Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-12

the election laws in this state operate
against the selection of an independent
But for the fact that the Seth Low move
Inent was backed by money influence and
tens of thousands of voters. the Citizens
Union would have been throttled at its
birth. Lack of time, 1t is said, compelled
Tom johnson and the Henry George cam
paisn COMMITTEES TO consent to the nominal
ton of the Citizens Union candidates on
the Thomas Jefferson democracy ticket
during the recent remarkable municipal
canvass in Greater NeH York, yet the NOM
ination of an Independent candidate for
cause petitions must be filed in every
county in the state. And any irregularity
may invalidate the ticket.
The friends of Bryan will make a contest
before the state convention. II Belmont is
nominated the machinery will be set in
motion in the shortest possible space of
time. The adherents of the Chicago plat
form announce that they do not propose
to allow Belmont to be elected governor by
one or two hundred thousand plurality in
this state. Sooner than do this they will
stand up and be counted" The election
of Belmont by large ma jority would un-
doubtedly prove a serious blow to the presi-
Dental aspirations OF Bryan.
Belmont might become serious presi-
Dental possibility himself or the vote Of
Tammany Hall and the state democratic
machine might be concentrated on Judge
A. B. Parker. who was elected judge Of
the state court of appeals last fall by $4,000
majority. Mayor Van Wyck might be used
to hold the Tammany votes in line in case
his popularity is not seriously impaired
two years from now. Or young Garter
Harrison, in case he can control the votes
of Illinois as against Altgeld. who still
dominates the rural districts of that state.
might be used by Richard Croker and
David b. Hill to beat Bryan.
With Tammany in the next national con-
vention, it will be anything to beat Bry
an" and with men like German of Mary
10, I hill
Ohio, as a nucleus around which To rally. it
Is not certain that the Tammany delegation
will be content to let the new democracy
of the south and west have platform and
candidate. Undoubtedly Hill and Croker
will want something besides the vice presi-
Gency.
No Love between Hill and Croker.
By this it must not be inferred that Hill
and Croker are on friendly terms. They
hate each other cordially, personally, but
the political necessities of the one and the
for himself and the boys" have induced
the two to join hands for the time being.
1t is only another exhibition of the mas
ter policy of ex-senator Hill. In a pitched
battle with Croker he would be defeated.
Croker already controls Brooklyn through
his alliance with McLaughln-an alliance
founded on political necessities and lot
confidence or friends hp-Erie through his
understanding with Mack and Troy and
other upstate counties through his alliance
with Senator Murphy. To tight combina-
ton like that would spell ruin for Hill, and
he knows it. BY consenting to the nominal
ticn of Belmont he obtains, in the event OF
the election of the banker politician, a
friend in the new king; he secures ample
friends for Croker and his followers and he
gains what he needs most of all-timc. If
Belmont Is elected Hill can justly claim
credit for the victory. Hill has no desire
to attempt the Mother Darlington act of
attempting to sweep back the sea with a
broom. But if he must play the role CT
dame with apron and broom, he is clever
er ough to tackle a falling Tammany tide.
not a rising Tammany tide-and Hin knows
that sooner or later the Tammany Hall tide
will recede. Then he will battle for su-
premacy with Croker, and as BRAN power
almost always wins over brute force, he
will win.