The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-12-14
Former Has Eastern States Behind
Including Powerful Backing
Of New York.
" FOLK AND CLARK IN CLASH
Both Have Staunch Friends, Bryan
Siding in With Governor of
Reform Fame.
BY WINFIELD JONES.

by WINFIELD JONES.
Washington, Dec. II. Especially -
Probably not in the history of the
= Democratic party has it been as pro-
life in presidential timber as at this
time. Five leaders are now in the
forefront, and that many more are
just behind them, ready to spring
forward with any change of senti-
ment.
All this has developed seven
months before the national conven-
ton meets. What the next four or
five months will bring forth must of
. course, be simply guessed at. Who
ever is eliminated or whoever enters
the race later it can be seen already
that there will be a plentitude of can
didates.
Five Loom as Candidates.
At this time Governor Woodrow
Wilson of New Jersey, Governor Jud-
son Harmon of Ohio, Speaker Champ
Clark of Missouri, Congressman Os-
car Underwood of Alabama, and for
mer Governor Folk of Missouri are
clearly before the people as the most
available possibilities.
This last might be narrowed down
by placing Governor Wilson, Cover
nor Harmon and Speaker Clark up as
the Heading" lights of the party. in
solar as the coming convention is
concerned.
" Wilson Strong West and South.
There is no means of determining
which of the three leading candidates
is strongest before the people. Some
idea of the strength of each may be
gained when the Democratic Nation
al committee meets in Washington in
January. There will be some sharp
divisions in the committee, and these
will be indicative of the feeling
throughout the country.
Governor Wilson has great
streng in the South and West. He
is immensely popular in both Sec
lions. In the first place he is a ma
tive southerner, and the people of
the South take pride in that face In
the second place Governor Wilson's
ideas are the ideas of the West, and
he has found response to his doc
trines out there.
Harmon Also Strongly Backed.
From the talk one hears in Wash
ington, Governor Harmon is certain
to control the delegations from New
England and New York, in addition
to those from Ohio and Pennsylvania
This is predicated of course upon the
assumption that none of these states
put out a "favorite son." The group
of states now leaning to Harmon
give him a place in the convention
not surpassed in strength by any of
his opponents.
If Champ Clark remains in the
presidential race until the first bal
>lot is cast his serength will come
from all sections of the country. He
has warm friends in the South and in
the Middle West. He is supported by
some states in the far West, and by
one or two state organizations in the
East.
Bryan Back Folk.
Governor Folk has the delegation
of a great and enthusiastic state
practically pledged to him. He can
start out with something tangible,
and his friendship for Bryan, or
rather Bryan's friendship for him is
one of the strongest assets he has.
The ambitions of the former Missouri
Governor and Speaker Clark have
clashed. Both of them aspire to the
same high office, and peculiar situa-
tion has thereby arisen in Missouri.