The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-22
ANYBODY TO wIN-ANYBODY TO
BEAT HEARST.

Two Democrats of local prominence, not
selected because their opinions were known,
but met accidentally. were asked how they
stood on the Hearst question. One replied,
I'm for anybody to win'' and the other.
I'm for anybody to beat Hearst" They
both amplified their views somewhat. but
these pithy statements told the whole story.
They described fairly we'll the present
condition of the Democratic party and the
lines on which IL is dividing. Eight years
ago and four years ago Hearst had not
been heard of. In those two campaigns the
Democratic party divided the lines
anybody TO win" and anybody TO beat
Bryan" The anybody-to-win wing of the
party supported Bryan with all of his
heresies. including 16 to 1. not because they
thought he was a safe man or fit to be
President. but simply because they thought
he could win. The anybody-to- beat-Bryan
Democrats proved they had the courage of
their convictions by voting for Mckinley
or for the sound money Democratic can
didates.
1t is curious to find history repeating it
self with a mere change of names. The
anybodyto-win Democrats have taken up
Hearst because Bryan has acquired the
reputation of not being winner and be-
cause he magnanimously consented to take
back seat this year and let his following
concentrate on some other freak. Those of
his former followers who have not yet re-
covered from the prolonged debauch of
1896 and 1900 think they see in Hearst a
combination of the same demagogic quail
ties they saw in Bryan, with the added one
of possessing a barrel of money. That he
is an unsafe man. utterly unfit to be Presi-
dent of the United States, that he has sur
rounded himself with INSCRIPTIONS mana
gers and that his methods are undignified
and indecent far beyond anything ever be-
fore known in American politics does not
concern them a particle. They are for
him because they think he can win.
Conservative Democrats are opposed to
Hearst for much the same reasons that
made them oppose Bryan. and they recog-
nize his possible nomination as equally a
menace TO the party as his election would
be to the country. Therefore they are for
anybody to beat Hearst. Their position is
one to command respect. OF all the ether
Democrats who have been named in con-
nection with the presidential nomination
this year, not counting Bryan in, there Is
not one who is Tot of presidential caliber
or whose nomination could be considered a
triumph of indecent methods. The Journal
would oppose any of them for political rea-
sons, but it would not regard the nomina-
ton of either of them as a disgrace to
American politics. Hearst's nomination
would be such a conspicuous triumph
| of the worst political methods and such a
| humiliation for conservative Democrats
that they are perfectly justified in being
| for anybody to beat Hearst.
| But it is not our fight. The Republican
| party is united, harmonious and confident
| of victory, no matter whom the Democracy
| may nominate. From present appearances
there is no prospect of the Democratic
party uniting on any candidate, and which
| ever faction wins in the convention the
| fight will be carried to the polls. But the
| way the two wings of the party are lining
| up under the "any body-to-win'' and the
anybody to-beat-Hearst' cries makes an
| interesting situation.