The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-23
LAST WEEKS POLITICAL
EVENTS D|SQU|ET|NG TO
BOTH PARTIES LEADERS
Contests in Illinois and Wisconsin
Much Regretted by Republicans
at Washington.
DEMOCRATS TAKE HEART
But 1t Is Pointed Out that Repub-
llcan Quarrels Do Not Extend
to National Affairs.

WASHINGTON, May X.-SeVerdi thllSS
have happened during the week tn give a
lively turn to the preliminary pol.ucal al
fairs of this presidential year. Some OF
them have carried gloom into the camps OF
both parties, and others have raised doubts
among the party leaders in both camps.
The conflict waged in two or three states,
notably in Wisconsin and Illinois, has
caused CONSERVATION in the ranks OF the
national leaders of the Republicans here.
They fail TO how it is possible for such
strife 10 be carried on without affecting in
a serious degree the majority party in
those States. While il is recognized here
that all Republicans in these States will be
for the Republican national ticket, it is
feared that in the bitterness of the local
controversies many points will be lost
which should be cared for in the interests
of the national ticket.
The Democratic congressional committee
managers are much elated over the local
contests in these States. They fancy that
out of the difficulties confronting the Re
publicans il will be certain that number
of congressional districts regarded as
reasonably safely Republican may now be
placed in the doubtful column, with
chances favoring the Democrats. AT least
three districts in Wisconsin and greater
cago, are now regarded by the Democratic
managers as debatable ground
On the other hand, the Republicans here
insist that nothing is TO be gained In
federal politics by the Democrats as a re-
suit of the differences among the Republic
ans in any of the States over local mat
tiers. II is pointed out that the Republicans
are united on the national campaign and
issues and ready to give loyal support to
the Republican ticket when 1t is placed in
| the field. This, IL Is certain, cannot be said
of the Democrats. They have their local
| fights. also, as was manifested in several
! States during the past week, but their strife
| extends to a broader field and engulfs the
| whole federal machinery that will be rep
resented in the st. Louis convention.
| Yet the first public utterance by the
new chairman of the Democratic congress
| sional committee Representative Cowherd
| gave abundant evidence that in this lively
| and wide-awake Kansas City Democrat the
| opposition has found man who will keep
Chairman Babcock and Secretary Over
| street. of the Republican committee, busy
| throughout the campaign. Mr.. Cowherd
bright and aggressive and has "a happy fapg
| readable by the masses of voters, and he
| says some things in a clever way that will
be cherished up throughout the campaign:
| forceful. and he has an adrot way Of
| reaching under the arrnor of the Repub-
Leans Whioh Mons ate b aar he W
| throughout the campaign. Few points will
| be overlooked by Cowherd, and he already
proves by his discussion of PUBLIC questions
| that nothing of public interest affecting the
| campaign will escape his notice or fail to
be turned to all possible use in the DEM
/ ocratic campaign for control OF the House
The announcement that President Roose-
/ welt has decided to select George Bruce
| Cortelyou. secretary of the Department of
| Commerce, as the new chairman of the Re-
| publican national committee came as a sur
prise to the old-time politicians here. His
name. had been whispered in this connec-
ton for several weeks. but the opinion was
strong that among such men as Payne.
| Root, Bliss. Scott, Dick and Blythe, the
| credtable successor TO Hanna was TO be
found. Cortelyou is the antithesis of poll
| tician. He was perhaps more brilliantly
successful in the office of secretary to the
/ President than any man who filled that
position. Cortelyou is polished gentle
man, deservedly popular. direct in his man.
| ner of doing business. He has faith. borne
| of long experience in the public service, in
| the red tape methods that prevail in the
| detail, has good head for organization
and is trained TO obey. He entered the
Postofiice Department several years ago as
transferred to the White House. where he
! became executive clerk. assistant secretary,
i hnr ' continuing in that eapacity when
Roosevelt entered the White House Mr.
| Cortelyou has not been in the Cabinet long
/
| such a position. Those who know him best
! have faith in him. and commend in the
| strongest terms his selection as chairman
of the national committee. But practical
politicians do not hesitate to question the
| wisdom of placing untried man in a
| most responsible position, in what may
prove TO be the liveliest campaign in re-
| cent years. The opinion is expressed here
| that the President has not reached a final
decision concerning the national chairman
ship, but at this time the probabilities
2ft,t "a Nnrta 1x~n,t
The last delegates have been chosen to
the Republican national convention. and il
is certain that vast majority of those
chosen are instructed for the nomination
of President Roosevelt to head the ticket
Under the rule established by the party
organization ii is required that the full list
of delegates chosen from each State shall
| be in the hands of the Republican national
| committee at least thirty days before the
meeting of the convention That limit ex-
| pired last night. 1t Will be the duty of the
national committee to meet in Chicago a
| week in advance of the convention to hear
contests which arise over the seating OF
| delegates. Much interest will center In
| these contests this year, not on account
of the national convention itself, or or
account Of the nominations. as there will
| be no strife over these matters. but for the
effect which the settlement of the contests
| will have on the fortunes of the party ir
| the States and districts from which the
| contests are brought. The most notable in
| the list will be the Wisconsin contest II
| is claimed here by those who are assert
ing that party harmony is first to be con
! sidered. that the committee will not attempt
TO settle the Wisconsin controversy bu
will seat both delegations. giving them {
half vote each OF course 1T is impossible.
TO forecast what the committee will do
but IL il follows the practice which ha.
obtained in contests during the last eigh
years the controversy will be settled by tn,
seating of one set OF delegates or the other
The German Democrats have given up al
hope of making use Of Mr.. Hearst in tn,
preliminary campaign. other than to have
him unite with their forces 10 prevent tn,
nomination of Parker Hearst made con
siderable progress during the past week
and he gained Endorsements in localities
which will be troublesome to the Parke
people. But he has frankly avowed that h
will not go with Bryan IL the Nebraskai
shall decide to bolt in the event of tn
| nomination OF Parker. Ii is regarded b,
the Democrats here that this frank decla
ration by Hearst had the effect to strength
en- materially the Hearst movement befor
the ST Louis convention. To that exten
IN takes him out os the Bryan element We
IL : known that his followers are mad
M in large part of the Bryan faith. and i
is this element that will make the mos
trouble for Parker In the convention b,
preventing a two-thirds ma jority going q
the New York jurist. To that extent tn
German Democrats. who are occupying ;
waiting position, are pleased with the sue
cess which has attended the Hearst move