The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-04-27
'CCHnk bUUm dhUWS
As HOUSE MOVES
ALONG SMOOTHLY
Speaker Given Credit
for Allthe Demo-
Gratis Do.
SUITS THE SOUTH
Latter Section Not Just Sure
of Governor Wilson's
"Orthodoxy".

Washington, D. C.-The progress,
made by the Democratic House O
Representatives toward the. redemp
tion of campaign pledges has had tn,
effect of pushing Champ Clark,
boom for President to the front
Here in Washington it is regarded
as certain that Mr.. Clark will be
candidate, and that he will be Z
mighty formidable one at that.
If there was an agreement in Mis-
SQUIRT last year among the Demo
cratic politicians to make Mr.. Foil
the "favorite SON. of that state il
the next Democratic convention, the
news evidently has not reached
Washington. There is no mentor
of any name from Missouri in con
nection with the Democratic Presi'
Dental possibilities except that Of
Champ Clark.
Mr.. Clark's following among the
Democratic congressman is very
strong. Many of them predict that
he will receive the nomination. Rep.
resentative Floyd of Arkansas says
that CLARK will receive the support
of the Arkansas delegation, show.
ing that the Southern congressman
believe he will be satisfactory to
hat section where Governor Har-
mon of Ohio has been regarded as
the strong favorite.
The entire trend of the Washing
toon political dope" is to put Clark
in the running for the Democratic
nomination and to put him in as a
real factor in the fight.
4. Strong House Organization.
Whatever has been accomplished
at the present session of Congress,
the Democrats are inclined to give
the credit to the Speaker. His Or
g%anization in the House is a revela-
ton to the Republicans who came to
Washington believing that the Dem
ocrats would Ego to pieces in their
efforts to carry out the Democratic
program. When Clark was elected
he lost no time in laying down the
law TO the House MAJORITY. He emu
merated, one by one, the promises
that the party had made, and an
nounced that the Congress would not
adjourn until all the promises were
fulfilled. No organization of Con-
gress ever worked to such an eXpedi-
tious purpose as the Democratic or
%ganization is working at this ses-
sion. And while Congressman I'm
derwood of Alabama is the accredit-
ed floor leader, the Democrats gen.
orally concede that the power behind
the organization is Speaker Clark.
1t is argued that if the Democrats
win the next time it will be on the
record made by the House in this
session and in the regular session
next winter. That will be the rec
ord Speaker Clark has made possible
through his celebrated steam roll
ler' organization. Therefore, his
friends claim, "I!s we are to run a
candidate on the record Clark has
made, why not run Clark himself"
Another eason for the Clark
boom's sudden and unexpected de-
velopment is the fear among progress
sive Democrats that Governor Har-
mon of Ohio might win the nomina-
ton If Clark We're not in the race.
Harmon suits the Solid South. Gov
ernor Wilson is not tied up to the
party traditions sufficiently to suit
the old-line Democracy. The South
is fearful that Wilson might not be
orthodox in his administration, but
the Southerners who are not far
enough along to follow Wilson, and
too far along in modern political be-
liefs to follow Governor Harmon,
seem to think that Champ Clark and
his Missouri Democracy are both
safe and sane.
1t is claimed by Mr.. Clark's
friends that the visit of William
Jennings Bryan to Washington at
the beginning Of the present session
and his entnusiasm over the election
of Clark for speaker, together with
his ready Endorsement OF the Clark
program in the House, spells Just
n thing-Bryan's sympathy with
the Characterization movement.
1t is noticeable. too, that there is
a great deal ore talk for Mr.. Clark
now than there was at the begin
ming of the session. Then the DEM
ocrats would mention his name as a
mere possibility in talking Of the
outlook for the next campaign. Now
they speak his name right out in
meeting, without a stammer, stutter
or a smile. And there are mighty
few Democrats indeed that will ven
ture to give you a list of the likely
Democratic candidates without in
Guiding the name of Champ Clark Of
Missouri. So 1t had as we'll be put
down back home" that Champ