New-York tribune., 1906-09-13
THE HEARST CONVENTION.

The Hearst kite is at last launched and
freighted with a tail. The tail is an appendage
which Hearst himself would much rather have
gone without, but his paid boomers had done
their work TOO well. The enthusiastic follow
ers assembled from all parts Of the state took
seriously what Hearst had told them about indie
pendence and refused knowingly TO be betrayed
into the hands Of the Democracy. So Hearst
had 10 pretend 70 an independence which he no
longer feels and burden his negotiations with
the Democrats with q full ticket, when he was
hoping 10 use the organization for his own pur-
poses and sell its support 10 the Democrats in
return for their nomination.
This outbreak of good faith in themselves by
the delegates is the one bright spot in the whole
disreputable game Of demagogic agitation and
purchased adulatton. What a literally bowling
farce the performance has otherwise been!
The little group OF paid leutenants-Ihmsen,
Shearn and their fellows-have created 4
purely personal organization for Hearst Of men
who knew nothing about his public or private
character or his ability, except that he was lib
eral "spender" and proclaimed himself IN his own
publications with all the vehement advertising
Of a painless tOothpuller TO be the true friend
OF the people. That there is the slightest sin
cerity in his independence nobody outside this
organization for an instant believes and even
his own delegates caught him putting up a Job
directed 10 capturing the Democracy. Pretend
ing TO be against bosses, he has made friends OF
all the disreputable Democratic bosses who
could be ssrviceable. from Murphy TO ''Packy'
McCabe and "Fingie" Corners. He talks sol
emnly about 1.-The Democratic fusion PROPOSE
ton" made TO his convention, when that propo-
sihon IS from himself through the boomers he
is supporting IN the Democratic organization TO
himself through the boomers he is supporting
IL a..
has been intriguing for Democratic nOmina-
ton, and just before his convention advertised
his readiness 70 make a deal with the Buffalo
convention; and his man Shearn still favors
that course But enough Of his delegates took
him at his word as an opponent Of the old
parties 90 force the nomination Of a full ticket
with pretence on Hearst's part that It is 10 be
kept IN the field Perhaps it will be. Certainly
it viii be. II # cannot be pulled down, or If the
Buffalo convention turns a cold shoulder 10
Hearst.
In spite or the large attendance and the cheer
ing. 10 which be was surely entitled since he
had bought and paid for it. # is evident that
Hearst is weaker than he was before the c0nven-
uOn met. His own followers have discerned
and denounced his attempt 10 cheat them. Even
his convention Of Adullamites is seen TO have
more consistency and character than he has II
exposes his selhshness and lack OF principle and
ruins bis prestige. while II gives him a nOmina-
ton If deserted by Murphy. Mack Corners
and AicCabe, his hope Of raiding the Governor
ship viii vanish. Yet II he now makes deal
with the Democrats, after having so thoroughly
disavOwed that intention at the imperious de
mand Of his own convention. he must certainly
forfeit the support OF all the uncompromising
radicals, who have already begun TO hold meet
ings and denounce him as trimmer who is be-
traying them 10 the bosses.