Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-08
CANNOT WIN.
CANNOT WIN.
Can See No Hope for Demo
cratic Party.
Representative Babcock Says 1t Will
Meet Defeat.
Looks for Big Break if the Conserve
tives Control.

WASHINGTON. May 1T was not {
bright picture of Democratic prospect;
in 1904 which Rep. Babcock of Wiscon
sin, chairman of the Republican con
eressional campaign committee, pre-
sents. That astute politician can see
nothing but certain defeat Tor th'
Democratic Presidential ticket mex
year. regardless of who the candidate!
may be. This is the way Mr.. Bd5cocl
views the situation:
Eff any so-called conservative Demo
crat is nominated he will meet with th'
antagonism Of the radical wing of the
party. This has been made clear by
the attitude which Col. Bryan has as
sumcd toward the prospective candi-
dacy of such men as Grover Cleveland
Senator German and others who repre-
sent the old line democracy. The radi-
calls will not stand for Il ticket made VI
of men who We're opposed to free silver
and several OF the isms which charac-
terized the Chicago and Kansas City
platforms They want a reiteration OF
the fallaces which contributed to Bry-
ans defeat in 1896 and again in 1906
and arc leaning heavily toward Social
ism.
IF the radicals should control the
next Democratic convention they Will
nominate man for President who viii
be committed to government owner
ship of certain public utilities, as well
as to many of the dangerous planks in
the old platforms formulated by tho
Organizes. This would mean the alien
of tI,a
tive vote and such old line Democrats
as believe in sound money and a ration
al declaration of principles and We
would again see them voting the Re-
publican ticket, just as they did in the
last two national campaigns.
Thus, to my mind, whatever element
the nominee represents he is sure tC
encounter the opposition of the Other
wing of his party. The radicals anC
conservatives of the party are as un-
miXable as oil and water. / believe il
is impossible to get them together fol
next years campaign, and Republican
success is absolutely assured. Mr.
Roosevelt will be the nominee.
If the conservatives control the
Democratic convention the principal
Dilllt SlOullU VI Iilc campaign Will W
in New York, New Jersey and Connect
icut, where irrational political isms
have been repudiated during the las
two Presidential contests. Should the
radicals be in control the battle ground
will be in the Western states, where
Organism has had its greatest
Strength. We would be sure of carry
ing the Eastern states mentioned in tht
latter contingency, while in the former
the detection from the conservative
ticket would insure US the electora
votes there.
u look for the most serious break il
the history of the Democratic party
next year in the event the conserva-
tive wing is successful in controlling
the convention. In my judgment VIC
will see the organization of what may
be called the Social Democratic party.
composed of sOcalstic anarChistit
and other unruly elements. There viii
he a union of these political bodies with
what used to be the Populist party ana
this new organization will poll a larger
vote, in my opinion, than the Popuist
party ever did in it's palmicst days"