The age-herald., 1901-12-21
Washington. Day by Day.

It Is quite probable that the reappoiht- ment of William Vaughan as United States district attorney at Birmingham IS not appreciated in its full value by Ala bama Democrats though the leaders ana would-be leaders of the new anti-Demo- cratic alliance are aware that in. seek ing to turn out Mir. Vaughan they played their strongest card, and-lost!
 The multiform alliance against the or ganized Democracy in Alabama. which Is now assuming shape. was for anything to beat Vaughan, for the very reason that there is no kind of doubt regarding his politics and no possibility for anybody to ''use" him outside the regular Repub- lican organization. Vaughan Is a straight out Republican, as he always has been. In politics he Is that, and nothing more. nothing less. He has nothing to do with Populism, and had no connection with the standardization Democrats in the re- cent canvass against the new constitu- ton.
 It is not meant to intimate that the Democrats who opposed the new consti- tuition were not Democrats at all; but
  side of and apart from the regular Dem ocratic organization as so ably and sue cessfully represented by Mir. Underwood and his committee and practically the en- tire Democratic press of Alabama. The newspapers of the state have not been so nearly unanimous regarding any one proposition since 1890 as they were in of
 Mir. Vaughan was not and is not to the liixingtof the anti.Democratic forces that are nominally and of their own claims still within the party lines, for MT. Vaughan is first of all a Republican, and while the President will require him to resign the chairmanship of his party's state committee. he will nominate his successor and will continue to be a power full force in directing the party councils Moreover, he will insist upon the Repub- lican party organization being maintained intact. Thus we shall all know at any time and all times where to find the district attorney for the northern district of Alabama, whose renomination to office | by the President emphasizes the fact, not only of his entirely satisfactory official conduct but that he remains the most influential Republican in Alabama. | One inevitable conclusion, and the one which gives great comfort to those Dem | ocrats who so steadfastly demanded the reappointment of MT. Vaughan. Is this: It renders the confusion of issues and parties in Alabama Impossible. The Re- publican party will in 1902 make regular nominations. will support regular tickets. State. Congressional and county; and its leaders will be in position to say to the new alliance:
 Here are our tickets. If you desire to beat the Democratic organization you must come across. We will not come to your
 The value of such declaration. or any thing equivalent to it, is at once appar- ent. 1t will force the fighting of next autumn to be confined to the Democrats and the Republicans. The stronger of these two will win. There will be no par ty calling itself Democratic but acting outside the regular Democratic organi- zation and led by men whom Democrats in the past have delighted to honor The parties and issues in the intense struggle for political supremacy in Alabama which the next few months offer the best of promises to develop will be clearly and unmstakably understanded of the people. | The parties will be Democratic and Re- publican respectively, and the issues will be of Identical political coloring.
 This then, is the fuller significance of MT. vaughan's reappointment. The con ferring anew of his official honor upon l him clears the political atmosphere of Alabama as 1t alone could have done. That some men who hitherto have been leaders of the Democracy will associate themselves with that party which MT. Vaughan leads there is not much reason now to doubt. and that large numbers of private citizens will quit the Democrats for the Republicans seems more than probable. s4
 The newspapers in Washington quoted General Oates as saying to the President in effect that two strong white parties in Alabama would work general good to the State. The full meaning of that state ment, if it was really made Is, perhaps not quite apparent; but if a great man and veteran leader of Democrats, such as General Oates is. entertains such views what of the silent out masterful million, who make governors, United States Senators, Congressman Judges and Legislators? s4 sa4
 General Oates favored another Republi- can in place of Vaughan, so did Governor Johnston. General Wheeler Captain Kolb and other Democrats equally con- spicuous. These gentlemen came to Washington and discussed with the Presi- dent the tiresome and long drawn out issue of the Federal patronage in Ala bama. They had perfect right. as Democrats, to do that; 1t was unques- tionably their privilege. Whether any one of them did politically tempt the President as has been stated in respect to Governor Johnston and Captain Kolb, is not of my own Knowledge. ssp
 MT. Vaughan's personal friends amongst the Democrats, those who used their best efforts to secure the re-confer- ring upon him of the honor which he has enjoyed and worthiiy borne for four years, are naturally glad of his success; but. be 1t said to his credit as partisan and man whom one always knows where to find, his appointment is best for the