New-York tribune., 1909-09-23
rRE DEMOCRATIC LEADERsHLP.


The death of Governor John A. johnson
leaves the Democratic party more impoverished
in the material out of which leaders are de-
veloped than it has been for many years. Since
the war the Democracy has felt constrained TO
select its Presidential candidates from North
efn states although the South since 1876 has
always delivered from two-thirds to nine-tenths
of the electoral votes cast for those candidates
To nominate Il man who had shown his ability
TO carry q Northern state and who seemed able
TO repeat that performance was the Demo-
cratic party's obvious policy. 1t took as candi-
dates for President HoratiO Seymour, Samuel J..
Tilden and Grover Cleveland all of whom had
been elected governors of New York. 1t also
nominated Alton B. Parker, who had won
election in this state judge of the Court of
Appeals The schism in the Republican party
in 1872 caused the Democrats TO take up
Horace Greeley, in conjunction with the Liberal
Republican seceders, and the general break IN
party lines in 1896 prompted them to NOM
mate William J. Bryan in conjunction with
the Silver Republicans and the POpulists. Cen
eral Winfield S. Hancock was nominated in
1850 because Mr. Tilden's indecision and the
| emharra sSments resulting from his belated
withdrawal made it advisable to choose a can
didate who was not in politics Mr. Bryan has
never been elected Governor of Nebraska, but,
having carried ten Northern states in 1896, four
I'm 1900 and three in 1908, he has established an
availability moro general in character than that
| resulting from an election as Governor or
other state officer. He is the only Democratic
leader now actively in politics who has ever
carried any Northern state besides his own.
But if Mr.. Bryan is not to be a perpetual can
didate for the Presidency it must he the task
of the Democratic party 10 develop other avail
oil TOb
undoubtedly the most promising of those pos
sible substitutes He was comparatively young,
had an ingratiating personality and was pub
lie speaker of more than average skill. More
over he had "maue good in Minnesota, an
overwhelmingly Republican state, which three
times elected him Governor. He probably could
have won fourth election and gone before the
next Democratic National Convention with
formidable support from the elements in the
party which desire a change in its leadership.
He was put in nomination and voted for in the
last national convention. and by venturing to
oppose Mr. Bryan had become the logical can
didate of the anti-Bryan forces.
His death leaves only two Democratic gov
ernOrs in Northern states available for a Pres
idential nomination-Judson Harmon of Ohio
and Thomas Il. Marshall of Indiana. But
neither of them has impressed the country as
Governor Johnson succeeded in impressing it.
Mr.. Harmon was in Mr.. Cleveland's second
Cabinet and. though he has since supported
Mr.. Bryan. is still more of a Cleveland con-
servative than a Bryan radical. He has been
a receptive candidate for the Presidency for
the last six years. but has failed to attract
Support, chiefly because of the vagueness with
which he discusses public questions. To be
come a serious factor in the next Democratic
National Convention he will have to carry Ohio
once more in 1910 and his reelection is rather
| improbable. Governor Marshall will remain in
| office until 1913, Yet so far he has shown lit
| tie disposition 10 make n contest for the con-
| troll of the national organization. If a Demo-
| cratic Governor were to be elected in New
i York in 1910 he would naturally become the
! candidate of the anti-Bryanites. But at present
! the Nebraska cheftain finds the Northern field
swept practically clear of dangerous rivals.
| Perhaps the purpose of his present attack on
/ Senator Bailey and the doctrine of taxed raw
| materials is intended to soldfy the Northern
| Democracy on an issue which will appeal 10 the
| former followers of Mr.. Cleveland and TO main
! tain his power by ptting the North with an
/ antiprotectiOnist programme against the South
| with programme of semiprotectOn.