Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-09-13
4 Tale of Two Parties.

III the past Two VI luIec Oda Inc
contrast between the conditions in the
Democratic and the Republican parties
has been brought out in clear light.
The country sees Illinois giving a dou-
BILE setback TO the principal presidential
aspirant of the national democracy.
The same aspirant Mr.. Bryan, has
just met a defeat in the Democratic
convention in Ohio. Tom L. Johnson,
who stands close TO Bryan, and who, it
is believed, was working not only in
Bryan's interest but at his instigation,
tried TO depose Harvey c. CARRIER,
chairman of the Ohio Democratic State
Committee. CARRIER, for some reason,
has become obnoxious to Bryan and
Johnson, and Johnson failed as badly
in attempting to turn him down as
Bryan did when he tried to get the
Illinois Democrats to force Roger C.
Sullivan off the national committee.
In Indiana fight is impending when
Bryan lands, for he will be compelled
to declare for or against Tom Tag
CART as chairman of the national COM
mittee.
Just as some eXuberant seers were
predicting that a Democrat would be
the next Governor OF New York, and
that the next Governor of New York
would be the next President of the
United States, comes a fight which has
torn the New York democracy wide
open, and has insured the continuance
of Republican sway in that State.
Charles F. Murphy, the Tammany
chief, has declared for William r.
Hearst for Governor of New York. Dis
trict Attorney Jerome has announced
that he (Jerome) will accept the Dem
ocratic nomination for Governor if it
is offered to him without conditions,
and incidentally he remarks that the
political situation in that State is
shameful" This epithet is directed
against Hearst, who responds imme-
diately by saying that he repudiates
Murphy and despises Jerome. Jerome
assails Hearst, calling him intellect
ually sterile, socially vulgar and moral
~ obtuse," and says he is not surprised
that Murphy favors Hearst. Probably
Murphy will support Hearst, notwith
standing Hearst's claim that he does
not want and will not accept any votes
from Murphy or his element of the De-
mocracy. Tammany is pretty sure to
support Hearst in the State conven-
ton, and if the nomination goes to
him, even through Tammany votes,
Hearst will accept it. Incidentally
Hearst intimates that if he should be
elected Governor he would find some
way to remove Jerome and Mayor Nc
Clellan.
Compared with the Bryan-Sullivan
and the Bryan-Garber feuds in the
West and the Jerome Hearst-Murphy
vendettas in the East, the Odell-Hig-
gins jar is only childs' quarrel. An
adjustment can easily be reached be-
tween the wrangling Republicans. In
fact, Higgins sees that the Democratic
split has simplified matters so much
for the Republicans that he announces
himself as a candidate for a second
term. There are indications, however,
thSt the Republicans will nominate
Hughes, the insurance inquisitor, for
Governor of New York. He would get
thousands Of Democratic votes, even If
the Democracy were united, as it is
not, aid as it cannot be until at the
earliest, after the close of the canvass
of 1906. In the national field there is
not a cloud on the Republican sky. All
the leaders are pulling together. The
Democrats hoped that Cummins of
Iowa would start a row in the party
which would extend through the ma
ton. Nothing of the kind took place
Cummins' platform turned out to be
an orthodox Republican deliverance, On
which every true Republican, from
President Roosevelt and Speaker Can
non down to the privateS in the ranks
can stand. Roosevelt, Cannon, Sher-
man and the rest of the Republican
chieftains are working tremendously
and enthusiastically for the success of
the Congressional ticket. Nobody
doubts that the Republicans viii retain
their control OF Congress- The new
Congress will continue the good work
begun by the present body, but which
cannot be finished in the three months
session beginning in December of this
year. This work will strengthen the
hold of the Republican party OF the
affections Of the American people
There is not the faintest chance for
Democratic victory this year. The stock
market and the general business con-
ditions show that the solid sane eIe-
ments of the American people are con-
fdent that the Republican party will
continue for many years longer to dis
pense Republican prosperity to the
country.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.