Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-01-07

Especial Washington letter.
~ URING Christmas times there
were things doing besides
making presents and produc-
ing dyspepsia. In the line of
president making il was somewhat
lively. The Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune puts both Secretary of State
John Hay and Governor General Will
liam H Taft. now of the Philippines,
soon to be secretary of war in the lists.
Taft is an Ohioan. and Hay is an ex-
Ohioan; consequently the Commercial
Tribune feels at home with them. Its
decidedly cold day when Ohio has
not a presidential candidate or candi-
dates on hand, At present she appears
to be nursing at least half dozen.
Dec. %, when millions of human be-
ings were preparing to sing the angelic
song of nineteen centuries, ION earth
peace, good will toward men," the fol-
lowing important dispatch was sent
out from Boston:
Richard Olney, former secretary Of war.
is tc be formally put forward Tor the
Democratic presidential nomination at the
January meeting of the Democratic state
convention by resolution which viii ask
the cooperation of the Democracy OF the
other New England states to the effect
that New England may go to the national
convention united for the Massachusetts
man.
William S. McNary chairman of the
Democratic state committee. says that 1t
was decided to seek the nomination for
Mr. Olney at a conference held few
evenings ago, at which many prominent
local Democrats were present and which
was also attended by John Sharp Will
liams of Mississippi. house leader of the
Democrats in congress.
Three days later it was announced
from New York that great pressure
was being brought to bear on Hon.
Charles f. Murphy, the big chief Of
Tammany, to declare for William
Randolph Hearst for president. and the
pressure was sufficiently strong to in
duce the Tammany Times, the organ
of Tammany, to publish this editorial;
OF all the names that have been mem
toned in connection with the Democratic
nomination. for president none has been
received by loyal Democrats and citizens
with more genuine enthusiasm than that
of William Randolph Hearst. The per-
sonality of Mr. Hearst as a Democratic
leader and his interchangeable struggle in
behalf of Democratic success have arous-
ed serious and unmistakable discussion
of his fitness as a candidate for the chief
magistraey of the nation.
Mr. Hearst's popularity with the work
ing classes and the vote he would surely
influence from that source have awakened
a strong interest among Democratic poll
ticians, who have begun to calculate the
strength of the men whose eligibility is
now being considered.
At the present juncture New York
has as great a superiority of presiden-
tiaI candidates as has Ohio Roosevelt,
Odell Parker, Hill, Hearst and one
nameless here forever more.
Colonel Roosevelt appears to hold the
whip hand among Republicans, but
among Democrats it seems to be at
this writing anybodys fight Hearsts
supporters, judging by the usual signs,
have the best and most extensive or
ganization, and, as a rule, the best or
ganization wins in presidential nomi-
nations The strongest man has more
than once been defeated because his
forces were not so well organized as
were the opposing forces, and history
may repeat itself in this regard in 1904.