Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-10-11
ICHAMP CLARK HAS
GAINED STRENGTH
Those Who Counted Him Out
Are Now Wondering

Washington, Oct. 10.-Those demo-
cratic politicians who counted Speak
or Champ Clark out Of the race for the
nomination for the presidency are now
wondering if they were not a little
rash. The big Missourfan has gained
more in strength within the last six
weeks than any other candidate, and
now he stands out as the most likely
man in the fight.
Of course the fight for the democrat
ic nomination is not over. 1t proba-
bly, will not be over until the real bal
lot is cast in the convention, but as
pre-convention calculations go. it ap-
pears, just at this time, as if, Speak
err Clark had the best of the race.
Friends of the speaker are busy too,
asking, why not?" They are pointing
to the qualifications of the Missourian
for the presidency. Their argument
is particularly impressive when they
insist that a man with eighteen years
of legislative experience in the house
of representatives is perhaps as we'll
qualified as one could be for the chief
executiveship.
They point to the fact that McKin-
ley had only his work in the house
to educate him for the presidency. And
it is fact that Mckinley was on bet
tc' terms with the legislative branch
of the government than any president
has been since the civil war. His
friends in the house helped him out on
all his Legislative programs and Sen
dtor I'anna was always ready to man
Gse affairs in the senate.
also the Clark boomers are urging
his nomination on other grounds They
81" that he does not represent the vio-
lent iadicalism of some elements of
his party, neither does ne represent
the unpopular conservatism of other
elements. He is pointed at as stand
ing squarely between these factions,
and as being able to fuse the two.
In Clark, the progressive of the DEM
ocratic party undoubtedly have
stanch friend, but it is fact that he is
not in sympathy with the leaders who
would abolish the courts and the
tr"sts, and the business of the coun-
try merely, to head off socialism. He
is progressive on the tariff, and on the
other issues, but he is not tool radi
cal.
1t would be folly to deny that SPEAK
er Clark has gained ground within the
past few weeks. The fact is, he be-
gan to figure bigger before the peo-
pie of the country on the day he pub
lished his answer to President Tafts
Hamilton speech. That answer was
a defense of his party, and it was
without daubt the most effective piece
Of work the Speaker ever did.
\ This reply struck a keynote. 1t laid
the foundation for the democratic plat
form and the democratic appeal to the
country next year. 1t was a MASTER
piece as political argument, and it
made Clar kmore friends than he had
ever had before in hisp rayt or out
of it.
AS it now appears Champ Clark will
have two opponents who will give
him concern. Governor Woodrow Will
son of New Jersey, and Governor Har-
mon of Ohio, are today standing out
as the two most promising leaders of
the democratic partyfi with the one
exception of the speaker. They have
friends in every part of the country,
and these friends are becoming more
and more active every day.
Wilson will divide the south with
Clark. There is a greater Wilson SEN
timent in the southern states than
exists at this time fer any other DEM
ocratic presidential possibility. This
sentiment VIII have to be combatted by
Speaker CLARK if he is to win the NOM
nation. He may have the active sup
port of Bryan in weaving the southern
states froM Wilson, but then he may
have only he passive support of the
Nebiaaaa.. Mr.. Bryan has SO far found
no objections TO Governor Wilson.
Harmon viii find his strength in the
east, and in his home state. New York,
.,4ns ylyania, Ohio and one or two
.other states are looked to to give Gov
ernor Harmon their support, and in
them there is an important nucleus.
Just where the deciding delegations
are to come from is not now certain.
Some politicians say that New England
can, if 1t holds together, control the
next democratic national convention by
Holding the balauC, Of power between
the other sections OF the country. This
caar,e raaso0oNla when il is recalled