The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-18
HOW THE DEMOCRATS BLUNDER.

INV HE OLx1SkON(I6<A4
Democratic plumbers are proverbial
There isn't much of the unusual, there
fore, in the efforts of the Democratic
leaders in power in New York state to
force the election of William F. shee-
han, "Blue-eyed Billy to the United
States senate. So far as the people of
the Empire state have been able to
speak in the premises they have regis
tered strong protest against selecting
Sheehan to succeed Depew. Similar
protests have been made by the better
element in the Democratic party. But
apparently these protests will avail
nothing. Tammany Hall, almost
synonymous with the word "plunder-
bund," has the whip hand. Sheehan
worked with Tammany Hall when he
was speaker of the New York assembly
and later lieutenant governor of the
state. He has been in cahoots with
Tammany ever since. Tammany is
noted for rewarding the laborers in its
vineyard So to Sheehan must go the
United States senatorial plum.
Surely are the voters in several of the
states up against pretty tough propo-
and wake up the morning after election
TO find out that they have done no bet
ter than to Urn another set in. In
New York state and in several other
states, the Democrats have had the OPP
portunities of their lives to act in such
a way as to deserve the confidence of
the people Who had got tired of the old
order of things and desired a change.
But If they don't do any better in other
places than they are doing in New
York. they won't retain this confidence
long.
Sheeha~ IS quite as strong a, repre-
sentative of the interests and special
privileges" as was Chauncey M. Depew,
whose senatorial demise has caused no
one in New York or any other place ID
put on mourning. In fact Sheehan is a
stronger man of this sort than was
Depew, because he is much smarter
and craftier. He is among the attor-
neys for all the big electrical concerns
and suburban traction companies ia
and about New York city. These cleo
trical concerns are the backbone of
that electrical trust which the federal
government has just proceeded against,
and which the government has styled
as the most inimical of all the illegal
trusts and monopolies. Yet the Demo-
cratic leaders of New York state
Democrats. mind you, the real friends
of the people as they would have you
believe-nsist that Sheehan is the only
man who can help represent the great
state of New York in the upper
branch of cougress
On the other hand, Edward M. Shep-
ard, who has had to stand aside for
Sheehan, is one of the most brilliant
men in the whole United States. a law
yer second to none, but not allied with
predatory wealth, a student of govern
mental affairs, a man of wonderful in
tellect, and scrupulously honest in all
things. And such a man, a man who
would dignity New York state and the
entire nation as well in the United
States senate, must get out of Shee-
hans way. There are many other
prominent and able Democrats in New
York state besides Shepard who are
much nearer the real thing in the way
of United States senatorial timber than
is Sheehan. But Tammany said Shee-
han, and that ended it. This is the
way, though, that the Democrats have
always discounted the fruits of victory.