The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-11
BIG MIDDLE IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Hearst of New York Apears to
Be Storm Center in PoIiti-
cal Circles.

| 4'E" iohh, June 1U,-Neyer before
In the history of this city, perhaps
never before in the history of the
country, were things so sadly mixed
from the Democratic point OF view.
Many editors up the State, out West
and down South appear to think that
something can be accomplished along
conservative lines by ignoring the can
didacy of the editor-congressman for
Governor. or by treating the entire
subject as a Joke
Storm Period Ahead.
The truth of the situation is that
things have reached such a pass that
not even the action of the conservative
wing of the Democratic party in ac-
cepting William Jennings Bryan as
the new Moses of the party" and an
appeal to the Nebraska man to lead
the millions out of the wilderness will
| probably save the organization from a
| period of storm and stress similar to
| that encountered about the time of the
| outbreak OF the Civil War. Indeed
many careful observers agree that the
| Democratic party Is facing a crisis in
It's history even greater than that which
| confronted the organization in 1860
Source of the Trouble.
The whole trouble grows out of the
| failure of the recount bill in the last
State Legislature. The Tammany Hall
| organization OF the old city OF New
York and allied organizations handed
| w. K. Hearst a political lemon last
| fall at the time Of the nomination of
| Mayor Mcclellan for a second term.
| The Republican organizations handed
recent session of the State Legislature
Hearst himself has been handed polit-
| ical lemons so often by the politicians
! that IT is said he likes sour things. but
| his followers cannot afford to view
things In such a philosophical light
Startling Discoveries.
When 1t was discovered that Nc
| Clellans majority as returned by the
judges and clerks OF elections from the
various polling places was only a frac-
tion of one per cent OF the entire vote
cast-when 1t was discovered that the
ballot boxes opened In connection with
the various contests showed errors In
favor of Hearst and against Mcclellan
when the opening of a single box in
one OF the more aristocratic wards of
Kings county showed results which If
continued throughout the city, would
have elected Hearst mayor by $4,000
plurality, his followers set up the cry,
'Open the boxes as well as the iails"
For the theory was advanced that il
the boxes were opened that half OF the
district leaders under Charles F. Muir
ply and Senator McCarren would be
compelled to go to jail or to Canada.
Politicians Baked.
The conservatives In the Republican
and Democratic parties Joined hands
many of them perhaps thinking that
OTi0
thing. BE that as 1t may, the State
Legislature refused TO open. the boxes
and send a lot OF the big politicians
the men higher up-to jail. The result
Is that many really high-clas men in
both of the old parties honestly be-
-llevc that Hearst was counted out for
mayor,
Split May Be Result.
This is really dangerous situation.
since a canvass made with Hearst's
usual force and aggressiveness would
win many thousand votes for the indie
pendence League candidates, since, OF
course, the average man in this section
OF the country believes in a fair ballot
and fair count. II Hearst should be
elected Governor by good-sized ma
jority. IT is easy TO foresee A split In
the Democratic organizations between
the conservative and the radical wings
of the Democratic party.
Murphy May Aid Hearst.
One report has II that Leader
Charles F. Murphy OF Tammany Hall
VIII support Hearst because OF the
friction. existing between the organiza-
tlon and the Mcclellan administration,
This rumor has been adorned with
many embellishments and with consid-
erable detail. The theory is that Muir
ply could In this way maintain his
hold upon the organization, since he
would win to his support the laborlng
men Of the city who deserted Tammany
Hall last fall to support Hearst II by
any possible combination of circum-
stances Hearst should be elected Gov
crnor he would find way TO open the
boxes and remove Mayor Mcclellan,
In this weY. IL Is argued, Murphy would
surely be avenged.
Strange Stories Afoat.
One Of the stories anoat during the
past week-a rumor circulated I'm all
seriousness-is that the Democratic
State convention Will actually be stam-
pedcd for Hearst. Leader Murphy or
Tammany Hall leading the stampeders,
Bourkc Cochran as the orator OF Tam
many Hall. making the nominating
speech 1t Is safe 10 say that If this
| report has IN 1t any OF the elements OF
the truth. that such a speech would be
In the nature of one of the most sur
prising in the surprising career OIL
Bourke Cochran.
Drifting Like Castaways.
Like a shlpwrecked crew the leaders
| are drifting toward the primaries In
| September, when lots are 10 be cast TO
| see who shall be devourcd and who
| shall survive. The landmarks of au-
thority have even been swept away
| New lines have been run ruthlessly
| through districts won in hard-fought
| battles and each district leader finds
| the territory which he has come to look
upon as his own domain split up into
| sections closely resembling Chinese
/ puzzles The fight must be begun all
| over again. and II VIII be contest TOT
| the survival of the fittest. Leaders who
| have dwclt side by side in amity for
| years now see In one another only as
many possible political assasslns.
| Friendship has ceased, and the watch
word appears to be, Let MIN save
| l. 10. cor