The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-07
THE ADVERTISER AND THE
 prrxfDENTTAI CONTEST.

PRESIDENTIAL CUMTEST.
 The Advertiser does not intend to use Its columns in advocacy of the claims of its Editor for the position of one of the delegates at large from Alabama to the National Democratic Convention. It has to depart from it's usual course in this one instance because of the assaults that have been made upon.it and upon him by the Selma Times. A few days ago 1t published special dispatch from Washington which was an extract from the New York Evening Post and severe arraigument of Mir. Hearst and or the methods he has adopted in boosting him- self in the Presidential race. That ar ticie has Seen published in a great many papers. and while 1t may have been se- were there is no evidence that 1t was un- trua. It certainly would be severe hiav to the Democratic party if by any meana he should be chosen as it's stand ard bearer. For the publication of the Post article and expressing opposition to him and his course our Selma contempor- ary poured out the viais of its wrath last Friday and followed 1t up with an- other on Saturday. The last one is pub ,,sbed in this issue of the Advertiser and for whatever kind things he says he has our thanks.
 We want to state that while neither the Advertiser nor It's Editor supported Mir. Bryan in 1896. neither have ever failed to support every city. county ana State ticket put out by the Democratic party and every national ticket with the one exception in '9e. There were hum dreds of thousands of Democrats in '96 who did not support the National ticket. but there has been a gradual coming to- gether of discordant views until now hope adorns the scene, and victory ap- pears among the possibilities. This, how ever. according to some must be disst- pated unless the battle can be waged upon the lines of 's6 and 1900 and if that course is chosen the party will again have to chew the bitter cud of dis appointment
 The Advertiser does not believe that MT. Hearst should be thought of in con- nection with the Presidency for many reasons, not necessary to state. but all can be included in the broad statement that he hasn't a single attribute that would attract the thinking. conservative element of the American people To ar gue that a President can be elected by those who will be attracted by lavish use of money and clap-trap newspaper ex- plotting, aided though they might be by many good Democrats, is a waste of time. As the nominee of the Demo- cratic party he would of course receive the votes of a majority of Democrats. He would get some votes from the odds and ends of all parties who are con trolled by novelty or money. but with all this he would be hopelessly defeated and The Advertiser has no hesitancy in saying that there should be no delay or hesitation among Democrats about crush ing this ill-starred hallucination while it is yet young.
 As to the Cleveland charge brought by the Times it can be traced only to a dis position to shut eyes to facts as they appear from day to day. This paper has set forth the claims made by people throughout the country in favor of the Ex-President, but 1t is in no measure connected with any movement, if there is any such, and it does not know of one, to capture the party and force his nomination. It will require two thirds vote to secure that end and If there should be such an event surely the Times would admit his strength before the Democrats of the country. There are scores of good democrats in the East, West and South, who would make strong candidates for the Demo- cratic party. and if the Editor os thIs paper should be honored with se- lection as one of Alabama's representa- lives at St. Louis, he would go with no chip on his shoulder. but animated solely by desire to adopt such a platform and nominate such a ticket as would com mend themselves to the party in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other points whose electoral votes are absolutely essential for success.