The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-12-30
WILLIAM r. HEARST
Scheming to Secure Democratic Sena-
torial Nomination.


Scheming to Secure Democratic sena-
torial Nomination.
Brooklyn Eagle.
secret plan to defeat Senator Thomas
c. Plat for reelection to the United
| States Senate, in the interests of William
r. Hearst a Democratic candidate for
that Office has been exposed by oppo-
nents of Mr.. Hearst who are friends OF
David B. Hill.It was the subject of dis
cussion last evening among the Demo-
cratic politicians at the Hoffman House
and the Republicans at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. Those who are acquainted with
its details describe II as the most daring
enterprise in the history Of New York
politics, although 1t has had parallel
or two in the Western States.
Mr.. Hearsts agents talked about this
plan to certain Democratic leaders Of
Brooklyn whom they desired to interest in
It. Brooklyn is the center of David B..
Hills Democratic influence in the State.
A month ago Mr.. Hill announced that
John B. Stanchfield of Elmira would be
the Democratic candidate to succeed Mr..
Plat. Mr.. Hearst's ':andidacy thus re-
vealed a situation prejudicial to the In
terests of Mr.. Hill as State Democratic
leader, and Mr.. Hills Brooklyn friends
Immediately set to work to balk it.
They have found. however. that a great
deal of effective work has already been
done among the Democratic members Of
the Legislature in Mr.. Hearsts interests.
Enough has been done in Tammany Hall.
| in fact, to arouse the suspicion that Rich
ard Croker Is supporting Mr. Hearst"
| candidacy. Charles F. Murphy has ten
| tatively committed the Tammany organ
| ization to Mr.. Stanchfeld, but this will
| not prevent the Tammany votes from 60
ing to Mr.. Hearst II circumstances de-
velop in his favor later on, as they are
expected to. Mr.. Croker, it is said, Is
quite likely to be in New. York when the
Senatorial vote is taken. in which event
his influence is declared to be certain to
be exerted against Mr.. Hill and for Mr..
Hearst.
AS Is already well known among the
| State Democratic leaders, Mr.. Hearst was
a candidate for the nomination of his par
ty for Governor. At the time Of the con-
vention he had the support of several
delegations. After his defeat his relations
with Mr.. Hill altered. Immediately after
the election a Hearst Senatorial boom was
started. A line of Democratic country
newspapers declared for him. Ex-Mayor
James K. Mcclure of Syracuse, who, in
cooperation with Mr.. Hearst drafted the
State platform, was one of his hackers.
Recently the Hearst boom has been
working, under cover, II is true, in both
Manhattan and Brooklyn and 1t is now
said that Mr.. Hearst Is in a position to
control the minority caucus, figuring Mr..
Hill entirely out of 1t, IL he determines
later on that there is a chance for a Re-
publican split in the Legislature and the
acquisition of the nineteen Republican
votes necessary for his election.
That there is to be a split among the
Republican members of the Legislature is
to nobody else so certain as it appears to
be to Mr.. Hearst Between Senator Plate
and Governor Odell there are some evil
dences of rupture but 1t is the consensus
of opinion among politicians that their
differences will not affect Mr. Platt's re-
election to the Senate. Mr.. Hearst enter
tains the opposite opinion. His New
York newspaper. The American, pub
lished a statement yesterday morning ex-
hibiting complete confidence in a Repub-
lican split at Albany. The question which
is now agitating the politicians is: What
information has Mr.. Heart about the split
which is not in the possession of the party
leaders?
Mr.. Hearts expectations are said to be
that the Republican opposition to Sena-
tor Platt's reelection will become acute
and afford the necessary entering wedge
for a Democratic candidate. While the
principal Republican leaders do not be-
lieve this they are at the same time won
dering IL Mr.. Hearst has any Republican
assurances to Justify his opinion. 1t
not too much to say that the Republican
situation is being very carefully scrutin.
lied to discover the weaknesses that are
apparent to Mr.. Hearst.
In the meantime the fact that Mr.
Hearst is a candidate is established be-
yond dispute. 1t has been asserted by
country Democrats who have been asked
to support him. Some of his friends add
to this assertion the statement that he
has chance to win, despite the fact that
the Republicans have a clear majority OF
twenty-six on joint ballot.
In Tammany Hall. which is the seat
of Mr.. Hearst's greatest Democratic
strength, there is no disposition to en-
tighten the public about his candidacy.
Several of the strongest leaders of that
organization are kno ~n to be supporting
his senatorial ambitions. These leaders
are strong enough, without any outside
assistance, to carry the Democratic Leg
lslative caucus for Mr.. Hearst
Mr.. Hearst established his influence in
Tammany Hall during the last campaign,
in which he was elected to Cong ess by a
very heavy plurality in the district for
merly represented by the late Amos j
Cummings. He was one of the heaviest
paign fund.