The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-08

is HILL THE STUMBLING BLOCK..
The failure of the Democrats of New
| York to get together and name can
didate for the nomination for Presl'
dent is profoundly regretted by
| Democrats in all the states which
the party has a chance to carry
The time for the choosing of dele
! gates to the st. Louis convention is
close at hand, but, as yet, there is no
| oTystallizing of sentiment in favor OF
! any particular candidate. This is
because of the disposition to wait
for the Democrats of New York to eX-
press a preference for some one of
the candidates. In the East, South
and West Democratic leaders, when
asked what candidate is favored in
their respective sections, almost in
variably say that nothing is being
done for the reason that New York
is expected to take the initiative in
making a choice. Why Democrats all
over the country are waiting on New
York is well understood. The Demo-
cratic party stands no chance of elect
ing its ticket without the electoral
vote of that state, and New York Dem
ocrats are depended upon to name a
candidate who can get that vote.
The reason New York Democrats do
not seem to be able to get together is
that Mr.. Murphy, the Tammany lead
er, doesn't like Mr.. Hill, the upstate
leader, and, hence, Tammany refuses
to favor the candidacy of Judge Par
Eer because Mr.. Hill is Judge Par
ker's friend and chief supporter. Moth
ing has appeared in the public prints
which indicates that Tammany is OPP
posed to Judge Parker for any other
reason than the foregoing. The chance
of the Democratic party for success
in the presidential campaign is being
jeopardized simply because Tammany
is afraid that if Judge Parker should
be nominated and elected Mr.. Hill
would be his chief adviser, and that,
in that event. Tammany would have
but a slim chance for sharing in fed
eral patronage that is distributed in
New York.
While the fight is going on in New
York between the Hill faction and the
Murphy faction practically nothing is
being done towards bringing about the
nomination of such a candidate as the
great majority of Democrats want
an able, conservative candidate. In the
meantime extraordinary efforts are be-
ing made in behalf of a ticket and
platform which the conservative ele-
ment of the party doesn't approve,
and with which the party couldn't
achieve a victory if they should be
adopted.
OF course, Mr.. Hill and Tammany
will continue their fight until the State
Convention, which meets on April Is,
decides between them, but it would be
better for the party if they should adj
just their differences at once. With
harmony in New York there would be
little difficulty in agreeing upon a cam
didate and a platform that would have
the approval of the st. Louis conven-
ton.
1t is we'll understood, of course, that
Mr.. Hill wants Judge Parker nomi-
mated, and a conservative platform
that makes no reference to the Kan
sas City platform adopted, but it is
not known whom Tammany wants
nominated. though it is probable it
would willingly accept a platform that
would be acceptable to Mr.. Hill.
The question is sometimes asked why
the Democrats of New York don't drop
Tammany and Mr.. Hill. get together
and express a preference for some one
of the candidates for the nomination.
The reason is plain enough. The lead
ers represent factions, and it would be
just as difficult to get the factions to-
gether as it is to get the leaders to
agree. The only thing to do is to let
the factions fight their battle to the
end. While the Hill faction was VIC
torious at the meeting of the State
Committee on last Saturday, it is by
no means certain that it win win a
second victory at the meeting of the
State Convention on April IS.
-S-oNs-