Semi-weekly herald., 1911-10-05

as is Mr.. Bryan Still, with his string
of large newspapers, he is something of
a power in the Democratic party, and
this is especially true of New York
state where the Hearst following is
large one. New York, with it's forty
five votes in the next electoral college,
is looked upon in the coming presi-
Dental campaign as crucial battle-
ground. 1t has always been big
factor in every presidential contest.
The Republicans were defeated in the
last state election there, but the DEM
ocrats have taken such poor advantage
of their opportunities and have failed
so utterly to deliver the goods they
promised that their continued suprem-
acy in the Empire state is of the de-
cidedly doubtful variety. So Mr..
Hearst's support of the next Democrat
ic candidate for the presidency is es-
sential and he has habit of failing
tc support Democratic candidate just
because he happens to be Democrat.
A candidate to get Mr.. Hearst's sup
port must measure up to the Hearst
standards. So that's why this review
of the present Democratic presiden-
tial timber in the field is important
as well as interesting.
Mr.. Hearst's remarks in the prem
ises were first delivered in London to
William T. Stead who fixed them up
in an interview for the London Daily
Chronicle. They were recently cabled
to the Hearst newspapers in this coun-
try. Asked by Mr.. Stead as to whom
he thought the Democrats would NOM
mate for their presidential candidate,
Mr.. Hearst replied:
at would be difficult to say. There
are four names mentioned and promi-
nently discussed. One, Mr.. Harmon
of Ohio, put out of the question on
the ground th,t he is too conservative.
think it would be impossible to Sc
cure the selection of a sacond edition
of Judge Parker BY the Democratic
masses.
"Then there is Woodrow Wilson,
who is very clever man, who some
time ago was exerting his ability in
order to prove that the initiative, the
referendum and the recall were things
evil in themselves and the adoption
of which would be detrimental to the
commonwealth. He is now using the
same abilities in order to prove that
the initiative, referendum and recall
ought to be adopted as the funda-
mental planks of the Democratic plat
form. l don't for a moment hint that
Mr.. Woodrow Wilson may not be per-
fectly sincere in advocating today
what he denounced yesterday, but
there is an uneasy feeling that if he
were installed in the White house the
principles he advocates today he might
in all sincerity and honesty repudiate
tomorrow.
"Of the other candidates there are
two in congress. Champ Clark and
Oscar w. Underwood areboth good
men, either of whom would make a
good president. If the choice lay be-
tween the two at the present moment,
| think the choice of the party would
be Clark. He is not only speaker of
the house of representatives, but he
is man who for many years has
been closely associated with Demo-
cratic policies. On the whole, if |
had to speculate on the chances, |
should be disposed to favor Clark"
1t is interesting in this connection
to remember that while Mr.. Bryan
has not said SO definitely, there is a
well-grounded impression that of the
candidates mentioned for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination, the
only one that would be at all accepta-
BILE to him is Mr.. Clark, provided, of
course, Mr.. Bryan does not become a
candidate self.-McLella