The Washington times., 1911-08-14
Gulf Between the Clark and
the Underwood Factions
Recognized.
TO HAVE EFFECT ON
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Candidates, Platform, and the
Election Result Depend Partly
on Present Fight.

Presidential politics are being played
in the House Of Representatives these
days. Developments growing out OF the
attack of Leader Underwood on Bryan
and the attack of Leader Underwood
on Representative Ollie James Of Ken
tucky. NAV shape the nomination of the
Democratic candidate for President.
Not only this. but they may shape the
result Of the next election.
Until now statesmen have been talk
ing about the Democratic split in the
House with bated breath and in whis-
pcrs- Now they are beginning to talk
it out loud and say what they think
without lowering their voices. 1t Is no
longer any secre. that there is a serious
division among the House Democrats
The Inevitable lines of cleavage are be-
ginning to appear. -.
Harmony Disappears.
Leader Underwood and Speaker Champ
Clark are no longer in harmony and &C
cord. The friends Of William Jennings
Bryan are likewise angry at the Ala
bama member. and there are complica-
ticns OF grave meaning to the Demo-
cratic party.
Out OF this situation may come a tre-
IutUIOuS movement VI lue ffOuSc pTO-
gressive Democrats for Champ Clark
for President. 1t is not at all unlikely
that the present-House differences will
work out to the advantage of Clark
and to the disadvantage as Presidential
candidates Of Woodrow Wilson and
Judson Harmon.
When the present session of Congress
opened, everybody marveled at the re-
markable harmony displayed in the
Democratic House. The Republicans
kad lam Tt,av
that II it kept up they could not hope
to win in 1912. 1t was generally sup
posed that Leader Underwood and
Speaker Clark were going to operate in
complete accord, and that the Under
wood influence was going to be exerted
TO boost Champ into the White House.
Where They Part Company.
Now, cit has become pretty plain that
Underwood. who Is essentially a con-
servative, and Clark. who is essentially
a radical, are not going to stand
hitched up together. The Underwood
influence is expected to go in the Harmon
direction rather than in the direction
either of Clark or Wilson. With the
able chairman OF the Ways and Means
Committee will go a large share of the
Democrats of the House.
Under the circumstances, with Ollie
James bent on fighting Underwood and
backed by strong force of the radicals
Or progreSsives on the Democratic side
and with the Bryan supporters turned
against Underwood, there is 4 natural
disposition among the progressives to
help along the Presidential prospects of |
Speaker Clark
Clark's Strength Growing.
This is the more so because Clarks !
strength in the country is said on the |
basis of reliable reports to be growing. |
II has been calculated to hurt Clark in |
the eyes of a lot Of the progressive |
Democrats that in the early part of the |
extra session he was known chiefly as |
l figurehead through which Underwood !
lid as he wanted to do.
But now he is assuming a different |
attitude, as was seen in the recent |
caucus. in which Clark |
wanted to go ahead with consideration
If various tariff measures without any
ielay and found himself in the minority
Ind opposed by Underwood.
It is quite clear that there is a seri-
ous element of danger for the Demo-
rats in the troubles in the House. Try
Is they will, the House Democrats can
lot long keep suppressed the fact that
Dartrof their number are conservative
,r reactionary, and part of them are
'adical or progressive.
The more this split Is emphasized IN
he House the more certain II Is to be
,arried into the Presidential campaign
lext year.