Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-26
Not Like Old Days.


democrats who won't know whether
Amontillado is new kind of cheese,
part of tho decorations, or a Chesapeake
bay paniish. This isn't like our old JEFF
feTSonian dollar dinners. when We had
mans victuals and nothing to drink but
plain water
NhereUpon his colleague went TO
explain that this is d democratic
party nov. up to date aud with an appe-
tite vhetted for some of the good things
The republicans have been feaStinS upon
20 long.
The most interesting feature of current
political events is the struggle within
tho democratic party between the con-
servative and radical factions-the lat
CT thing in politics. and therefore more
conspicuous than the like controversy
that has ragged i'm the republican ranks.
With tho lower house of Congress in
their hands. with Increased strength in
the Senate and believing all the odds to
be in their favor for a presidential vic
tory in 1872 the democrats are looking
forward 10 long lease of political life
in control Of the nations affairs
In the dawn Of their new day and on
the threshold of expected ascendancy
the democratic factions are struggling
ioF supremacy IN party domination. 1t
Is clearly defined contest between the
OLD line conservatives and the progress
siVc element. Back to our old mooring''
is the cry OF one: Onward TO new ideals
OF progress shouts the other faction.
Demand for Recognition
The first outcroppines of the struggle
arc showing in the senatorial contests
Old line democrats are demanding recoe-
milton in New York New jersey Ohio
and Maine. and are being resisted by the
progressives on general principles of sus-
picion Of their affiliations
Association with corporation interests
appears 10 be sufficient to mark a scna-
toria candidate for challenge by the pro-
Eres.ives- 1t is well known. of course
that the conservative element dictated
the platform and the candidate for gov
ernor i'll New York, Connecticut. Ohio
New Jersey and Indiana and that the
conseT.a atives who had supported rcpub-
llcan candidates for Congress in prior
elections since IS8 turned the balance
last November for the democrats
Take New Jersey. DR. Woodrow Vii
son was put forward as the candidate
for governor because il Was thought he
would appeal to tho masses. As he did
He was presented and backed bT the
conservatives. although il is quite prob
ahic that the good doctor himself was
moi aware of the ramifications, extending
even into the financial district of New
ork city. of tho influence that aided in
his nomination and election
The first thing Dr Wilson did when he
Won the fight was to take his stand by
the side of the people whom he thought
he MAS representing. tho progresSiVes
and to start vigorous attack upon the
cement that had secretly supported him,
but to which he acknowledged no allie
glance. He has declared uncompromisinG
warfare upon the senatorial aSpirati tionS
Of James Smith. jr.. the type. exponent
and representative of the conservative
Oh corporation clement of the New
Jersey democrats.
Reasons Back of Fight.
Ostensibly he is making this fight in
Cf he in6
that selected Mr.. MARITIME as the csndi-
date for senator. but his attacks upor,
Mr.. Smith make IL clear that he is also
opposing smith for the things Smith. in
his opinion. stands for. Dr. Wilson and
his followers do not want New JERSEY
represented by a democrat in the Senate
vino is known as corporation man"
In New York the men who made Dix
governor and wrote the platform want q
conservative of the type Of Edward NJ.
Shepard for senator. In point of fact
Mr.. Shepard wrote the greater part OF
the platform himself Whatever Mr.
Shepard's ostensible leanngs toward pro-
EresSiveness. such his declaration in
favor of popular election of senator's, his
mental process is ultra-conservative. He
Is the highest type Of the corporation
lawyer. is OF mature years. with settled
convictions upon the rights OF property
and ali that sort OF thing.
Upstate democrats are opposing a man
of lbs type. but the choice thus far pre-
sente,l does not afford them d wide field
for selection. William r. Sheehan is the
same type as Shepard. with the important
qualification that he is machine politi-
elan. Other candidates put forward are
moro tools of Tammany to he useful In
seeing that the machine gets the patron
age IL "A democratic President is elected.
In New York the fight between the pro-
gressives and the democratic old guard
will come first over the selection of a
leader in the state senate. Thomas +.
Grady has been put forward by the ma
hi l.a he lca1 f,,tt fha r,rnQ
sives violently opposing him ac-
rount OF his record as machine leader.
The progressives do not want to start
their legislative career under auspices SO
well known To be of character Objec-
ifonabIe to progressive principles
In Ohio Harmon is expected to die
tate the selection of the United States
senator. Gov. Harmon is a conserva-
tive among conservatives. at heart.
The jocular saying that ''he is the
friend of the masses and the classes
are friends OF his struck nearer the
truth than was intended. perhaps. But
the progressives will make a fight for
il. The old radical spirit is still strong
among Ohio democrats.
In Maine big row is threatened be-
sives There has already been one
hare-up. Charles F. Johnson Of Wa
terviile announced his candidacy and
Senator Hale was moved to say some
kind words about Mr.. Johnson There
upon the progressives took alright
and said that il Johnson suited Hale
he surely would not do for them.
That shows the kind of hair-trig-
ger proposition that democratic poll