Democrats who care for free sill.
yer and nothing else are not a majority Those
who care for Free Trade would hardly forget
that Mr. Teller has been n Protectlonist all his
life. The Populists have been doing their best
to beat Teller and his friends for years. and
In Colorado were beaten by 1S,GOS In 1894 while
1927 Democrats threw away their votes for
separate ticket In Montana Populists were
beaten by 1909 while 10369 Democrats threw
away their votes. and In Idaho they were beat
en- by 3,OS7. while 1857 Democrats threw away
their votes. What indicates that, even in these
silver States, the parties which have been fight
ing each other can today be united? 1t Is not
at all clear that enough votes can be brought
together to carry even these States for any
particular silver candidate
A GOOD ROADS PLANK AT CHICAGO.
An effort will be made at Chicago to procure