New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-02
INDEPENDENCE WITH An IF.


The Hearst independence League has de-
cided TO be Independent under compuIsiOn and
with an If. The cause of its being has found
unexpected if not insuperable obstacles in the
path Of his campaign for a Democratic noni-
nation. His ntFigues with the mOnOpolists not
bearing satisfactory fruit. and his tenderness
toward Murphy, whom he used to describe as
a robber, being apparently wasted. he concluded
it was time 10 emphasize the ant-mOnOpoly side
of his programme and his independence of De
mocracy. Accordingly he assembled his follow
ers. applied to them the gag. and put his cam
paign manager TO rule over them-which was
right, for they were his own. having been called
into existence as mere manifestations of his en-
ergy and his money. Since it was evident that
the "safe and sane" persons in control of the
Democratic Committee. even if they could not
finally dominate the convention, would he able
10 fix its date so late that Hearst could not
afteFward well nominate himself as an indie
pendent if his campaign for the Democratic
nomination failed, he was also obliged TO come
into the open and fix a date for his own con-
vention.
Except for advertising purposes, however, his
convention will be quite useless. Its selection
OF a candidate is a fOregOne conclusion. The
committee has already hailed Hearst as its can
didate. and pledged him the support of his
league which also is right. under the Scriptu-
raj rule of rendering unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars. AS the nomination will have to
lie made by petition anyway. the committee is
as competent to nominate as the convention.
An excuse for a meeting at which carefully pre-
pared enthusiasm may be uncOrked is however,
needed. Hence, the convention. to be composed
of the same persons who now compose what
the Hearst organ describes as "a remarkable
body of brave. clean, earnest. able men''-so
brave, clean. earnest and able. in fact that
they could not be trusted out of the grasp of
Max Ihmsen. or allowed to debate the address
which was prepared for then-as if by old line
political bosses.
Let it not be imagined. however. that Hearst.
like COrtez. has tempted fate and burned his
boats behind him. The Independence League is
just now very independent. If it's prOclama-
ton cannot brighten the Democracy. then the
Democracy has stronger nerves than has COM
monty been supposed. But frightening the De
mOcracy into an accommodation is something
quite different from finally defying and de
nOuncing ii and determining irrevocably to form
no combination with it. but to make run on
high principle in opposition 10 it. The exact
balance has been carefully preserved. as is
seen from the statement of the aforesaid
Hearst organ: This is a notice to all concerned
THAT the league has well defined programme
land purpose which do not depend entirely
upon the action Of any other political organi-
''zatiOn." do not depend entirely" Do depend,
therefore, somewhat. If the Democracy will be
good and not go after any of the sane and safe
mediOcrities on Judge Parl1ers list, or seek to
rob Hearst of his dues by appealing with JUS
tice GaynOr 10 the radical sentiment which
Hearst has created and paid for. then the In
dependence Leagues independence will evapo-
rate as Hearst's regularity develops But this
is 10 give notice that the league will do terri
things mt q nd hot
will he just as independent of Democracy as he
has 10 be-