The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-03-30

AuFoltiS 1ISeu 10 hestu oU HSaf.t
Rising Tide of New Workers Popu-
Iarity Alarms Conservative Win. of
Democracy-Some of the .,vaiIable
Timber.
All Dixieland is glistening with
lightning rods since Judge Alton b.
Parker declared that the south ought
to assert its dominancy in the affairs
of the democracy and name a south
ern man for president in 1908.
The party's latest defeated candi-
date has, Of course, not only taken
himself out of the next race, but he
has barred every other northern demo-
crat from the sweepstakes event
which he. as the probable spokesman
for powerful financial interests, is es-
saying to arrange for the next presi-
Dental campaign.
The favorite son game in presidential
politics is an old one, and one at
which the south can play as adroitly
| as the best Of them. Hence if there
is anything more than the mere express
sion of personal wish or opinion back
Of Judge Parkers North Carolina
| speech, it is not at all improbable
that far-reaching efforts will be made
to send to the next democratic nation
al convention delegations from a nalf
dozen or more southern states instruct
ed respectively for favorite sons
In the sort Of scramble that this
condition would produce the ultra con-
servative forces could more easily
control, perhaps, than they could
should the candidates. of Mr.. Hearst
and Mr.. Bryan have been the controll-
ing factors in various state campaigns
for delegates. In point of fact, il is
strongly suspected that Judge Parker's
real motive in urging the nomination
Of sOutherner is to complicate the
situation for both the Nebraskan and
the New Yorker-Californian. Undoub-
edly his main purpose is to appeal 10
what is generally regarded by his type
of politician as the conservatism Of the
south against the rising tide of rad.-
ca1ism that seems to be sweeping swift
ly toward Mr.. Hearst. with Mr.. Bryan
as the almost certain compromise in
the event of Mr.. Hearst's failure TO
win the prize for which he strove In
1904
HEARST AND BRYAN SEEM
RIVALS
In this connection it is pertinent to
state that there does not appear to be
any sort of understanding between
Messrs. Hearst and Bryan bearing on
the leadership of their party in 1903.
On the contrary, the signs are multi
plying that they are rivals for the gilt
tering trophy. This of itself consti-
tutes factor Of great interest in the
presidential equation, not only as ii
affects democratic politics, but as it
affects republican politics in general.
for it goes without saying. that if Mr..
Hearst shall develop dangerous
strength the conservative forces, ire
spective of nominal party affiliations,
would be compelled to cOnjure with
Bryan's name and popularity as the
last desperate device for heading off
Hearst. Stranger things have happen
ed in our politics than William Jen
nings Bryan being turned to by the
'sane and sound" elements for rescue
from what they regard as an actual
menace.
There does not any longer seem to
be the least doubt that Mr.. Hearst will
contest the field for the governOrship
of New York next fall. Indeed, ais
candidacy for that nomination already
is we'll advanced. It is remembered
with what scornfu1 remarks his ac
ceptance of the municipal ownership
party's nomination for mayor OF
Greater New York was greeted by the
old line politicians all over the cOun-
try last October 1t is also remem-
bered with what a shudder the sane
and sound" elements of the metrcpC-
lis viewed his chances of election two
weeks before the close of that memora
BILE campaign, to say nothing of their
dread when on the night of election it
appeared for several hours that he had
triumphed at the polls.
HEARST'S POPULARITY GREAT.
If anything has happened since then
to diminish Hearst's strength with the
masses in New York city or state CT
elsewhere, it is not of record. Where
fore, suppose William Randolph Hearst
is elected governor of the Empire
state next November, how. then, will
go presidential politics for the sue
ceeding two years? There are, of
course, numerous statesmen of both
parties on Capitol Hill who shut their
eyes and refuse to suppose" any such
thing, but they did this for a consider
able period after Hearst entered the
race for mayor of Greater New York,
and some even refused to open their
eyes until the completed returns from
Brooklyn showed that Hearst hal
swept that ancient stronghold of CON
servatism''
These facts are recited merely be-
cause they emphasize the probable
truth Of tn declaration that in his at
tempt to stir up assertive sectionalism
in the national democracy Judge Par
ker is undertaking thus early to curb
fbo errouth of Hearst sentiment