The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-07
RULED OUT BY THE ELECTIONS.

! Prior to the elections, there was a
very general impression that former
| Governor Hill Of New York, former
Governor Pattison of Pennsylvania
and Tom L. johnson. Mayor of Cleve-
land, were presidential possibilities.
Each Of them was prominently men
toned as likely TO receive the presi-
/ Dental nomination of the Democratic
/ party. 1t is doubtful If any one of
them is now seriously considered in
| that connection. Mr.. Hill is spoken of
| as having done the Democratic ticket
| in his state more harm than good The
/ evidence that his influence was not
/ helpful is found in the fact that only
two counties outside of New York city
gave Democratic majorities, the coun-
try districts being as strongly Repub-
lican as they were two years ago. 1t
is true that the plurality of the Re-
publican candidate for Governor was
100000 less than it was two years ago.
but that was owing to the remarkable
plurality which the Democratic candi-
date for Governor received in New
York city. That plurality was due to
the efforts of Charles f. Murphy, the
new leader of Tammany.
Whatever glory was won by the
Democrats in New York was won
by him, He marshalled Tammany's
forces in a mastery manner. and roll
ed up vote for the ticket of his party
that surprised even his warmest adj
mirers. He showed himself a leader
worthy to succeed Croker or any other
of the greatest of Tammany's leaders.
He has proved his right to the place
he occupies, and the promise is that he
win restore Tammany to it's former
position of power and influence.
1t was thought that Mr.. Pattison,
having twice been elected Governor of
Pennsylvania, might succeed in win
ming another victory in the Keystone
state. If he had done so there is no
doubt that he would have been re-
garded as an available man for the
nomination of his party for President.
1t would have been claimed for him
that, having carried the strong Re
publican state of Pennsylvania, under
normal conditions, he could carry
other Republican states. He made a
very good run in the country districts,
but the plurality against him was
much like the old time Republican
ma jority in that state. Now that the
elections are over he will fall back
into the place from which he was call
ed to lead his party against the forces
of Quay.
The greatest failure of the three,
however, was that of Tom L. Johnson,
Mayor of Cleveland. Mr.. Johnson
grabbed the leadership of his party
at the last state convention. and
foreigner visiting this country during
the campaign might have thought no
body was running in the state of
Ohio but Mr.. johnson. With his alb
surd band wagon and other parapher-
MALTA for attracting attention he tour
ed the state from one end to the other.
The result was Republican majority
of unusual proportions for an off year
in politics. When the fact that Mr..
Johnson was permitted to make the
platform for his party. and that he in
jected intoNi all of his ideas as to what
the party should stand for, is taken
into account. his failure to make even
a respectable showing must be re-
garded in the light as taking him out of
the list of possible presidential candi-
dates.
The Democratic party will have to
look outside of Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Pattison
and Mr.. Johnson for its candidate for
the presidency in 1904. 1t would not be
surprising If it should find it's leader
in a man not now conspicuously prom
inent in the political field.