Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-07-21

bilfties. AS the Republicans seem to
have settled on the old ticket-Taft
and Sherman-there is little discus
sion about the second place among
them. But the Democrats still enjoy
an embarrassment Of riches SO far as
the first place is concerned Harmon,
Wilson and Clark still are tied, or you
| might put 1t, neck and neck, in that
race. But for second place there is
some quiet talk, which SO far as /
can learn has never attained the noto-
riety conferred by printers ink, OF a
new figure, Senator George Earle
Chamberlain. of Oregon.
Chamberlain is a Democrat with a
fixed habit of carrying Republican
state-the state Of Oregon out in that
Puget Sound section, which Is destined
to do great things materially and po-
litically. Twice he was elected gov
ernor of the state, which meanwhile
was sending Republican senators and
representatives to congress. In 1908
he went into the Democratic primaries
for senator, carried the state and aft
er struggle with the Republican leg
islature, won his seat.
The Democratic party has never had
a Pacific coast statesman on its pres
idential ticket. The three states which
make up our Pacific seaboard will
have in the next electoral college nine
teen votes, provided the present con-
gressional apportionment Is not
changed II changed, the vote will be
materially larger. Not once has the
full vote of California been given to a
Democratic nominee, though Cleveland
got eight out of its nine votes, and
Bryan a year later one. Oregon gave
Weaver one vote in 1892 and Wash
ington gave Bryan its full vote In
1895. Otherwise both states have been
consistently Republican. Politicians
here, even Republicans, declare that
Chamberlain would carry all three
states for the Democratic ticket If
nominated for second place.
Program Of Clark Men.
The recent departure for Missouri
of Senator James A Reed has started
talk again about the condition Of
Speaker Clark's presidential boom in
his own state. The problem Is one
that did not become interesting until
it was evident the Clark sentiment In
the country at large was strong
enough to make him a material factor
in the presidential struggle Today
he is emphatically such a factor In
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee
and Kentucky the Clark men are
active and reports from the voters in
dictate a constantly growing strength
for him.
Political gossip here outlines the
program of the Clark workers thus:
In all states showing frendliness to
the speaker the work of securing dele
cations is to be prosecuted with unre-
hitting energy. 1t Is recognized that
the Missouri situation will make the
work doubly hard. Politicians don't
like to pledge their state to q candi-
date with fight on In his own state
which they may cost him his home
delegation, or In the event of his nom-
ination, cost the party his state. But
the Clark lieutenants are meeting re-
luctance Of this sort with whispered
assurances that all will be well In Mis-
souri, before the convention. The home
complications they plan to smooth out
by methods at once diplomatic and
spectacular.
The Missouri delegation is to be
chosen and instructed for Folk in &C
cordance with the agreement already
adopted. Gov Folk himself will not
be a delegate, as, indeed, it Is not
customary for an avowed candidate to
sit in the convention. But he is to
be provided with a proxy, or some
other device by which he can get the
ear Of the delegates and audience.
AS the roll Of states is called Mr..
Clark will be placed in nomination
lang before Missouri is reached. Then,
just at the psychological moment,
either just as Missouri is called, or
after his own name has been pre-
,ented, Gov. Folk is to secure recog-
milton and in stirring speech with
draw in Clark's favor. He will thank
tie Missouri delegation for having
Loyalty stood by him, but will admit
Mr.. Clark's superior strength in other
states and declare that his desire to
| see Missouri honored is paramount to
his hope that that honor might rest
upon him. Amid the tumultuous ap-
| plause which such an evidence of per-
sonal modesty and party patriotism
would undoubtedly arouse, Gov Folk
would sit down, no longer a presiden-
| tial candidate but at least Warwick
Taft's Defeat Expected.
You will read in the newspapers In
all parts Of the country and Of all
shades Of political opinion that Presi-
dent Taft is regaining his earlier popu-
lar1ty. The statement Is true, with
| one qualification. He is regaining
his popularity with the people, If in
deed he ever lost It. The people as
whole have. l think, applauded Taft
He has done nothing to estrange
them, nor has he failed to do anything
| within his power to their advantage.
But the politicians are against him,
| and hopelessly. They cannot prevent
his nomination and they know it. The
| southern delegations alone, controlled
from the White House, can compel the
| Republican party to put him in first
place. Moreover, there Is only one
possible candidate against him-name-
| ly, Senator La Toilette.
What is being said In Washington