The Washington times., 1904-02-07

The Hearst boom has now reached that
stage OF political development where the
Democrats who are wise and conserva-
tive no longer regard it as a joke. but
where the merriment which it first
created IS now changing TO positive
alarm. IL is not that any serious-mind-
ed Democrat will admit that Mr. Hearst
can actually be nominated. for IL re-
quires a two-thirds vote to do that in
the Democratic convention, but they
fear that the New York statesman
editor may have such a following that
some compromise will have to be made
with him. and they tremble at the
thought OF the noise that the Hearst
boomers will make. not only between
now and the convention time. but at the
convention itself
Thankful. indeed. are the anti-Hearst
Democrats that the antiQuated two
thirds rule still prevails In Democratic
conventions. Ifeit did not, it might be
possible for him to make a combination
with some other candidate. which would
result In his control of the convention.
To Have the Delegates.
That Mr.. Hearst will have a formida-
bic number of delegates in the conven-
ton from the start there now seems no
question Of doubt. In fact. II looks
somewhat now. in the opinion Of Demo-
Gratis who are following the conditions
closely. as II IL might be Hearst against
the field on the first ballot, and as II
the field might be obliged to combine
on some candidate in order to defeat
him for the nomination. Many of these
votes for Hearst will come from the
Pacific Coast, from California and Ne
vada. which are said TO be practically
certain 10 vote for him, ard from other
Rocky Mountain States.
In addition to this. the Hearst boomers
are diligently. quietly. and perhaps ef-
fectively at work I'm the South. They
have for some time been quietly promot-
ing his interests in South Carolina. and
while. of course the delegation from the
Palmetto State will vote as Senator TIL
man directs, 1t is not at all certain that
Tillman may not cast his lot with
Hearst. The workers have now entered
Tennessee. and while il Is a fact that
poll Of 500 leaders taken some months
ago in that State showed large ma
jority in favor of Parker. and with little
OF no mention of Hearst. change of
feeling is 10 be wrought If the Hearst
workers can bring it about
Gets Due Publicity.
Thus also the movement is going on in
other States. IL is not being done just
now with a brass band, as some of Mr.
Hearst's other work has been done, but
at the same time when anything occurs
which in any way reflects Hearst senti-
ment, due publicity is given to it. Even
the District of Columbia. with its six
delegates, is not being overlooked and
while the preponderance OF sentiment
among Democrats IN Washington is I'M
questionably for Senator German, a de-
termined effort is being made to change
Il in favor of Hearst
Democrats I'm Congress who first ridi-
culed the Hearst boom are now forced
10 admit that It is the only one which is
growing: that the others are either re-
cedlng or standing still. yet they are
doing little or nothing to stay it. Each
one is waiting for something to happen
waiting for sentiment TO "crystallize.
Meanwhile Mr.. Hearst. with his army Of
workers equipped with a liberal supply
Of expense funds. are pushing ahead.
and il is conceded that their efforts are
telling,
The Only Organization.
Democrats who oppose Hearst admit,
for the existence Of the fact forces them
10 do so. that the Hearst boom is the
only one which has an organization
worthy of the name back OF It, Others
depend upon sentiment. Mr. Hearst's
upon a check book Public sentiment
is all right as far as It goes. but. as
Democrats well know, IL does not often
win nominations or elections. Men who