The National tribune., 1910-04-21
HEARST AND THE
DEMOCRACY.
The Jefferson Day Dinner Set
Tongues to Wagging.

Tongues are wagging over new po-
fitical theme in Washington since the
Jefferson Day dinners. As always on
those occasions, much was said about
jefferson, but the readers of newspa-
pers and the people who talk politics
now and then are remembering chiefly
the part that William Jennings Bryan
and William Randolph Hearst played at
chose feasts, and particularly at the
jefferson Day feast of Democrats in the
District of Columbia.
Here in Washington the view pre-
walls that Mr.. Hearst is ready to get
back into the Democratic Party. That
inference is drawn from speech which
John Temple Graves, an editor of Mr..
Hearst's papers, and the Hearst Inde-
pendence League nominee for the wee
Presidency in 1908, made before the
District of Columbia Dmocrats. He In
'dicated a readiness on the part OF the
independence LeaguerS to merge. Whlie
AIR. Grayess speech embodied some
conditions that were little offensive 10
the Democratic partisans who sat about
the festive board with him, on the Whole
il was probably welcome, for the Demo-
Gratis would ike to have the lndepend-
Once League votes with them in big
But a big Interrogation mark rises as
10 what the return of Mr. Hearst to the
> Democratic Party would mean for Mr..
Hearst himself. No man is standing
forth as a Gubernatorial candidate for
fhe Democrats in New York this year
and lot of folks would like to know
whether as soon as Mr.. Hearst is well
back in the old party that sent him to
Congress for a term or two he will not
be seeking the nomination for Governor
of New York. As the candidate of both
the Democrats and the Independence
Ieaguers four years ago he came near
to being elected Governor In fact,
everybody on the Democratic ticket ex-
cept himself was elected and served
, ttvo-year terms as State officials. II Is
a matter of political history how fierce
" President Roosevelt fought him, and
how Mfr. Roosevelt sent Elihu Root,
then Secretary Of State, into New York
to make speech that scored Hearst in
most vigorous terms and is credited
with having defeated him.
Since then. however, Mr.. Roosevelt
all but openly accepted Mr.. Hearst as a
political ally. The latter has touched
elbows with the Republicans in two or
three New York campaigns, SO that they
could not attack him as effectively now
as they could four years ago. There
may be some reason found in this con-
dition of affairs for the coolness with
which the Democrats in Congress are
accepting proposals for the return Fol
the nomination of Mr. Hearst as Demo
cratic candidate for Governor of New
York, if followed by his election, would
inevitably mean q most aggressive cam
peign On his part for the Presidency In
1912. The Democratic leaders know
that all too well, and they are unlikely
to show any great alacrity in aiding Mr
Hearsts political ambitions. II the New
York Democrats conclude that they
need the prodigal as Gubernatoria
candidate. then it will be another mat
ter. The Democrats in other State
Will have to acquiesce.
Should Mr.. Hearst get into the Gov
ernor's chair at Albany by this route
he. thru his numerous papers, woulC
fight Gov. Harmon, of Ohio, and seek Z
discredit him for the purpose of fur
.thering his own political aims. Th'
same thing would happen with refer
ence to Mayor Gaynor, Of New Yorl
City, whom Mr.. Hearst formerly cham
pioned, but whom he has been oppos
ing for the sake, as many believe, o
preventing the Mayor becoming so in
fiuential a figure that the Democrat
would name him as standard bearer Il
the next Presidential election. AS th
Mayor has pledged himself to serve ou
his term OF four years he cannot accep
a nomination for Governor of New Yorl
this Autumn-a nomination that IN
Democrats of the State would undoubt
edly be glad to give him.
Therefore il Is that a cordial vel
come to Mr.. Hearst's harmony propos
ais on the part of Democrats in Con
gress might eventually result In a lacl
OF harmony. The Harmon advocate:
in and out of Ohio, and the Gaynor ad
yecates, in and out of New York State
would resent any pronounced demon
stration of gladness over his alignmen
once again with the present minorit
party.
More developments il this line Wi
come as the weeks progress, and thes
promise TO be the theme of much con
Nersation and conference among tn
Democrats at Washington. They ar
naturally trying to get the several va
Tieties' together. and there is decide
difference OF opinion here whether III
Jefferson Day dinners advanced the
efforts in that regard or not.
Political Washington takes note
the fact that this was the last of tn
series of great political day dinner
The Democrats celebrate Jackson Da
ard jefferson Day with feasting an
oratory. Their observances of thos
two events this year have been spirite
and enthusiastic. The Republicans din
publicly in great numbers on Lincol
Day and Grant Day. Their observance
Of those anniversaries the past Wintt
We're also spirited and enthusiastic Th
four dinners have afforded the part
orators great opportunities, and the di:
cussions have added materially to pol
teal comment and to commendatio
and criticism