The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-07-04
PROGRESSNES NOW
CONFIDENT THEY'LL
MAKE STRONG FIGHT
Trend of Democrats Toward
Harmon Gives Them
New Hope:
MILITANT LEADER
COULD DEFEATOHIOAN
President Would Be Unable to
Turn Trick, However, 1t
Is Averred.
By JUDSoN c. wELLIvER.

coincident with the decline of the
Democratic prospect for nominating a
recognized progressive for President,
the Republican Nationa. Progressive
League is gaining new confidence that
there will be a chance to make a strong
showing against the denomination OF
Taft b..
Woodrow Wilson is regarded as the
Democrats progressive; and week by
week the prospect of nominating him is
regarded as weakening. He seems to be
growing with the people. but the poll
ticians' are determined that ne will not
do
II it were certain that the Democrats
would nominate Wilson. the Republican
National Progressive League might as
well hang up its fiddle and &C out of
business. The country isn't going to
have two radicals running at once on
the leading national tickets.
But, conversely. say the insurgent Re-
q publicans. the country will not consent
to have two conservatives run at once.
II the Democrats maine lIarmon-and
that is the end toward which the man.
aging Democratic politicians are shaping
things despite protests from the rank
and flle-then the Republicans must
he IS.
Harmon Leads.
The progressive Republicans urge that
Harmon will be the easiest Democrat to
defeat-provi1td anybody except Taft is
named to run against him. But II Taft
is named they consider that Harmon
will have a right good chance to win.
That y looks more and more like Far-
mon, is the general opinion. The issue
against Harmon has not been made
strong in any quarter. There is not,
thus far. any such protest as could war
rant expectation of anjuprisng against
constituted leadership in any consider
able number Of States. The constituted
leaders are generally for Harmon. Most
of the Democratic Senators are for him.
Mr.. Gore. of Oklahoma, recently de-
clared for Wilson, and the most notable
effect of the declaration, was to bring
out the evidence that he is in a hope
less minority in the Democratic side Of
the Senate.
The House has some real Clark SEN
timcnt. and moro tentative and super
fetal Clark sentimentFbut after all. the
great majority. Of Democrats in Wash
iaCtcn who will be factors in naming
delegations from their States, are for
Harmon at bottom.
Progressives Cheered.
This is the condition which has given
cheer of late to the Republican progress
slves. The truth is that Wilson has
beer a serious rival 20 La Toilette. A
lot of progressives-none of whom are
very insistent on party regularity in any
case-were urging tina: it wasn't neces-
sHry to go out and spend money and eff
fort trying TO nominate a Republican
progressive; they could just turn i'll and
vote for Wilson and get to the came
destins ton.
But now these same progressives are
realizing that there isn't going to be
any Wilson. That's all. II looks as II
Wilson has passed his zenith and, with
the publicity opportunity of the Jersey |
Legislature session past, would retire |
into desuetude. The Harmon campaign |
Is well financed. urgently pushed, and
vouched for by the great majority of |
Democratic politicians. 1t looks more |
like Harmon right now than in six
months past.
So the nonpartisan progressives-or
raLner. the bipartisan progressives, |
who don't care for the patty label, but |
want to get behind a real uplifter-are |
demanding again to know why the La |
Toilette announcement is not formally |
put out, so that things can be started |
on the Republican side.
Play Waiting Game.
The LaFollette people have not been
inclined to hurry their matter. They
which to finance something of a cam
paign; but they don't want to get in
too soon and waste their efforts and re-
sources. They will be along in due
time with an announcement, but they
will be glad to wait for the Harmon
business to grow stronger
Three months ago there was talk in
Ill quarters that II Harmon and Taft
should be the candidates there would
have to be a third ticket in the field
to give the progressives an excuse to
go to the polls. Well, the progressive
Republicans think that the next six
months will bring that cycle around
again. There will be demand for a
Republican progressive in view of the
assurance of Democratic conservatism |
The progressive Republicans are. fit
ting tight, watching the developments
and thankful that their hand has not
yet been forced. They are hiding their
time and waiting for some Developments
that they expect will provide them a
psychological time for springing their
boom.