The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
AIR OF CONFIDENCE
 AMONG DEMOCRATS Marked Contrast With the
 Feeling in 1907 MANY POSSIBILITIES" Abundance of Strong Democratic Tim Der Is Somewhat Embarrassing,
MANY POSSIBILITIES"

The air of confidence now permeatfng the rank and file of the democratic
 party here is in marked contrast with the hopelessness that prevailed at the
 closing of the Sixtieth Congress, when
 the preliminary work began for the presidential campaign of 1908. Then | those who made up the democratic side | of the House sat listlessly in the shad- ow of almost certain defeat and lit- tie was heard but dire prediction re- garding the party's fate. Now, as the close of the Sixty-f first Congress draws near the democrats of tile House are beginning to display lively interest In available presidential material for the haps better than any other one thing, exemplifies the restored confidence of
 the leaders in the party
 | Democratic leaders who look for ward to record in the next House say | that conditionsare shaping themselves much after the manner of 1890, when the groundwork of the victory which crowned their efforts was laid. It is | this hopefulness this enthusiasm on the
 part of democratic leaders that causes
 one to listen to claims set up by the friends of certain conspicuous demo- crats who are believed to be of presi- dential calibre.
 As one prominent southern repre- sentative expressed 1t to a party of his colleagues who were discussing the out | look:
 | The best evidence that our party has been restored to the confidence of the | people was the widespread victory of last November. which brought promi- nently to the front an array of presi- dential timber, that is almost embar- ! rassing in that each man thus far mentioned for the nomination possesses certain qualities that will appeal | to the electorate. Personally I am not committed to any candidate yet, and for that reason I can, without I,bias,, comment on the men whose names, I believe, will be given consideration by
 the rank and file.
 While I believe that the south has her quota of democrats of national abil- | ity, and the time has passed when it would be unwise from political stand point to name a southern man, still,
 when viewed from a party point of van tage, one must admit that. New York holds the 1ead-for who is more in the
 public eye than Governor Dix? He has | an opportunity which if taken advan- tage of may lead to his nomination. New York has always exercised a pow erful influence at democratic national | conventions But Governor Dix can look across | the river and find rival In the per | son of Governor Wilson of New Jersey. Wilson was brought out as presiden : tial probability in the summer of 1907 | It was that boom that finally led to his | nomination for governor last fall The
 governors fight for the primary can
 didate for the Senate Maritime, gives
 the country a fair idea of the kind of democrat he is. In my Judgment New
 Jerseys governor will continue to grow
 in presidential size.
 | Leaving the gubernatorial field l want to direct your attention to our next speaker. Champ Clark of Missouri. ! His name was sprung as possible presidential candidate in the campaign last fall. He was given the credit for bringing the party together In our fight | on the rules, and making the issue on | which we won the campaign. Another | thing that can be said in Clark's fa- l vor is that he comes from a state tha t | no longer can be chased as @ rock bound democratic stronghold; and as | the candidate he could carry Missouri, which might not be said of others. One l strong DOlIll III ldNOT OI SldTk s CdU ddacy is his familiarity and knowl- edge of the government. He has the same faculty possessed by the late President Mckinley. that of knowing | just how to handle lawmakers and get | legislation desired.
 "In Ohio we have a leading demo- crat of large measure in the person of | Governor Harpon. While the Ohio democrats do not seem to be a unit for | Fla rrron if iS ga fo to aSstlIna the RI1cl< . i eye delegation will be practically unan- | imous for him. Much depends. however, on the success of his present admins tration. Not many miles from Colurn- l bus. O., Governor Harmon. with a spy glass, might trace the outlines of a l rival in the person of Governor Mar shall of Indiana. The Hoosier demo- crats, that is a,large majority of them
 say, If we are wise next year we will head the ticket with Marshall and sweep the country
 "The names of Governors Foss of Massa chusetts and Baldwin of Con- necticut have been mentioned in con nection with the nomination. and 1t would surprise me not if their states
 sent delegations instructed for them | They are able men and have @ larg | following in the east.
 | "All of this presidential speculation at this time proves. to my mind, that
 the democratic feeling of confidence is
 spreading. and makes for a spirited na-
 tional convention next year. So far as issues are concerned there will be many. When we organize the House 1 next winter we will have our hands | full turning on the light, and giving the people a look at the shortcoming gs
 of the Taft administration. Another
 thing that will accrue to our advan- tage will be the cut in the expenses of
 the government but 1t may be that the republican Senate will undo much of
 our work. However. if the Senate tries that game we will place the blame
 where it belongs. anu the people will see through the trick. All signs point | to a democratic victory in 1912"