New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
fR BE4RSTS NEW PARTY.

There is nothing new about Mr.. Hearsts party
except its name. tie National party, out as MS
politicaI corporations change their deslshalioh
avarv wear or so no one need regard this as
radical departure First, three years ago, came
the Municipal Ownership League. After prler
but glorious existence 1t was succeeded the foi-
lowing year by the Independence League, when
lasted through two campaigns ana now gives
place TO the National party.
The new party is conservative, Whch seems
superfuous, considering the number of CON
servatfve parties there are already in the field.
If sny one doubts the conservatism of the Ma
tional party he has only to read the early para
graphs of its declaration of principles, which It's
founder modestly compares TO the Declaratloh
of Independence, wherein il Is SET forth that us
objects are Ito conserve for the citizens OF the
..ITnited States the rights and liberties won for
chem bv the founders of this government, ETC.
and that # is therefore conservative force
The logic is triumphant. Anything thht con
serves is conservative. In the lace OF thlS II
Will be difficult to treat Mr.. Hearst In the fut-
ure as a political bogie man, even though MS
new party favors government ownership, albeit,
like that other great conservative, Mr.. Bryan,
only ultimate government ownership except IN
the case Of ''telegraphs." where, in the name
of civilization, there is demand for immediate
governmental purchase and operation IhlS Is
Mr. Hearst's pet idea. 1t diferentates hlm
from the other conservatives. For the rest, the
declaration of principles lacks originality 1T
reads like a cento of old Populist platforms,
with considerable borrowings from MI Bryan :
contributions TO political science. On this sub
lect of political Clothes, much debated III re
cent wears. Mr.. Hearst says: The political
CLOTHES of the average politician are not much
Ito steal They too often resemble the harle-
..orin attire of A masquerade" Which may ac-
counr for the likeness between his wardrobe and
the N44braskans But though new political raj
nent is exceedingly hard TO acquire 1t seems a
real weakness that the National party does not
Introduce violent innovations and startling new
theories" What call is there for a new party
which stands for nothing new?
After ALL there Will probably be much less In
tereSt in what the new party advocates than IN
what Mr. Hearst purposes 10 DO with It. II II
IS possible 70 judge his present intentions from
his previous dealings, Mr.. Hearst will not put
national ticket in the field. When he incor-
porated his first party, the Municipal Owner
shin League he put an independent ticket In
nomination only after the failure of efforts TO
form a fusion with the Republicans and the
Citizens Union against Tammany. The follow
ing year, with his new corporation, he fused IN
the state and city with Tammany, and last fall
he combined with the Republicans against Tam
many. Probably Mr.. Bryan can have the sup
port of the new party If be is willing or able 10
accept its terms. No one can guess what those
terms may be. Perhaps Mr. Hearst would Ike
TO run for Vice President or TO enter Mr. Bryans
Cabinet. Perhaps all he will ask is that Mr..
Bryan force the Democracy TO indorse the Ma
tional partys candidates for Governor in New
York Massachusetts, Illinois and some other
states. Mr. Hearst has demonstrated that he
controls a good many votes in this state, SO
many that if he puts ticket of his own In the
field Mr. Bryan's case will be hopeless. So it
may appear part Of Mr.. Bryan's duty 10 infu-
ence the New York Democratic state leaders TO
accept Mr.. Hearst or his man for Governor
again. as they did two years ago Whether an
unholy alliance between Hearst and Murphy
would do Mr.. Bryan more good than harm is
probably for Mr. Bryan himself 10 decide. Mr..
Hearst has the votes, but il has yet 10 be
demonstrated that he can deliver them 10 a
minority party in any fusion without driving
away more support than he bring.