New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-14
Az Unstable TICKET.

Hearst's impudent attempt TO turn the State
Grange into an adjunct OF his political machine
receives q prompt and singing rebuke from Mr.
George a Fuller. president Of the state Grange
who was nominated by the Hearst convention
for State Treasurer. Mr.. Fuller announces that
the Grange must be kept out Of politics and that
be will not as its president let himself be made
a candidate for any Office. Incidentally he re-
marks that his personal choice for Governor is
not Hearst but Johr y. Carlisle.
Mr. FulIers statement shows clearly the
nature Of the Hearst game of bluff and audacity,
He looks about and sees a man Of influence with
a class OF voters whom he would like to capture,
and without even by your leave" he proceeds
forthwith TO appropriate man and organization
and put them forward as his supporters. OF
course. he takes the gamblers chances. but he
calculates on the vanity or self-interest Of his
chosen 10 make good his bluff. He apparently
had no understanding with Mr.. Fuller and no
reason 10 suppose that the president Of the
Grange was IN sympathy with him. lie merely
thought the Grange would be a desirable ad-
junct If he was not playing the gambler abso-
lutely. then he was evidently cheating his own
followers. 1t is notorious that he planned 10 put
himself forward without the burden of com
plete ticket. While the fanaticism Of his fol
lowers prevented this. his managers SO jockeyed
proceedings in the last hours Of the convention
that the contemplated resolution against with
drawsls was suppressed Can it he that when
taking a desperate plunge 10 win the Grange
Hearst acted with the deep alternative plan Of
having his full slate broken as a compensation
for losing some much desired support? Has he
merely goldbricked his followers while pretend
ing to yield 10 them and given them candidates
who he had reason to think would not stand?
His cvnicism is quite equal 10 such a game Of
hunco steering. One Of his candidates IS quoted
as expressing the firm determination 70 stand.
Perhaps he will until IL IS made 10 appear to
his advantage 10 retire. And. even If he and his
remaining associates Join the radicals and refuse
to facilitate deal. what harm? The cOnven-
tion is an empty form. The persons put forward
are not candidates before the law. They have
simply received the complimentary mention of
a mass meeting. To put them where they can
stick, even if they want to, requires six thou
sand signatures, acknowledged before a notary
public. and at least fifty OF them from each
county. OF course, Hearst will have 10 pay for
getting up these petitions. he has paid for all
the rest Of the performance. If he finds his
fellow candidates a nuisance. he can Just neglect
10 circulate petitions and pay notaries' fees. at
least until after the Buffalo convention. Unless
his candidates are prepared TO sIsnd their own
money getting signatures in every part OF the
state, they are helpless in his hands. He can
make his deal with the Democrats and afterward
do the real nominating with reference to his
own interests and the exigencies Of the move
ment. There are signs that even the Democrats
who We're coquetting with him have been some
what disillusoned and are less inclined To look
for his nomination nj Buffalo. and the deal de-
ponds not on Hearst or his convention but on
the Democrats lie is still able 10 decide
whether the names Of his candidates shall 20
on the ballot OF not and he is already advertis-
ing with a view 10 a deal. that he IS nor a
socialist or 4 radical