The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-08-04
NEW YORK POLITICS
Factienal Fights Have Crippled
Republican State Machine
Democrats Too Are Demoralized
and Without q Leader.


State of New York;" was recently
asked while a group of rural leaders
gathered around Senator Thomas C.
Platt on the plaza of the Oriental Ho-
tel at Manhattan Beach, says the New
York Herald
There was silence and a turning of
eyes to their veteran chieftain, who
replied laconically. Chaotic"
The question. What is the condi-
lions of the democratic party in the
State?" was also recently asked OF
former Senator David B. Hill. now liv-
ing in political retirement at Albany,
but active in the practice of law.
utterly demoralized." was the re-
ply.
These answers certainly give food
for thought. They must raise these
questions in the mind of every think
ing man in the State:-
How far does the decentralization of
the two great parties extend:
What is the cause of it?
! hope to answer the first query in
the following article, hut the second
must be left to the reader Who reflects
on the facts it presents. In Il tour
through the length and breadth of the
commonwealth / have found the state
ments of Mr.. Plat and Mr.. Hill to be
more accurate than were their ante
their respective party organizations.
These powerful organizations, which
for years marShalled Il million and
more voters in two solid effective
and more or less harmonious bodies
at the polls. are broken. apathetir. de-
spOndent. with hardly enough interest
anywhere to get up Il faction fight.
This is Il new condition. Discontcnt
there has been. and now and then
never before chaos and utter dcmora
liZation in both parties at the same
time.
The republicans have mad a sturdy
organization for half Il century: the
democrats, Il stubborn host, more CO.
hesive in defeat than victory. The
people might cry out against machine
methods. but they loved their partic-
ular parties too we'll to become de-
moralZed as voters on ,ne eve OF an
election. Were there those who had
become Disguised with their party
leaders and would discipline them !?
Their independence took this mode of
expression: They stayed home III
voted for the other regular candidate
according to their bitterness OF feel
ing. Then in some other year they
would rally around the old banner, ;,nG
it would triumph again. Party affilin-
tions might change, but party organic
ations We're kept up.
Republicans and democrats began
getting together as early as the pres.
ent month in q year OF the genera
State election. Thus We're created smt
maintained strong State party ma.
chimes in which the whole people took
part and pride. That the people are
not much interested in the organiza-
tons this year was apparent in every
county which the Herald correspond.
ent visited in his tour OF Investigation
The wrecks of the two old State party
machines lie blown to pieces or badly
damaged from Erie to Clinton ant
from jefferson to New York
Who can tell what caused tn,
storm! Unrest of the Masses" is :
favorite theory Of those who would
profit by It; dissatisfaction with hos.
sism" another Hatred of trusts" !;
third. Despair of geeting relief from
either party" a fourth and "A pros
pective lack of money by both of thu
old parties in the coming canvass"
fifth. The last reason is the one mos
advanced by the district leaders to &C
count for the thinness of their iiocks
The democrats say it fully accounts
for the tendency of their hungry sheel
to follow the shepard of the thir,
party movement-Mr. Hearst.
The republican State machine ha
had great deal of money in lat
years and the democratic compare
lively little. The nomination of man
very wealthy congressman and Stat
officers by the republicans has mad
the people look for money. 1t has de
bauched the voters in formerly clos
districts until now nominations mus
be bought. Voters in many countie
do not even go to their party caucuse
without being paid for 1t. The use c
money by both parties has become S
concealment of the belief in the necea
sity for carrying an election. In coun
ty after county the Herald CORE
spondent was told by party manager
and voters generally that success thi
fall is only matter of money. In n
year of many when on a like erran
where his inquiries as to the outloo
so frankly and so often replied to b