Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-07
WAITING FOR AN ISSUE
Democratic Party Lying
Low at Present.
VAN TIT NANnTn ATr
BRYAN THE CANDIDATE
ONLY ONE WITH A DEFINITE PRO
GRAM OF HIS OWN.
Hopes to Make Use OF the Mistakes
and Discussions of the Re
publicans.


is from week to week gossip about republi-
can presidential candidates. hardly word
is heard about democratic possibilities.
Cannon, Foraker, Fairbanks, Taft, Cortel-
you, Shaw and others talked about,
their chances canvassed and their move
ments commented upon, but never a whis-
per of democrat.
This silence, it is said. may be explained
upon the score that the democratic party
is at this time without a live issue and
until an issue is framed it would be futile
to talk about candidates. Representative
Underwood of Alabama, one of the promi-
nent and active men in the younger ele-
ment of the democracy said the other day
that in his opinion it behooved the democ-
racy to float with the tide for awhile. until
issues SNAPPED themselves in the next Con-
gress.
This Micawber-like policy of waiting for
something to turn up appeals to many DEM
ocratS. IN fact as some democrats point
OUT, there is nothing else to be done. Look
ing over the field of possible issues thew
see the Roosevelt policies preemptiug all
the available positions. Tariff revision is
promised by the republicans and although
e ene democrats are entirely skeptical of full
Hliment, IN decency they will have to wait
until there is chance for their opponents
to go on record.
Hallway Rate Legislation.
Railway rate legislation is promised by
the republicans, and although the demo-
Gratis smile in derison when they con-
template that stolid Senate committee on
interstate commerce. with Stephen B. Ell
hlhs at It's head, they cannot prove at this
time that the deed will fall short of the
promise They need must wait until the
iieAt session or Congress has adjourned
ana then base their action upon the sins
OF omission or commission of their adver-
Sares. ~ 'e
NO one but Senator Carmack of Tennessee
regafds the Philippine question as being
invested with the germ of an issue for the
democracy, and the republicans have long
ago cut 1t out of their calculations There
~ notmng IN the money question there is
nothlng IN currency or banking legislation
IN snort. the Situa ton at this time is fiat
staie and Improbable for the democrats.
nat does not mean that it will continue
So however. The democratic party is great
al snatchlng opportunity from disaster
some democrats claim that the future holds
out ray Of hope, for they think thew see
the republicans riding to a fall through
party dissension. There is eyerv indication
that the republicans will have to meet a
grave crisis in the increasing deficit in gov
ernment revenue. One faction of republi-
cans claim that the cure for the deficit will
be found in lower tariff duties and increa sed
customs receipts,
Another faction insists that lower tariff
dutles Will mean increased competition with
American producers, curtailed employment
and labor trouble. Between the two stand
commercial republicans with the suggestion
of bond issue. There is the making of a
beautiful party scrap, the democrats say
and they may be able to step in the
farmer did when the two roosters were
through fighting and make a killing.
Many democrats think that the republi-
can party is sure to split on the question
of railway-rate legislation. The west is set
in its determination to insist upon radical
legislation. The corporation element within
the party is equally determined to prevent
it. The democrats think they will be able
to make capital for themselves out of this
division.
Municipal Ownership.
An an anchor to windward there is one
faction of the democracy that looks to
the issue of municipal ownership Where
it is asked, are the populists, the silverites
the Bryanites, the discontented vote of a
few years ago? Are they dead or have they
changed their views and become Roosevelt
Inen? Can they be caught with municipal
ownership?
Mr. Bryan is supposed to be biding his
time, waiting to strike when the iron is
hot. He is the only man with definite
program entirely his own. The eastern
and southern democrats will disagree with
the westerners over tariff schedules, and
no eastern man is likely to espouse the
cause of free trade.
The difficult question for would-be demo- |
with which to associate themselves so rs
to establish their individuality. There is
Folk of Missouri, looming up as a presi- |
Dental possibility, but without definite |
program There is young George B. Nc
Clellan of New York, with nothing with !
which to overcome the Tammany stigma. |
Ohio hasn't a democrat of national fame |
since John r. Mclean closed his "bar'l."
The giants are all dead In Indiana; Ken |
lucky hasn't any one bigger than Gov. |
Beckham. Illinois, with Carter Harrison
out of it, stands pat on Representative |
Williams. The field will remain limited |
until the party establishes an issue.
William r. Hearst has been singularly
quiet lately, but a close watch Is being |
kept upon him by some of the democratic |
leaders. 1t is known that he Is down, but
not out. He is working along the definite
line of opposition to corporate wealth. He
calls it fighting the trusts, but it is said
there are indications that he is radicalizing |
his efforts to the extent of planning a Cruz
sade of class against class.