The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-05
The Campaign in the Nation

INC NHUIIIdlSn III tut NdNlOh'
A campaign in the middle of n Presi-
Dental term during a period of abundant
prosperity and many accomplished re-
forms in State and nation should lOgi-
cally result in sweeping and uniform
victories for the party in power. There
should be no consolation prizes for the
minority party, especially when discred-
tied by its record and without intelli-
gent leadership. But the old tests can
not be applied this year.
The battle against machine rule is
still being fought in several of the States,
and radicalism is so much the vogue
that both parties are affected by it.
Party lines are wagering; in some States
they have been almost wiped out; and
the political expert has to acknowledge
that the new conditions baftte him. To
add to his perplexity there are storm
centres in some States and IN ominous
calm ard apathy in other States where
the conditions are not dissimilar. To
complete his uncertainty, both parties
are desperately poor and in some locali-
ties have sOlemnly pledged themselves
not to buy votes or indulge in any cor
rupt practices.
The contest for Governor in this State
o~vershadows all others in significance
and importance, for it is a crucial test of
democracy and is therefore of national
moment. So much have our people been
absorbed in it that they have paid little
attention to the campaigns in other
States where there are also storm CEN
tres. In Massachusetts the same trug-
gle in lesser degree is going on. Moran
ism is an echo of Hearstism and hardly
less noisy and noxious. The reform
District Attorney of Suffolk county, a
notorious self-advertiser and political
confidence man, is trying to elect him
self Governor as a Democrat without a
campaign committee and without the
help of the best element in his party,
which has gone over to Governor GUILD.
the Republican candidate, who has given
the State a good administration and
IA a man of ~irreproachable character.
MORAN has been violent and abusive on
the stump, and is al apostle of discon-
tent is making his appeal TO the labor
unions. Like HEARST he has been
steadily losing ground, and his defeat
seems to be assured.
In Pennsylvania LEWIS EMERY, the
candidate for Governor Of the Lincoln
Republicans and Democrats, has been
making a vigorous campaign against the
Republican organization, which not only
has a most respectable candidate in
EDWIN STUART, ex-Mayor Of Philadel-
phia, but can point to the model record
of a reform Legislature a. evidence of a
change Of heart. Nevertheless, and in
spite of the fact that President RoOsE-
WELT praised the work Of the Legislature
handsomely in his Harrisburg speech,
the ~fusionists insist that the organiza-
ton has not reformed itself, and they
make ugly charges of graft in connection
with the furnishing and decoration Of
the new Capitol at an expense of So OO, 900.
The campaign is ending with the organi-
ration on the defensive, but claiming the
election by a large plurality.
In New Jersey a battle is also going on
against the machine, but it is compli-
Gated by dissatisfaction with the Bishops
License law and the Avis Full Assessment
Tax law. Senator DRYDEN, a candidate
for reelection, is bearing the brunt Of an
tipathy TO the Republican organization.
His Democratic opponent, Colonel EDWIN
STEVENS, is showing his zeal for purity
in politics by publishing his campaign
expenditures and challenging Senator
DRYDEN to do the same. Republican
control Of the Legislature in New Jersey
IL not believed to be in doubt. but party
lines are not holding firm and no one
really knows how the Colbyites and the
Germans opposed to the new license law
will vote.
Secretary SHAW, who has made
speeches iniIowa and Ohio, reports such
apathy as he saw before. In
Iowa Governor CUMMINs has had to
contend with disaffection in his party,
due 10 a bitter contest for the nominal
tion, but his reelection Is not in doubt.
The personal factcr has played so large
a part in tho campaign that the issue
Of tariff revision. as in Massachusetts,,
has been neglected. In Ohio, where a
Secretary Of state is 70 be elected, both
PARTIES have been conjuring with the