The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-27
.FAVORING WINDS
NCLARK' SPOON
Speaker Now All But
Leading in Presiden-
tial Race.
HARMON DROPS
TO THIRD PLACE
Sentiment About Equally Divided
Between Missouri, Man and
w 90 drow Wilson, With
Former in Strategic Posi-
tion-Result May Hinge
on Work Of House.
] ESPECIAL to The TImes-pisnnlnh l

special TO Inc '1lmeE-DiSD
w ashlngton. May 25.-Wnetner it
remains SO or not. the political wind
now Is blowing steadily in the direc-
ton of Champ Clark for the presiden-
tlal nomination, and it is generally adj
mitted that there has been a remark
able shift In public opinion in the past
few weeks
II Is not SO long ago that the friends
of Governor Harmon were enthusiastic
in the announcement that the Ohio
Governor would capture the Demo-
cratic nomination for the presidency In
the national convention in 1912. AT
that time friends of Governor Harmon
claimed first place for him in the race
for the nomination.; Governor Wilson,
of New Jersey. was conceded TO be q
close second by the Harmon boomers,
and the first place was claimed for
him by his friends. Champ Clark was
conceded by all TO be a poor third
To-day the situation Is entirely
changed. Notwithstan the fact that
the Harmon supporters opened up CAM
patgn headquarters under the very nose
of the Democratic Speaker of the
House-in fact. an Office in the House
Office building was used as the Wash
ington campaign headquarters-the
Speaker has come along SO rapidly
=
from first place TO a poor third. for
merry occupied by SIR. Clark. There is
wide difference OF opinion as TO the
relative standing Of Governor Wilson
and Speaker Clark, but both sides
admit that SO far as IT is possible TO
judge at this time public opinion is
almost equally divided.
Has Not Rnised HIND.
Thus far in the race Mr.. Clark has
not raised his hand to further his own
political ambitions Members OF the
House who have talked to the Speaker
on the subject and have urged him to
announce his candidacy have had no
success. Mr.. Clark has no Intention AT
this time OF announcing his. candidacy.
He has made the fact SO plain to his
friends that they have ceased talking
to him about It. e.
Speaker Clark is not running away
from the nomination. He is quite as
thoroughly infected with presidential
acilli as any man in public life. His
friends have been given TO understand.
however. that the Speaker is going to
stand or fall on the record made by
the Democratic House of Represen-
tatives In this respect he is believed
TO have an advantage over Governor
Wilson. II is admitted that the pro-
Legislature by Governor Wilson. and
against the wishes of the party lead
ers in that State, was an extremely
ambitious one, and reflected credit on
the Governor. The New Jersey Legis-
lature has adjourned, however and
much that has been done there has
been forgotten outside of New Jersey.
Mr.. Clarke's friends figure that the
eyes of the country now are centred
on the Democratic House. and that If
the House performs as Mr.. Clark
wishes and hopes Il Will perform, he
Will be in an excellent position to com
mand majority of the votes in the
Democrats National Convention.
Old Wounds Healed.
While Speaker Clark may not have
the undivided support of the Demo-
cratic members of the House. il is
to- day an admitted fact that there
is a better feeling on the Democratic
side of the House than at any time
since the rules fight. At that time
Mr.. Clark, then minority leader, made
no secret of his bitter feelings against
Representative Fitzgerald and the
twenty-one men who voted against
Clark on the Committee on Commit
tees. and the minority leader told
Fitzgerald that he would have no more
of his slack jaw" 1t Is now learned
that more than year later Clark took
occa sion to apologize to Fitzgerald for
the use OF that language. This apol-
ogy wa in accordance with Mr.. Clark S
determination to maintain harmony
in his own ranks, and it had the effect
of healing over the old wounds. Now.
Mr.. Clark is just sitting tight wait
ing for tile Democratic House to COM
plete legislative program on which
he can stand. p. H. MEG.