Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-13
pemoerala b : pnemma.

Dem oCrate IN Dilemma.
The Democrats Of Pennsylvania are in
a sad dilemma, and the prospects are that
at their coming State Convention they
will have bitter struggle over deter
mining what will be the wisest policy for
them to pursue in this years campaign.
The fortunes Of the Democratic party
in Pennsylvania are at low ebb For
years the tide has been running strongly
adverse TO IL. and at the election Of 1904
it polled only 335 .43O votes for Judge
Parker for President, against $4,000 for
Roosevelt a majority for the latter OF 505-
$40 Thus, the majority for Roosevelt
was much larger than the entire Demo-
cratic vote Such a situation, IL must be
admitted, leaves very little prospect of
Democratic victory in Pennsylvania this
year, despite the fact that the Republican
party is openly divided and will, unless "A
radical change shall come later, have two
State tickets in the field on the day Of
election.
The dilemma that confronts the Demo-
cratic party is this. Whether to run a
straight-out Democratic ticket at this
years election, or fuse with the Lincoln
party, the organized opposition TO the
Pcnrose Republican machine, TO the ex-
tent, at least, Of accepting the Lincoln
partys nominee for governor, Lewis
Emery Jr. And the dilemma Is one that
not only puzzles both leaders and rank
and file Of the party, but has divided
them to such an extent that trouble is
threatened, no matter which horn OF the
dilemma may be seized upon in the end.
Basing calculations on the vote at the
Presidential election of 1904, il would
seem that the one thing for the Democrats
20 do is TO fuse with the Lincoln Ropub-
Leans, and thus profit BY the possible
defeat of the Republican machine But
there are those who argue that the vote
for Judge Parker in 1904 does not repre-
sent the full strength Of the Democratic
party Of Pennsylvania by more than
100000 votes. These claimants hold
that the Democrats could poll at least
10000 votes for straight party ticket,
and that this total with the Republican
vote reduced by factional dissensions and
divided about equally between the
machine and the Lincoln party, would
be sufficient TO elect the Democratic
State ticket Others contend that tho
Democrats have no show OF winning with
a straight ticket and that policy dictates
fusion with the Lincoln party for the pur-
pose Of defeating the Penrose Repub-
lican machine.
II is apparent that no matter what
may be the decision Of the Democratic
State Convention, its judgment will be
disputed and not unanimously accepted
by either party leaders or rank and file,
This makes the question Of deciding what
course viii be the better to pursue all the
more delicate and difficult
Should the Democratic State Conven-
tion nominate a straight Democratic
ticket, there is reason TO believe that
many Democrats will still support the
Lincoln ticket. II is also argued that
this course might tend 20 make many Of
the Lincoln party's followers lukewarm
and tend to drive them TO the Ponrose
machine, for fear Of the possibility Of a
Democratic victory Also, that il would
strengthen the machine by affording il
the argument that its success alone would
avert Democratic triumph. On the other
hand. fusion with the Lincoln party would
threaten the loss Of thousands Of Demo-
cratic voters, many of whom would be as
likely TO drift to the Republican machine
as to the independent Republican camp.
To an outsider it would appear that II
the Democratic State Convention de-
termines on the straight ticket course.
much win depend on the character Of
the candidates chosen No yellow dog
nominations would win. no matter how
the Republican vote might be divided.
But a sound ticket. headed BY a candi-
date for governor Of the calibre Of ex-
Mayor Vance Mccormick Of Harrisburg.
whose name is prominently mentioned.
might 80 solidiiy the Democratic party
as TO enable il TO win over the distracted
forces of Ropublcanism at the November
election