The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27

Mr.. GORMAN IS TRYING TO
MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL
Maryland's Senator Anxious to
Make the Panama Question an
Issue, but Cannot.
BEE IS IN HIS BONNET
And 1t Is Buzzing So Loud He
Cannot Hear Alright the
Cries of His Party.
BEE is IN HIS BONNET

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Candidates and
platforms for the national campaign OF
1904 will be made within the next few
months. The fight has already begun. The
Democrats started the ball rolling in their
onslaught upon the Panama treaty. From
present indications their first battle will
prove an utter failure. Unless the unex-
pected happens the treaty is certain TO be
ratified Sentiment in the South will force
a sufficient number of Democratic senators
Republican programme. OF course Senator
German and other Democratic leaders have
not yet abandoned their fight on the treaty.
but they are getting little encouragement
from their constituents, and one State Leg
islature in the South has passed a strong
resolution directing its senators to sup
port the instrument. The Democrats soon
must take another tack Their efforts to
adopt the unit rule have not been success
full so far. It's a difficult Job to control the
hosts of Democracy even in the United
States Senate, and no one appreciates that
fact better than Arthur Pue German. of
Maryland.
Considerable amusement has been ere
ated here by the apparent effort of the
Democratic Senator's who have been train
ing under Germans leadership in the
Panama matter to get out from under the
load imposed by the conditions and the
pressure from the dissatisfied people
throughout the South. This was brought
directly home to-day by the publication
interview
of Missouri, who is classed as a German
stamp of Democrat in the school of prac-
teal politics. Mr.. Stone does his best to
make it appear that the policy of the Dem
ocrats has not been TO oppose the canal,
but to call attention to what they believe
to have been the unwarranted action of
President Roosevet's administration in
respect to the new Panama republic. Now
that the Southern Democrats have been
called out from under the German policy
by instructions from their State legisla-
lures and the overwhelming voice of pro-
testing newspapers of high rank in the
party, it has become apparent to Mr.. Cor
man that he overshot the mark and that
if he has accomplished nothing else he has
committed a blunder which detracts ma
terially from his presidential nomination
prospects.
There has been a great deal of specula-
ton here recently relative to candidates
and platforms of the two great parties
Nobody here doubts that President Roose-
welt will be nominated by reclamation and
that his running mate will come from In
diana, Illinois or Ohio, with the possibility
of the party crossing the Mississippi and Sc
lecting a man from Iowa. AS to the DEM
ocrats those of a speculative mind are in
clined to the belief that either Judge
Parker, of New York, or Senator German,
of Maryland, will oppose Roosevelt. The
Democrats are at loss for platform.
They are expected to follow the traditional
policy of opposing everything proposed by
the Republicans. The Republicans will
stand upon the record of the administration
and the party in Congress.
Democrats admit the anxiety they feel
over the probable attitude of William Jen-
nings Bryan, the peerless one. They do not
disguise the fact that what Bryan may or
may not do is of great Importance to the
Democratic party in the coming campaign.
1t is regarded as settled that the Demo-
cratic platform will not contain the eccen-
trio ideas OF Bryan on the money question
That fact and the possibility of the nomi-
nation of Mr.. German or Judge Parker is
expected to have the effect practically of
reading Mr.. Bryan out of the party.
Il am almost ready to predict that Mr.
Bryan will vote for Mr.. Roosevelt in prefer
ence to the nominee of his party" said a
Democratic politician. Replying to this a
Republican said that no such hard luck
could be mapped out for Mr.. Roosevelt
1.-The fact is insisted the Democrat that
Bryan will not be satisfied with the turn
down of his money ideas, nor will he be sat
isfled with the nomination of German OF
Parker. l really expect TO see him tie up
with the Populists, and ii is in such COM
pany that he properly belongs
+
That Senator Hanna will not head the Re
publican national committee in the next
campaign is now generally believed by
public men in Washington. Whether he
will be succeeded by former Gov Winthrop
Murray Crane, of Massachusetts,, or Elihu
Root, secretary of war, is problematical.
Mr. Root denies that there is any founda-
ton for the reports connecting his name
with the craftsmanship. Friends of Presi-
dent Roosevelt say that Governor Crane
sary'' This is accepted by the gossips as
evidence that the President has not vet
lost hope of inducing MIR. Hanna to con-
tinue in the position which he has filled so
admirably since 1896
Second in Importance to the place at the
head of the committee is the vice chair
manshlp now held by Henry &. Payne,
postmaster general. That position also
must be filled. Doubt is expressed
that two such political managers as
Hanna and Payne can be found to manage
the Roosevelt campaign. Secretary Root
would be an excellent choice; so also would
Senator Foraker, of Ohio. Winthrop Muir
ray Crane represents the scholar in politics
He has no taste for the political game, and
some of the most observing men here ex-
press the belief that he will not succeed
Senator Hanna.
While the national committee was i'm
session here early in the month Senator
Hanna is understood to have contided to
several committeeman, among them Capt.
Harry S. New, OF Indianapolis, that he
would not manage the campaign next year.
This is what inspired Captain New, some
Indiana people here say, to announce that
he would not be a candidate for the secre-
taryship While Captain New at no time
during his recent visit to Washington sta ted
openly that he desired TO succeed Secretary
Perry Heath, IL is known that his friends
regarded him at least receptive candi-
date. Their hope for Captain New was
based on the continuance of Mr.. Hanna as
chairman The Ohio senator and POST
master General Payne have a high regard