The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-17


the platform to the Republican ma
tional convention described the planks
offered by La Follette's friends as so
cialistic and demagogic, he opened the
way for the Democratic party to march
ito iIisrJis.,;;i d.. 10 c.,.I..' f.3t 81.
for its own. The sv.ectiuI Jl az.
Ryan as chairman of the national COM
mittee would aid materially in carry
ing that state. And the choice Of him
could be imdde with perfect confidence
that in the future. as in the past, he
would be loyal to Democracy as it now
stands, loyal to the great leader of the
Democratic party, William J. Bryan.
But it is not necessary to look alto
sether to the middle west or to the
northwest for chairman. Down
where the Potomac river breaks
through the Allegheny mountains,
down where the richest mineral de
posits in all the east are to be found,
lies the state Of West Virginia. 1t is
a state which should be Democratic,
but which for years has been Repub-
lican.. It has been Republican be-
cause there was no fighting quality IN
the blood of those who professed to
be Democratic leaders there. To
day the Democrats Of that state have
q new ambition and find new encour-
agement in the fact that they have
new leaders. Out Of West Virginia
may well come chairman of the
Democratic national committee. VIII
liam E. Chiffon of Charleston has
been a fighter for progressive Democ-
racy for many long years. He IS an
organizer and when need be an ora
tor. He would be able to swing that
little group of states that nestle about
West Virginia into the Democratic
column if proper ticket were pre-
sented. Nobody is urging Chilton's
appointment to this important place,
and vet cut Of the uncertainty which
now hangs about the Craftsmanship it
would not be remarkable II the ap-
pointment should be handed to him.
The suggestion of Hon. D. L. Fran
els of st. Louis appeals very much to
the practical politicians in the Demo
cratic party, Mr.. Francis was not
fright" in 1896, but no man has given
clearer indication Of his desire to
come back into the Democratic ranks
and to fight for the cause of Demo
cratic success than he. Frankly, do
not expect that Governor Francis will
be chosen for this position, but 1t
would not be an unwise thing for the
Democratic party to give more atten-
ton to his qualifications for the place
than today it appears to be willing to
give.
The Mystery of Hearst.
This is the first convention since
1896 at which Hearst and his political
power have received practically no at
tention whatsoever. Of course, men
are asking here and there what Hearst
is going to do, but it is mere mat
ter Of gossip. The usual answer to
the question: is that nobody cares a
continental what he is going to do.
The feeling among the politicians
gathered at Denver is that the erratic
course Of Hearst has utterly destroyed
his political influence in the nation.
This is q Democratic convention, and
the Democrats here gathered are not
inclined to look with favor upon a
man who, having received a Demo
cratic nomination for governor Of New
York. continued his political activities
the next year by fusing with the Re-
publican party, dominated by ,Odell
and E. H. Hartman. There Is a
story that he has wearied Of paying
all the expenses Of his personally con-
Quoted party and that his trip abroad
was taken for the purpose Of enabling
him to gently, after the Hearst man.
ner. evade the responsibilities which
he has incurred. Charlie Walsh, who
used to be secretary Of the Democratic
national committee and who now, to
the regret of his friends, is mere
salaried henchman Of Hearst, stated
the other day that the convention
called for July 81 would be indefinite
ly postponed. Hearst's private secre
tary told Hearst's political reporter at
Denver to deny this and say that the
convention would meet and put
ticket in the field, But it would seem,
in view of the dissension among
Heurst's own people, that the descrip-
tion Of the Hearst movement by the
correspondent of New York newspa-
per was fairly descriptive. he said
that He ,rst was the ION again, off
again, gone again Finnegan" Of Dem
ocratic politics. And. indeed, that is
the position which Hearst occupies to-
day before this convention. Nobody
knows where he is and few cure. The
general feeling is that his influence,
even if because Of personal pique it
shall be directed against Bryan, will
be trivial.
The Republican Organization.
For nearly three weeks after the
Republican national convention ad-
journed the Republican organization
had no head. No chairman had been
selected nor any secretary. No head
quarters had been chosen, no eXecu-
tive committee had been appointed.
What is the meaning Of this? Does
it indicate that the Republican party
is so torn by dissension that it could
not even provide for proper organi-
zation to conduct the campaign upon
4n