Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-24
NOT POLITICS.
JUST PERSONALITIES
Never Was Such a Row in New
York.
CANDIDATES THROW MUD
Democrats Are Lacking in Competent
Leadership.
MURPHY HANDLES THE KNIFE
Willie Hearst a Boss Would Be
Jerome Asks Some Mighty
Plain Questions.
CANDIDATES THROW MUD
Democrats Are Lacking in Competent
Leadership.
HANDLES THE KNIFE
'pecial From a STAFF Correspondent.

u
NEW YORK. August 24.-Old politicians
around New York will tell you that the
political situation in the Empire state pre-
sents more elements of perplexity. amaze
ment, incongruity and chaos than any
which they can recall in a score of years.
They find 1t difficult to say which party,
republican or democratic, is most befud-
died and bedeviled. In neither party is
the approaching struggle a contest as be-
tween opposing principles, but rather a con-
test among candidates for personal prefer
ment.
There is nothing at this time to Indicate
that the democratic and republican state
conventions, to be held simultaneously, q
month hence, will mark out a clean-cut
division between the parties on large ques-
tions of public policy. The two conventions
are more likely to degenerate into bitter
wrangle among rival candidates for con-
tro! Of party machinery and over the Sc
curing of nominations.
For the time being, the democratic situa-
tlon lays greater claim upon public interest
This Is due to the personality of the men
In the forefront Of the struggle and to
the exceeding acrimony of the personal
disputes among them. The democracy Of
Greater New York, and of the state as WELL
could be likened to a spoonful Of quick
into numerous globules that roll here and
there. gathering other particles only to
break and segregate again.
There Is no competent leadership in the
New York democracy today. Gone are the
Roswell P. Flowers. the Grover Clevelands,
the Samuel ]. Tildens and other great dem
ocrats who ruled with sapiency and firm
ness.
The last OF the old-time political auto
Gratis. David b. Hill, sits in retirement,
doubtless watching with sarcastic smile the
clamorings and the rushing to and fro of
the little ones
above the power of local leader, such as
ex-senator Murphy Of Troy, Norman E.
Mack Of Buffalo and Herrick of Albany.
Knives Flash Everywhere.
Look at Greater New York, Tammany's
home. Mayor Mcclellan is the nominal
leader of the democracy, but there stands
Mr.. Charles F. Murphy, the head of Tam
many Hall, knife in hand, ready and anx-
ious to stab him. while the lesser Tammany
leaders, thirty-five in number hold aloof to
join the winning faction.
There Is Mr.. William r. Hearst demo-
crat in name at least, but urging an inde-
pendent movement. which, under the guise
OF an attack upon bosses and bossism,
would. If successful, make him the most
complete and autocratic boss since the
days of Croker There is William Travers
Jerome. democrat in name but retained in
office only with the aid of republican and
Independent votes, and seeking to put him.
self at the head of the party in the state.
And thereby become the most powerful
boss since the palmy days Of Mr. David B.
Hill.
And as for the opinion of each of these
men for the other-whew! 1t wouldn't re-
Qure a specially compiled lexicon of yitup-
Grafton to adequately express 1t and SUBJ
Ject a newspaper which printed 1t to the
likelihood Of being debarred the use of the
United States malls.
How is the plain wayfaring democrat
Of New York to decide among these clam
orous aspirants for political power in city
and state? We will first consider Mr.
Jerome, the product of past waves Of re-
form that have spent their force.
Mr.. Jerome was uplifted last fall in a
burst of political semi-hysteria. He has
been ten months in Office since reelected,
and is alleged to have done nothing more
than conduct the clean administration
which the people had right to expect Of
any candidate. Mr.. Hearst charges that
Mr.. Jerome has failed to come up to his
opportunities; that he has in fact favored
corporations by failing to carry prosecu-
a democratic newspaper Of great influence,
disappointment with Mr.. Jerome.
Now for Hearst.
What about Mr.. Hearst?
Mr.. Jerome and the friends of Mayor
rounded by men who are inimical to con-
institutions and they talk about
the ideas that added the brain Of Czol-
gosz and aimed his hand to strike the
blow at Mckinley. Mr.. Jerome puts some
very plain questions to Mr. Hearst, which,
In the opinion of politicians, that candidate
will find difficulty in answering satisfacto-
rilly, Mr.. Jerome says to Mr.. Hearst:
''If your Indendence League is a new
state party, how can you expect it to win
except through the disintegration of exist
Ing parties? If It's principles are not dif-
ferent from the other parties, why does it
exist? II you claim that yours Is the true
and genuine democratic party, why not
say sof II 1t Is none of these things, it
must be a party merely for the advance
ment of William r. Hearst, and then how
can you ask a democratic convention to
indorse Independence League and your
sslf?"
How about Mr. Charles F. Murphy the
titular head of Tammany Hall? Well,
just at this moment he is the butt Of ali
the other democrats. and is mainly en-
gagged In trying to save his own bacon
and wreak revenge upon Mayor Mcclellan,
who utilized Murphy in the last election
and then gave him the back of his hand.
Mr.. Murphy is scoffed at as being incom-
petent and unpopular. His course in the
campaign was not marked by
much tact or political brilliancy, it must
be confessed. but Mr.. Murphy's friends
and Mr.. Murphy's organization and Mr..
MurphyS methods put Mayor Mcclellan
in the seat he occupies today-especially
the methods"
AS to the plan of campaign Of these sew
eral active figures in the democratic situa-
tion Mr.. Jerome Is using sarcastic inevctive,
lofty appeal, vague and generalized prom
ise. Mayor McClellan's faction, which 1t
is believed will back Mr.. Jerome, is work.
ing silently through the machine. Mr.
Murphy is casting about wildly for some
one to tie up with in his schemes against
Mr.. Jerome and Mayor Mcclellan and CO.
quoting with Mr.. Hearst who scorns him
openly, but is accused Of trafficking with
him secretly. Mr.. Hearst is using the
bludgeon and the battle-ax against every
head that pops up. His hand is against
every other democrat. He is dealing with