The Washington times., 1908-10-03

was impossible, vet they turned up with
a handful OF assemblymen.
The Hearst partys policy is TO perfect
Just as quickly as possible the maChin-
cry Of a complete organization. IL is
putting out candidates for Congress.
for the Legislatures, complete State
tickets-everything In sight-in every
state where organization can be com
pleted In time; and By election day il
Will appear in the returns from most
OF the States. At the last gubernatorlal
election. only a year ago. Hisgen. In
dependent party candidate in Massa-
chuSetts, received 5000 votes. while
Henry NJ Whitney, regular Democrat,
got only 10000
Hope to Poll $4,000.
Here in New York the Independent
party people talk about I75,O0O votes for
Shearn for governor. They will not
get anything Ike such a number, but
they Will get plenty; a sufficient plenty,
the Hughes managers hope. to save
Hughes from defeat Betting would be
two or three TO one on Chanler against
Hughes, this blessed minute, II there
were no Independent ticket in the field
The Democrats try hard 10 argue them
selves into the belief that the Independ-
ence ticket VIII draw about as many
from Republicans as from Democrats.
hut it's only whistling through the
graveyard. They know better. A Re
publican OF mich experience said the
vote would be three from the Demo
Gratis 10 one from the Republicans; q
Democrat who assured me he was try
ing hard to be honest, said the Demo
Gratis would furnish sixty out Of every
hundred votes for the Independent can
didate in New York State; and 1 guess
the Republican was nearer right than the
Democrat
The Independent party is out to de-
strOy the Democratic party, as a means
to getting control Of H. IL Is made up
OF the most heterogeneous aggregation
OF people with utterly conflicting views
and purposes, that ever united under
one banner. Up at the leadership is a
determination 10 have revenge on Bryan
by defeating him, because he wouldn't
support Hearst for the 1904 Democratic
nomination. Then there Is a stratum OF
people who think Bryan has got too
conservative; they want something
more radical Down under this Is a
layer OF folks who think Bryan is too
radical, and are sure that Hearst, as a
be safer.
May Be Socialists.
Then there are some people who would
discover they were Socialists II they
would take the trouble to read a few
books, and weren't afraid Of the name.
There are some who ought 10 caTr them
selves Populists. One man told me he
was with the Independent party because
he couldn't stomach Bryan's suggestion
OF Government ownership of railroads:
the very next man said he was with
the Hearst ticket because he knew
Hearst was for Government ownership
of railroads. while Bryan hadn't had
the courage to stand by his real con
victiOns on that question. And there
you are
The Populist vote generally will rep
resent loss 70 the Democrats. The
Prohibition vote in the aggregate Will
represent loss TO the Republicans The
Socialist vote will contain a good major
ity OF people who would be Democrats
II they weren't SOcialists-this year, at
least; and the Independence party vote
viii draw its prepOnderance OF strength
from the Democrats
Will Be Much Writing.
After the election is over, there VIII
be a lot Of writing about the Republi-
can having become a plurality party,
and about how, II there had been only
tleo parties in the field, Bryan wC,Ild
have had the popular majority It will
probably be true. If everybody were
compelled to vote a choice between
Bryan and Taft, or go to Jail for a
month, Bryan would win.
But the dissatisfied vote" is ALWAYS
dissatisfied with any special plan for
getting satisfaction. 1t will divide and
be conquered.