Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-20
A Party Of Broken Pieces.

- - y y VI ANA"
Under the name Of regeneration
the democrats Of eastern states are
laboring to hnd issues which will OBJ
u the national tendencies Of their
party. The Saratoga assemblage in
September is expected to be the typi-
cal and influential example of these
efforts. The momentum developed at
Saratoga, professedly intended to res
cue New York politics from the grasp
OF a bad lot Of democratic politicians,
will extend TO New England and to
the south. 1t may have the potency
to really consolidate the intelligent
thought Of the party in the east and
south and effect a regeneration Of the
party on Understandable principles Of
government.
This year the only regular demo-
cratic convention which possesses IN
significance is that of Maryland. A
legislature is to be elected which
chooses a United States senator, but
the place Is conceded to Senator Ray
ner. The overwhelming burden in the
late democratic state convention was
the task OF %inventing language which
would attract votes to the disfran-
chisement amendment about to go be-
fore the people. In reality this amend
ment is a dodge to hide the weakness
of the democrats under recent national
vagaries. A similar amendment was
defeated when submitted under Sena-
tor Germans leadership. The large
foreign mining and factory population
took alarm at some Of the restrictive
provisions, fearing that'their sons and
friends would be barred under the
grandfather clause. OF course, Mr..
Germans object was to escape the dan
ger Of republican supremacy, which
was unavoidable after the financial
policies Of 1896 became fastened on
the democratic party. The present
amendment is almost identical with
the defeated one, but the democratic
leaders expect results from trick bal
lots to be used in counties where the
negro vote is large. Since 1896 Mary
land, it is certain, has been a republi
can state on a fair vote. To the demo-
cratic organization the disfranchise.
ment of the colored vote seems indis.
pensable. The struggle will be a com
plicated and bitter one.
Like the Saratoga conference, the
Maryland convention has not in itsel
a great deal of importance. 1t is par
of a democratic movement in the cas-
and south to ignore the national plat
form and hold the party together OF
local questions or other "~regenera
tons From Maine around the coas
to Texas the white democracy is in
state OF semi-decay. 1t has no cohe
rent convictions on the state OF gov
eminent except those which are in
nately in conflict with the platform
To give a clearer meaning to the part
name has IN inspiring sound, but /
is all sound, The party name has n
meaning in New York except Tam
many. In Maryland it has none ex
cept disfranchisement Of negro voters
The two states which are this yea
quickened in political life are tryin
on the democratic side to ''regene,
ate" but the promise Is not backe
by contagious moral enthusiasm. Nev
York may search the magic wor
for the national democracy. In Mary
land the democrats are politically an
/, morally disgraced, whether they wi
or lose. 1t is an of year, followin
the enactment Of a comprehensive
tariff bill which has material for
hundred sharp disagreements. Yet re
publican confidence is plain in ever
state. Allowing for the Saratoga cor
ference a regeneration sufficient t
control the next national convention
| there will be no nascent growth to a
| feet government. The present demo
cratic supremacy would defeat a riva
A democratic victory in Maryland b
unfair means would make the stat
republican at the polls as at heal
The luckiest thing for the democrat
is that there are so few elections an!
4 where for a test OF public opinion.