The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-15

table reaction. for Hill became the idol of the convention. Had he shown the ieast desire he would have been the candidate for Vice President and more to spite Croker. than anything else. So strong was the undercurrent that it was generally said that if any one man in that con-. vention could have beaten Bryan 1t would have been Hill.
 However Bryan and Croker won and Hill was compelled to make his appear ance on the platform to prevent his place on the ticket. He certainly would have been nominated for Vice President had it not been for the fact that nine out of ten men in that convention Knew that the ticket was doomed from that early hour morning when it was decided to re-enuncia.e the silver paragraph in all its foolish detaill. The friends ot Hill would not sacrifice him by putting him 1904.
 Now, in the opinion of the Democratic faithful here, Hills time has come: Cro- ker is, as they say, "a dead one, and in the reorganization of the New York Democracy David B. Hill and J. c. Shee- han will take the place of Croker, Car roll. Devery, Sullivan and others chiefs of the Wigwam. Croker's defeat means the defeat of Murphy as well. With Croker and Murphy both out of the way Hlil' ( grasp upon the organization in New York will be stronger than 1t ever was before.
 
 who witnessed the political meanness of Croker at Kansas City are ready, it is said. to receive Hill with open arms. The situation in New York Is counted upon by his friends to give Hill an undoubted tactical advantage in the Democratic con- vention of 1904 With Croker swept out of the way. not an open Democratic vote, but by distinctive fusion move directed against Tammany Hall itself, Hill is in a position to claim absolute regularity and the defeat of Croker, who was Bry- ans friend. while most opportune for Hill. cannot be claimed to have been caused by him. Thus he escapes the open enmity of the Nebraska hot air engine.
 There is another and still stronger ar gument which the Hill men are using and which they will continue to do. This is that Theodore Roosevelt Is naturally nke- ly to be the Republican candidate Few politicians can see any other outcome at the present time. It is admitted that Roosevelt can carry New York State un- less a New York man is the Democratic candidate for the Presidency.
 Hills friends are banking a great deal on this feature. and they say If Roose. welt is nominated by the Republicans Hill beco mes the inevitable choice of the Dem ocrats There is no doubt that with Hill and Roosevelt in the field New York would become at once doubtful State, for no one pretends to question the great personal following of each of these nat ural born leaders. and fight between them for the electoral vote of New York would be a political Dattie or tne Hrst ma agnitude.
 In estimating the chances of these two men, Hill and German, who were both pushed out of the Sen1te by the political landslide which began in 1894 and con tinued through 1900. especial attention must be given to the different elements which go to make up the strength of the two men.
 German 's strong with the leaders. who know and admire his peculiar genius Tor political chicanery, but he is lacking In strength among the people and probably never could by his own personal eSorts arouse a great wave of popular enthusi- asm.
 Hill, on the other hand, is a political hero He makes friends among the mass es and people hang upon his words in public campaign. He can make plenty of speeches and arouse as much enthusiasm as ever Bryan did but in an essentially different fashion.
 Hill was always weak with the bosses and probably always will be, so it will readily be seen that Hill and German rep resent essentially different political fac tors. Combined they would make strong ticket. and this 1t is which makes some people believe the ticket might be Hill and German or German and Hill. Those who knew the two ex-Senators well, however, are not inclined to be- lieve that either one of them would be willing to play second fiddle while the other was leading the orchestra. That the Democratic ticket in 1904 will be head ed by either Hill or German ninety-n out of every hundred Democrats here fully believe.