New-York tribune., 1901-09-07
THE FIGHT IN MISSOURI.

Missouri now promises To be the battle-ground
on which the struggle for supremacy between
the "'reorganZlng" and radical wings Of the
Democratic party will cuImnate No single
State has within the last six years obtained
and exercised an influence In Democratic coun-
els equal 10 hissOuri's. Through Bland and
the Ideas he represented she wrested control OF
the Democratic National Convention Of 1896
from the Eastern conservatives. and though
Bland failed of a Presidential nomination the
leader on whom his mantle fell lost no time In
apprOprlating 10 himself the issue which the
Missouri school had nursed 10 a triumphant
popularity. In Ex-Governor William J. Stone
Missouri also gave 10 Colonel Bryan the polti-
cal manager whose skill aud patience straight
ened out in 1896 the tangles of fusion with
graspng Silver Republicans and balky POpu-
lists. and 10 whose generalship the Nebraska
orator owed In conspicuous measure his unop-
posed denomination at Kansas City four years
later. Politically the most powerful OF the
States which gave their votes 10 the Demo
cratic nominees In 1896 and 1900, Mlssouri's
example will again prove singulariy potent In
determining on what platform and under what
leadership the Democratic party is TO enter the
next Presidential campaign.
Just now the Democratic politicians OF the
State are in a ferment over the choice of
United States Senator 10 succeed George G..
Vest for the term beginning March t. 1903
Mr. Vests falling health forces him TO retire to
private life. and he has repeatedly announced
that he wifi under no circumstances seek cleo
ton for another term. The legislature which is
TO fill the approaching vacancy will not he
elected until November, 1902 But already a
fight 10 control the Democratic caucus at JEFF
ferson City has begun between the ''reorgan-
izers" and the radicals the result OF which will
practically decide what role Missouri Is to play
In any attempted recasting OF Democratic lead
ership and Democratic faith. The fortunes of
the radical wing OF the party seem more or less
definitely linked with the candidacy of ex- Gov
ernOr Stone The cause of the ''reorganizers' is
led by ex- Governor David r. Francis. q former
Gold Democrat and Secretary of the Interior for
a few months in President Clevelands second
Cabinet Mr. Stone recently opened his cam
paIgn with a declaration that free silver coin
age was not dead as political issue, and that
no necessity existed either for modifying the
Chicago and Kansas City platforms for beat
ing the jungles for new leadership.
In assuming this unyelding attitude he has
run counter 10 the ideas and projects of many
other Missouri leaders. Senator Vest not long
ago announced that the Democracy must 'stop
hunting around In corners and up canyons for
"Populist, Socialist and Single Tax votes and
"go back to the doctrines of Mr. Jefferson. -
Further use OF the free coinage issue. Mr. Vest
held, would be Suicidal" and he haZarded the
Judgment that Colonel Bryan was mot a great
leader" and could never ;eed the party TO vic
tory" Senator Cockrell also recently admitted
that the silver cause was hopeless, and advo-
Gated dropping II from the party's programme.
Mr.. Francis has never. of course, openly sub
scribed to the free coinage heresy. and he and
his political friends were bitterly eensured in
The Commoner' last spring for having the