The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31
GREAT CAMPAIGNS
ON 1912 CALENDAR
Political Stage Being Set
for Tremendous
Battle.
WOMEN MUST BE
RECKONED WITH
Big Parties Already Laying
Plans to Capture Vote of Mi
lady-Fight Within Repub-
lican Ranks May Defeat
President Taft for
denomination.
Ispcclal 10 rho Timcs-pispatch. ]

Washington. December 30.-Tho polI :
tical outlook for 1912 holds many and
greatly diversified possibilities. Win
the greatest campaigns since the or
Sanizntion of the two great political
parties staged for the now year, lead
crs of various political organizations
nave now and powerful force TO
reckon with-thc vote of the women.
Since the cnfranchiscmcnt or women
In California, it is estimated moro
than 100000 or the fair sex win
have tho right to go to the polls and
express their choice OF candidates in
tho coming presidential and congress
sional elections.
When the influence these women will
bring to bear. not only on members OF
their own SEX, but OH tho male voters
of their families Is taken into consid :
GRAFTON. 1t is realized that tho woman
voter VIII play no small part in the
coming campaigns. And of this fact,
leaders in the big political parties are
cosnizant, They already havo begun
to devise plans to capture the vote
and influence of milady for her canu,-
dates.
Sensations Promised.
The new year promises to open with
some sensational developments, cs-
pecially in the Republican presidential
campaign. inasmuch as at least four
men are being discussed In high poll
teal places as probable candidates to
be brought out by their followers But
one meaning is taken from this state
OF affairs. and that is that the op-
position to President Taft within the
party Is framing plans for employing
tho "favorite son" method of holdin.;
out enough delegations TO prevent his
nomination.
Tho first big event, however, in the
new year. will be the coming together
In Washington January s, of the
Democratic National Committee for the
purpose of liking the time and place
for holding the next national convcn-
ton of the party. The meeting Will
start the political ball u-rolling and 1t
VIII gather speed and momentum as it
progresses toward election day next
November.
The Republicans already have had
thcir national committee meeting and
have liked on June Is as the time and
Chicago as the place where their ma
tional conclavc will be held. The
Democrats, II - expected. will assem-
bic liz convention some time later,
probably carly in July. either at Bnl-
timorc or st. Louis, according TO pres
cnt indications More than half a
century has elapsed since the Demo-
Gratis held their national convention in
the Maryland city, but now IL seems
to have the call, although st. Louis
is strong competitor.
VIII Sound Keynote.
The Democrats are planning TO fire
their first gun OF the campaign at thu
meeting of the national committee,
and to that end have arranged for n
big banquet, which leaders from all
parts of the country. including all OF
the avowcd candidates for the prcsl-
dcncy, have been Invited to attend
With one or two exceptions all VIII
be there. While tho event is not
any candidate. it is anticipated the
cause of Democracy in general Will
be cspoused and that the Keynote Of
the contest will be sounded.
From that time onward the chief
interest Will centre in the selection
in tho various States OF delegates to
the national convention, who Will de-
tcrmine the standard bearer of the
party in the presidential contest
Ordinarily, the convention call lin
It's the time i'll which delegates may DO
selected to IL period embraced between
thirty days after the meeting OF the
committee ana lIlEtN uuNS bctOrG inc
assembling OF the convention.
The first to be chosen will be named
i'll North Dakota. which has IL prcai-
Dental preference law. and where
delegates are voted for in i State wide
primary. and the voters Indicate their
choice for the nomination. This APP
plies both to the Dcmpcratic and Re-
publican delegates. The primaries
will dc held in March. SO that North
Dakota will start off. Oregon Ne
braska. Wisconsin and New Jersey
have similar laws.
In some other states district dele
gates VIII he chosen by the primary
system with or without the privilege
given the voter of indicating his pres
idcntiai choice as the various state
committees may decide, aud in other
States tao delegates will he chosen by
the old convention method. The con-
vcntion method OF selecting delegates
At large Will be followed in most states
outside of those which have prefer
cncc primnrH laws.
The present prospects arc tlint q
larger nunIhcr Of candidntcs will he
voted for in the coming Democratic
National Convention tiIn ever before
in I'll" history OF the party. The Dem
"crats seemingly have nn abundance of
available presidential timber, and no
one can predict with amy degree Of
certainty 80 I" which ono Of the dozen
or more nsrramis will carry of the
coveted prize.
The two candidates now generally
considered as running neck and neck
III The Democratic race arc Governor
Wordr""- Wilson, Of New Jersey, and
Governor hudson Harmon. OF Ohio.
Each has his bureau organized and
MS agents working in nearly every
state III tho Union. and Wilson clubs
hnh Harmon clubs are being formed
from ono end of the country to the
other
Champ Clnri Good Third.
Speaker Champ Clark is looked upon