The Washington herald., 1916-07-20
Democratic Harmony.

The optimistic reports that issue from time
to time telling of the united and harmonious
front that Democracy will present to the enemy
in the approaching election seem to be predi-
Gated upon fiction rather than fact
1t takes student of ancient history to re-
call that events political in the past three years
have not been such as to inspire great enthusi-
asm among the braves that nestle in the Tam
many wigwam OF Charles F. Murphy Organza-
ton Democrats found little to applaud in the
administration assistance furnished Mayor John
Purroy Mitchell against Edward Z. Mccall, of
the Murphy cabinet.
In the distribution of Federal patronage in
the Empire State the voice of Collector Dudley
Field Malone and other ant-organization Demo-
Gratis the determining factor in the choice
of the more delectable plums. The senior Sena-
tor from New York cannot be expected to have
superabundance of enthusiasm in the light of
the manner in which his selections for Office
have been received at the White House.
Whether the belated attempt to heal these
wounds by the proffer of the New York City
postmastershp to the Tammany assembly leader
is successful, remains to be seen, but there is
large room for the element of doubt.
Turning to Illinois finds Roger Sullivan, for
few minutes a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for Vice President, in the drivers
Democracy is concerned. Once the genial Roger
aspired to a Senatorial toga and the passive op-
position of William Jennings Bryan and others
affiliated with the administration cannot be said
to have aided that candidacy to material de-
gree. More recently the Vice Presidential am
bitions of the same Illinois leader were snuffed
out before they reached the convention hall
Pennsylvania takes prominent place in the
campaign through the fact that the general of
the Democratic forces comes from that State.
Vance Mccormick may have qualities Of leader
ship and other abilities that commend them
selves to President Wilson, but there is a
healthy opposition to the chairman of the
National Committee among the organization
Democrats of the Keystone State and at least
two former members Of Congress attribute their
retirement to private life to the activities or lack
of activity in the right direction, Of the Nc
Cormick supporters. The bitter campaign which
brought about the nomination of Mccormick for
the governorship has left scars and a feeling
against the new leader of the National Com
mittee, and his champion A Mitchell Palmer,
we'll realizes that fact
In Massachusetts, the Democratic State Com
mittee presented list of ten names, the choice
OF any OF which would have been agreeable to
the central organization for the collectorship
OF the port of Boston-the best gift within the
power OF the administration for the Bay State.
The entire Democratic Congressional delegation
from Massachusetts endorsed the selections.
When the choice was finally made Edmund Dill
lings, unlisted, the personal selection of Col.
E. NJ. House and Dudley Field Malone, was
given the berth Other selections of the State
organization have received similar considera-
ton.
The list could be extended indefinitely and
demonstrates concusively that President Will
son, whether wisely not, has not given ex-
cessive weight to the opinion of the so-caled
six-o'clock or organization Democrat. The prac-
tical worker in the ranks has apparently been
listed as politician and the majority of the pie
has been passed out to theoretical Democrats or
embryo statesmen of the new school
Under these circumstances talk of extreme
enthusiasm among organization leaders in these
important States eminates from an optimistic
outlook that it is difficult to blend with the truth
True these organizations will support the Demo-
cratic ticket because they are essentially regular
and party fealty is one of their fundamental
principles
President Wilson may expect support in the
same negative degree that he has given comfort
and sustenance to these organizations during the
past three years. In the same negative degree
he will receive it, optimistic reports to the con-
trary, notwithstanding.