New-York tribune., 1906-11-12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL SITUATION
W. 0. Stoddard Says Republican Party Should
Learn Valuable Lesson from Recent Election.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: have been reader of The Tribune ever since
its first issues came 10 my grandfathers house. in
Cortland County in my boyhood 1t has increased
in size since then. but 1t still retains some of its
original character developed to meet the changing
times II then conducted by Horace Greeley
who was generally hooted at as a false prophet of
coming evil. A reference 10 many OF his oldtine
utterances will show how nearly correct he was.
The evils against which protested really existed
and their sure consequences came For one in
stance. he continually upbraiding the selfish
and blindness Of public men. I wish he were
now living write and print his analysis of the
sharp lessons Of the recent election IN OF
New York. AS he is not living. I wish you would
allow one Of your oldest readers to give what he
believes would be a Horace Greeley opinion.
William Randolph Hearst failed of election. but
that he came within about sixty thousand votes Of
It under all the well known circumstances is a
startling peal Of political thunder. I do not need
ceived from the curious congomerate which bears
for the day the name OF the Democratic party. In
dangerous kind is nanifesty taking life and form
before our eyes one OF Its S e1p%reSs0Ps pres on hT is he
won a personal victory under the guise OF defeat
Being S me 2ed RGsd 61e m Is % geF @ a fo3 the hs Elements Wc
he represents exhibited their rapid previous growth
as well as their present numerical strength. me me
figures presented by the returns from town and
@ @SoonIFy maze WA mai may oe cairgG ti an eadira o
On the other hand. the Republican party deserves
itself exalted by the course 1t took in the cam
paign. II must not by any means estimate too
highly the altogether temporary triumph which II
has seemed obtain. 1t ought rather feel its face
reddea with sense of shame and sit down tor a
sober study of the situation.
The Republican party leaders were almost COM
PEELED 10 nominate and elect Mr- Hughes, known
representative OF the party's best elements. while
other elements so to speak, were grurnolng IN
Wardly and sending half-suppTessed growls toward
Oyster Bay and Washington. Taking the net re-
suit. however. d responsibility OF the whole
party, it has at this election by its failure 10 do
its whole duty. assisted Mr. Hearst in writing out
for the country TO read a definite warning or some
things which may be surely soon to come, unless
their coming shall be prevented
President Roosevelt eInbOdies the best conception
Of what his entire party should now become, and
the leaders of the party in New York do
This election plainly declares that the new party
now forming has q fair fighting chance for sweep
ing the country the next Presidential election.
It might possibly succeed with Hearst or Bryan,
either Of whom ought insure its defeat If the
Republican party somewhat than half
awake. II might be all but Of winning with
such a candidate William TraVers Jerome, II IL
had the sense 10 name him, and then that excel
lent gentleman would find himself in charge OF a
The obvious remedy. or preventive. is for the
goOdly working majority of the Republican party
in the United States Senate and House to take up
with renfold all the legislation il shape
trusts, abuses. class jealouSies and the like.
graspIng control Of all the sources which furnish
powder for Hearst's cannon or which threaten TO
supply dynamite for the bombs of the red flag luna
pTeCedented push. dash. accomplishment from be-
ginning 10 end of the next Congress. The reverse
of that picture contains defeat. and far be-
hind the shadow Of such 4 defeat there are black
clouds coming swiftly up the horizon
WILLIAM 0. sTODDARD.
Madison, Wis, Nov. S 1906.