The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-04-16
Western Elections.

A Washington paper gave the follow
ing conclusions relative to the recent
municipal elections in western states.
which appear to US to be reasonable ones
First, that the republicans made gains
over the last election throughout the
country generally.
Second, that the only democratic vie.
tories achieved were won by the social
opulistic-Bryanistic wing of the
party. The regular democratic candid
ates were showed under, but "Golden
Rule" Jones, "Single-taxer" Tom John
son and "Municipal-ownership" Carter
| Harrison won out handsomely
The latter feature of the elections NAV
cause some bordering among politicians,
| IL is said. The step toward socialism
taken by David B. Hill of New York last
fall is being followed by the democrats
of the cities Of the middle west. Here
tofore it has been the granger element in
he democratic party That has wandered
off after strange gods. But as the dem
oerats of the farms, contemplating per-
haps the high prices and good times that
prevail for farm products, lean toward
conservatism again, the democrats of the
cities follow leaders whose course Is d.
rected away from the beaten path of
democracy OF olden times.
Coineidently with this manifested
trend of the democracy Is stffening of
republican lines. The republican man.
ayers are showing disposition TO adopt
the most radical position on the question
of high tariff. They have taken their
stand among the most determined "stand
patters" for existing economic coLdi-
tions, which they claim are responsible
for present industrial and material pros
| perity.
Thus, more than year in advance of
the opening of the campaign for the
presidency can be observed distinct cur
rents in the two great political parties,
setting strongly In opposite directions.
Whether they will continue to carry the
rank and file of the party with them un-
til the presidential campaign is a ques.
no one can now answer.
The outcome of The spring elections in
Chicago, Cleveland, Toledo and Cincin-
natl will set the eastern democrats to
thinking. The result was not favorable
to the plan of the eastern managers for
reorganization of the democratic party
along old, conservative lines. German,
Hill, Parker, Olney and company can.
/ Dot mead movement III support OF the
theories of Carter Harrison, Tom John
son and Golden Rule Jones, such as have
been Endorsed by the voters of Chicago,
Cleveland and Toledo.
The defeat of a fusion of reform re-
publicans with democrats in Cincinniti
does not augur well for amalgamating
the reform and mugwump elements of
the east under democratic auspices.
Altogether, in the opinion of politicians,
the elections may be considered very
significant.
Another question may confront the
democrats If this sentiment, as expressed
in the recent elections, is found to have
deep root and if it spreads, namely, may
not the eastern democrats be overslaugh-
tered in convention by the Bryanites and
those socialistic fellows from the middle
west.
1t already is evident to many thinking
democrats that the proposed reorgan-
izers of the party will have to depend
upon the south and upon little coterie
In the east for the mayor part of the
forces to be used in the reorganization
warfare. In the trans Mississippi region
Bryan will fight them to the bitter end
and now it seems that he may find eff
Gent reinforcements in the great labor
centers between the Alleghenies and the
Mississippi.