The Irish standard., 1908-03-21
William R. Hearst's Independence League to
Make Its First Appearance as
National Organization.
Populists, Prohibitionists and Socialists Will
Also Enter the Field With Presi-
dental Tickets.

1t - altogether probable that 1908
will break all the records in the num-
Der of important parties which VIII ap-
pear in TIC campaign. says Charles NJ,
Harvey iii the ST. Louis Globc-Dcino-
crat.
Aside nom the two big organizations
which a;e always with us, aud cacl, of
which will make an e;trnest cffor. to
win. We will have four other organiza-
tions, the leaders of each of which cX-
pcct ~ make a powerful demonstration
at the polls. One of these is The Plnu-
list PARTY. which will meet in national
convcrtl,n i'll st. Louis on April 2, and
another il; the Prohibition party.
which assemblies in Columbus, Ohio, on
July L.. William r. Hcnrst's lndepcnd-
encc League as Il national orAaniZntioW
is TO meet in convention after the two
big parties have put up their tickets.
AS Tho latest OF the big parties. the
Democracy. assemblies in Denver on
July 2. it is to be presumed that tho
Independence League will have it's con-
ventinE some time in July. The pres
ent plan among it's leaders seems to
be to call il the National party. as In
dependence League has only local as
socia.i,.,s. The Socialists are also to
put up Il ticket and to make % strong
canvass; but the duy for the con>en-
tion ,la.: not yet been announced.
1t is easily possible that ono or more
of these organizations may hold the
haIanc. n some states The Populsts
have been in the field FOR lG years, but
have nat recently pollrd enough votes
to have c.ny consequence. i'm their first
natinna. canvass, that of 1892, when
they !,aL Gen. james r. Weaver, the
old Grccnback candidate OF 1882 for
their n,,,incc, they rolled up a vote OF
over 1000, 900, and carried some states.
Later ca. under the Bryan amalgana
ton. they dwindlcd down to small pro-
portions. Just what influence they
will have in 1908 can not be guessed
at now. They intend, however. to make
A fight IN every state and they will bc
one OF .hc disturbing elements wilicl,
prop.Ict very hard in this cninpligll
The Socialists have been with us for
many years, and they have been max
ing steady gains. Under the Ica, of
Haywood, who was until recently the
master spirit in the Western Tcdcra-
tion OF Miners, they may be relied on
to leave Dcbs' big total OF 1904 far be-
hind IL is the purpose Of Dcbs, who
has had the candidacy in two success
sivc tahlLaigns to work for the no1nina-
ton Of Haywood. and as he probably
has more influence in the party than
any other person, his efforts ought to
get 'he nomination for his friend.
The Prohibition party is an oldtimc
acquaintance. II has been hero much
more than Il third of a. century. 1t
tIIdue Its' itiVcIIt DIS IL I)DiIllCdI OTSdI!Id-
tion in 1872, and has had a. ticket and
a platform in every presidential cam
vHss frGEl that day to this. Although
It's vote wHs small at first it gradually
increased until the silver cataclysln of
1896 disrupted it for tho moment, and
put two sections of the party in The
field in 1904 it pollcd a vote OF 25S,-
600, the largest which it ever cast ex-
cept in 1892, when it's total was 264,COO.
Under ;'le new conditions it's leaders
are predicting a vote which will pass
the 100000 mark. AS they have been
| making great conquests recently all
over the country in increasing the
"dry" ,Gsion, they arc encouraged to
thinI thot they will poll a political vote
which viii leave all the former ballots
far behind Probably they are correct
in this expectation. Their victories,
hOwcvc:, in extending the dry area
Of The country have been gained
through non partisan effort chiefly.
The .Antsaloon League has led the