The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-29
HEARST SPEAKS OFT.

William Jennings Bryan has had
something to say about the various
candidates already in the field for the
next Democratic presidential nomina-
tion. Nor has he said anything par
ticularly enthusiastic about any of
them. William Randolph Hearst has
had his say recently on the same sub
5ect, or subjects, and his remarks are
naturally of an interesting order. OF
course, Mr.. Hearst is not as influential
with the Democrats Of the nation 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 a
large one. New York, with it's 40
votes in the next electoral college, is
looked upon in the coming presidential
campaign as a crucial battle-ground.
It has always been a big factor in
every presidential contest. The Re
publicans were defeated in the last
state election there, but the Democrats
have taken such poor advantage of
their opportunities and have failed so
utterly to deliver the goods they prom
ised, that their continued supremacy
in the Empire state Is of the decidedly
doubtful variety. So Mr.. Hearst's sup
port of the next Democratic candidate
for the presidency is essential and he
has a habit of falling to support a Dem
ocratic candidate just because he hap
pens to be a Democrat. A candidate
to get Mr.. Hearsts support must meas
ure up to the Hearst standards. So
that's why his review of the present
Democratic presidential timber in the
field is important as well as interest
ing.
Mr.. Hearst's remarks in the premises
were first delivered in London to Will
liam T. stead who fixed them up as
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 non1-
nate for their presidential candidate,
Mr.. Hearst replied:
1T would be difficult to say. There
are four names mentioned and promi-
nently discussed. One, Mr.. Harmon.
of Ohio. I put out Of the question on
the ground that he is too conservative.
I think it would be impossible to Sc
cure the selection of a second edition
of Judge Parker by the Democratic
Then there is woodrow Wilson, who
is a very clever man, who some time
ago was exerting his ability in order
to prove that the initiative, the referen-
dunn and the recall were things evil in
themselves and the adoption of which
would be detrimental to the common
wealth. He is now using the same abili-
ties in order to prove that the initia-
tive, referendum and recall ought to
be adopted as the Fundamental planks
Of the Democratic platform. I don't
for a nor mt hint that Mr.. woodrow
Wilson may not be perfectly sincere in
today what he denounced
yesterday, but there is an uneasy feel
ing that if he were installed in the
W hite House the principles he advo-
Gates 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 are both good
men, either of whom would make a
good president. If the choice lay be-
tween the two at the present moment,
I think the choice of the party would
be Clark He is not only speaker of
the house of representatives, but he is
a man VINO Ior many years mas Deen
closely associated with Democratic
policies. On the whole. if I had to
speculate on the chances, should be
to favor Clark
1t is interesting in this connection
to remember that while Mr.. Bryan has
rot said so definitely, there is we'll
grounded impression that of the can
didates mentioned for the Democratic
presidential nomination, the only one
that would be at all acceptable to him
is Mr.. Clark, provided, of course, Mr..
Bryan does not become a candidate
himself.