Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-10
MONDAY EVENING. APRIL 10, 1895

not seem 10 nave turned Oh party ii"0S'
and they convey no distinct political les
son. Lewiston, Me-, the home OF Senator
Frye and the late Mir. DiDgley, elected
a democratic mayor: Cleveland, usually
a republican stronghold, elected dem
oc-atic mayor, thanks to fectional
row among the republicans. In Toledo,
Jones, independent, was elected over
tbs republican nominee by 10 600 plu-
rslitJ. Cincinnati elected. we believe,
a reform republican ticket over the
regular Cox Hanna machine. AL
through Ohio, illinois, Iowa and the
West we note in fhese municipal cleo
tions the influence Of faotional dispute
and purely local issues. The only
State election that has occurred was 10
Rhode Island-a republican rotten
borough, where capital is everything
and man is 9 chsttel. Here the capt
taljsts fell IA little short Of their plural
irv last year aad socialism has become
a nolitical f4cto,. This 5 uatursl wi'
-eoubl:car domination, Is OF the tryaa-
nv of capital AID trusts socialism Is The
natural outcome. Even the newly
elected mayor Of Toledo i SAID to be 8
socialist A striking feature OF some OF
these contests is the rapid deyeicpm
of the doctrine @! municipal ownership
OF municipal franchises. The dg6t
seems to be between this plan ana tle
surrender Of these enormously qa.u-
able franchises to the greed of certain
private individuals enrolled ia cop7-
ratious. OF aIl these contests die e.ee.
zion Of mayor ia Chicago MSS attracted
The most attention. The candidate
elected, Mr.. Garter Harrison, acur,
the democratic nomination ans aa5 10
ways acted with the democratic par
During the canvas ne announced
himself as favorable o flirmias the
Chicago platform sn3 .hs reaomins-
uon Of Wa. J. Bryan. I Mr. Har
son was honest and sincere il his avov-
els, the result would be viewed a
democratic victory. This, however, Is
somewhat doubtful MIR. Harrison had
the cordial support of many thousand
of republicans and of all The republican
papers in Chicago except one. It l.
true that Mr.. Harrison helped to de-
feat the corrupt proposition to transfer
all the street railway franchises to 8
corporation for fifty years, and most Of
the vote he received was probably
based on this issue, bur the republican
leaders OF Chicago would hardly nave
supported Harrison if they had believ
ed him to be sincere friend of Wm.
Bryan and the Chicago platform. This
view is confirmed by the fact that Har-
rison's election is received with special
Joy by Mr.. Croker, Mr.. Belmont and
other spurious democrats who are aim
ing to divide the party by ignoring and
repudiating the Chicago platform. 1t
has been understood for number Of
months in political circles that Mr..
Croker took Mr. Harrison up nigh
mountain and showed him the Vice
Presidency, and even better things than
a barren sceptre. Now, Mr.. Croker is
very astute citizen. The Presidents
chief organ at Washington is also very
happy over the election OF Mr.. Harrison.
We're there anything in this election
shat really promised any thing for re-
storing the democratic party to power
and democratic principles in the gov
eminent, Mr.. Mckinley would he
very unhappy and his faithful
organ would sob in unison.
At no distant period, therefore, we
shall probably find Mr.. Garter Har-
rison either openly repudiating his late
declarations for the Chicago platform
and VIM. J. Bryan. Or, he may adopt
the more cunning and effective method
of using his power and patronage to
elect delegates to the National Demo
cratic Convention from Illinois, nOml-
nally for free coinage and VIM. J.
Bryan, but at heart false to both, and
ready to cooperate with Croker, Whit
ney. Hanna and Mckinley for Wall
Streets interest. But these tactics will
fail. The democracy OF Illinois are true
to the CAUSE of free coinage. They can
not be deceived or misled. They will
be on their guard, and their delegates
will not be men OF straw, eX.gamblers,
boodlers and the like purchasable So
called politicians, but men OF character
and unpurchasable. There IS good
deal in common between Harrison aud
Croker. But the comparison is in
favor of Harrison. He at least is not
fool enough to get up grand ten dol
lar banquet so as to keep out poor men
and workingmen. He is not suob
enough to run over to England every
year to play the turnkey aud tuft hunt
.er to British racing men and hang on