The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-14
oBJEcTs OF THE HEARST GROW :,

The Psalmist said: Day unto day uttereth speech. and night unto night showeth knowledge" To compare sacred things with dirty politics we may say that day and night both bring knowledge of the plans and tactics of the Hearst propaganda. Nothing like 1t has ever been known in national politicis. We have had in some of the Presidential campaigns of the country methods and practices which were abhorent to clean minded men. but the present goes the limit
 The candidacy of Hearst was at first iookedFon as a joke. It was regarded as merely the effort of an ambitious young man who had achieved an unen- viable success as newspaper exploiter still further to advertise himself and his wares. There were few who thought him serious, but he developed fictitious strength. founded on the free use of money, backed by those who had some thing to gain. pecuniarily or otherwise, by boosting him and his claims What was at first looked on as absurd developed into unlimited impudence, and the man and his supporters went into the market for the purpose of buying the Presi- dency.
 But the movement has reached a third stage. First it was absurd, then 1t was impudent, but now it is thoroughly. and 1 systematically interruptions. Never in any political campaign has there been | known such an utter disregard of fair ness and honesty. Never has there before been seen an attempt to advance cause by continuous. systematic. un- | blushing and unlimited prevarication and l misrepresentation. His newspapers, those he owns and those he only hires, have adopted the Chandler command of "claim everything" and they serve him well and loyalty. There Is no limit to their claims and no curb on their boast fulness. The bare probability of one or two delegates Is sufficient for his boost CTS to claim an entire State in poster type. Dissatisfaction in State is all that he needs to claim the entire delegation.
 Nothing more shameful has ever been seen. It Is a degradation to the Democ- racy that such a man and such methods should be tolerated. It is a serious re- | fieetion on the American people that there are those who. for pay or for any other reason, will suffer themselves used to further such discreditable methods His election to the Presidency would be an int Qfaip ho cOu lie nomination would be serious reflection on the sanity and the honesty of Democ- racy. His candidacy is an insult to decency.
 We are not among those who look on the Hearst movement as finally disposed of. It is dead so far as any prospect of his nomination at St. Louis is concern ed, but 1t is not dead for evil. There Is vitality for harm in 1t that will make trouble unless all indications are at fault
 Divide and conquer is good military strategy. but divide and ruin is now the | Hearst idea. 1t is plainly evident that his object from now on is to have as many contesting delegates at St. Louis as | can be obtained It matters not how they are obtained or on what slender foundation they rest their claims. They are to go there in his interest, to create as much confusion and contention as | possible, and if 1t can be done, to pre- vent the nomination of Judge Parker or any other safe and conservative Demo- crat. To ruin where they cannot rule. to confuse where they cannot control and to divide where they cannot unite for Hearst-these are the objects of his every State and in every Congressional District where he has been able to secure a worker
 Is it incumbent on the genuine Democ- racy longer to show patience or tolerance for this man or his boomers? "Is there any plea that can be advanced in favor of himself or of those who are aiding and abetting him in his d-sereditable work? We know of none He and his coadjutOrs will cauFe trouble at St. Louis just as sure as they are given encouragement or even shown toleration. They should be sat upon in every State, so that they may not have vitality or impudence 1 enough to attempt an interference with
 the work of the convention. They should be shown plainly that no attempt on their part to divide the convention will be tolerated. Firmness and decisive | action in time may save trouble.