New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-12

This is the year for the minor political parties
TO appear in evidence and they are edging
eagerly toward the big political tent. prepared
TO set up their single season sideshow exhi-
bitions For six months, at least the stars on
these little stages bask in the full rays Of
the political lmelight. Then the light is turned
off and the curtain is rIng down Till the next
Presidential canvass opens. Preparations for
these minor campaigns for the Presidency are
already in full swing. The Socialist party held
fts national convention in Chicago last week
and nominated Eugene V. Debs, of Indiana, for
President, and Benjamin Hanford, of New
York for Yice-President. The Prohibition
party's national convention will be held in
Indianapolis on June %. The two wings Of the
Populist party will make effort to flap to-
gether this year, and committees representing
the Fusionist faction, which supported Bryan
in 1900, and the Middle of the Road" faction,
which nominated Wharton Barker, have issued
a Joint call for convention 20 meet in Spring
field Ill, on July 4. The Socialist-Labor party
will also nominate a national ticket some time
later IN the campaign.
1t IS not to be expected that any or all OF
these four minor parties will figure decisively
IN the Presidential contest Their total vote in
1900 was less than 100000 IN a total Presi-
dental vote of over 100000. Each attracts
a small and devoted following, but none has
n capacity to seize on current issues or exploit
them In a way TO touch the popular imagina-
ton; nor has any OF them, even the Populist
party, ever developed a leader OF commanding
ability exceptional foresight. The campaign
OF 1886 left the Populst party a wreck Fusion
with the Democracy killed PopuIism in the
South, and in the West, after the second fusion
Of 1900, the remnants of the party were swept
bodily into the Democratic ranks In 1892
General Weaver, the Populist candidate for
President, pol'ed ] ,041 ACT votes In 1900 Whar-
ton Barker, the Middle of the Road" candi-
date, got 5000. A reunion of the two factions
this year may slightly increase the Populst
party's strength; but if a Democratic candidate
is nominated acceptable to the radical elements
which acknowledge Mr.. organs leadership. the
Populist organization will find no field TO re-
cTuit in not open to it in 1900
The Prohibition party has apparently ex-
hausted its capacity for growth. It is losing
rather than gaining ground In 1892 BidwelI
as Presidential candidate, got 270367 votes
In 1900 WoolIey got 209062. There is no pros
pect Of a turn this year in this weakened end
rtagnart party's fortunes. The Socialist parry
known IN 1900 as the Social Democratic marty
las shown in recent years some signs of vital
fly. Its vote in 1900 was 92 I42 Ii IS strong-
est 10 Massachusetts. New-York, California
Illinois and Wisconsin. 1t breaches govern.
mental socialism and labor unionism: and
should the present tendency IN the Democratic
party toward fecialistie policies he checked ny
The nomination this year of n conservative like
Judge Parker TIE Socialist party Ike tho Pom
el;ft failing bolt fTonI tic convention and the