The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-07
Rv r. NJ Larner.


Washington, Dec. 6.-"Straws show
which way the wind blows" and the
Democratic leaders are greatly en-
couraged by the developments in the
political situation throughout the coun-
try during the past few weeks. Not
that they depend on Republican disor-
ganization for the victory in 1904, but
they recognize that the existing dissat-
isfactiOn afford them a splendid oppor-
tunity to get together, and, by present.
ing a united front, win a victory in
the next presidential election.
The fractional quarrel in Maryland
gave Senator German chance to re-
deem that state, and he has restored
it to the Democratic column, where
it will undoubtedly remain for years
to come.
The Partially of President Roose-
welt for the "colored brother" has
solidified the South and undone all the
missionary work of the late President
Mckinley in that section. President
Roosevelt has recently Joined hands
with Gov. Odell to unhorse Senator
Plat, although the latter, in a final
effort to save himself, the day before
the recent White House conference
at which he was told to take a back
seat-came out with the announcement
! that New York was solid for Roose-
welt and would go Republican in 1904
Apparently the President doubted Sena-
tor Platts sincerity, or questioned his
ability to deliver the goods, and link
ed his fortune with those of Odell.
a m
Jersey and probably Connecticut, in
all three of which the Democratic
prospects are growing brighter every
day.
The Republicans are now making all
their calculations for 1904 without the
votes of New York, New Jersey, or
Connecticut. Indiana is doubtful but
| Roosevelt's popularity in that state
may pull him through, although it
is well known that Senator Fair
banks expected to inherit the mantle
of Mckinley in 1904, and his friends
all feel that he would make a much
more acceptable candidate, and, if elect
ed, would fill the position much better
| than the present incumbent
Colorado, with it's two Democratic
senators, is a promising candidate for
| the Democratic ranks. Idaho is debat-
| able ground, and, with Senator Dubois
| making fight for reelection, is one of
| the strong Democratic possibilities. AL
| though Montana went Republican last
| year by a small plurality, the Repub-
! hcan candidate for Congress failed to
receive a majority of all the votes
| cast, and, as it has tw~ Democratic
! senators, nothing but Ro sevelt's per
| sonal popularity in the West can pos
| slbly save the state to the Republican
| party. The Republicans are confront
| ed with perpleXing problem in Utah
| If they unseat Senator Smoot they will
undoubtedly lose the state at the next
election. At the same time, if they
fail to respond favorably to the numer-
| Gus petitions now flooding the Senate
| Chamber from all parts of the coun-
try, they thereby lay themselves liable
to incur the political estrangement
| of the petitioners.
| The rejection on Monday last by
| the regular Republicans of Delaware of
the harmony proposition advanced by
the Union Republicans offers an open
ing which the Democrats will quickly
| seize, and they are preparing for an
active campaign in that state. At the
| last general election the Democrats
| polled 1896 votes in Delaware, to 12,-
99S for the Union Republican and S,02S
for the regular Republican candidate,
so that, although the Republicans, if
united, would have had a majority of
| about 5000 in the state, yet the Dem
| ocratic candidate for Congress was
elected by plurality of about $500.
| President Roosevelt has strongly urged
| upon the Republicans of Delaware
| that they should abandon their fac
| tional strife and unite for the purpose
| of carrying the state in 1904 Large
| ly in Difference to the President
| wishes, the Union Republicans offered
to submit to a common primary and
I
port the county, district, city and state
committees selected at this primary.
]. Edward Addicks, who has been a
candidate of the Union faction for the
Senate for the past four years, pledged
himself to abide by the result of the
primary and to use every means in his
power to insure the election of any
candidate, friend or foe" thus select
ed by the majority of the Republican
voters of Delaware. These PROPOSE
tons were rejected by the regulars,
who polled 5000 less votes than the
| Union Republicans at the last cleo
ton, and who recognized that the
Union or "Addicks' Republicans have
an overwhelming majority of the party
in the state.
The only terms on which the State
Committee of the regular Republicans
would consent to amalgamate with the
Union Republicans, throw over their
candidate for the Senate and walk un-
armed into the camp of the S,02S Regu-
lar Republicans. In other words. they
demanded a complete and unconditional
surrender of the majority of the party
to the minority The Union Republi-
can Committee will shartly meet. and
will undoubtedly agree that, as the
regulars have unanimously rejected
their plan to allow the majority to
rule, the fight will have to go relent-
lessly on as before. There are indica-
tons that President Roosevelt is heart
lily sick of this situation, and that he
will shortly serve notice on each of the
factions that they will have to get to-
gether or he will have nothing further
to do with either of them.
The next electoral college will have
| 476 votes, and even the most optimistic
| Republicans concede the following
states to the Democrats in 1904: Ala
| bama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mis-
sissippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Car