The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-30
MISSOURIANS WANT
CLARK 'SHOW' THEM
Anxious to Know if He Is Candidate for Presr
dent, SO They May Get Busy in Fight for
Congressional Honor


monty regarded as candidate for
President
Somebody invented a pleasant story
about a Clark headquarters in New
York being closed. in order that the
speaker could not be embarrassed ut
home by the appearance of activity in
the national field. The only trouble
with the story. as the Speaker explain
ed. was that there never was any
Clark headquarters in New York and
consequently it was not closed up.
1t seems. however, thar aspiring
Democrats In the Clark home district
want to be shown. IL Mr.. Clark is
to run for President, they want TO
know it, because they have prospects
OF landing a fine man to succeed him
in the House. ana want to get into
the field early. This is rather in
considerable. for the Speaker has been
preserving a highly dignified attitude,
playing waiting game. and preferring
TO avoid participation in an open con-
test for delegates. His supporters
have Inquired that his best chance was
10 slip in between Governor Harmon
and Governor Wilson, as a compromise
candidate. neither as conservative as
Mr. Harmon, nor yet as radical as Mr..
Wilson.
The Folk supporters have been max
Ing themselves troublesome with their
insistance that Mr.. Folk has been in
oorsed by Missouri Democratic con-
vention for the presidency, and, there
fore. is the States official candidate.
Mr.. Clark was chairman of the con-
vention that did the indorsing, and
under the circumstances he is estopped
from taking any other than q recep.
2rtf -.
Democrats in his home district ara
complicating affairs by insisting that
he get right into the fight or else give
1t up entirely.
Meanwhile the Wilson boomers are
displaying more activity than anybody
else on the Democratic side. A group
OF Princeton alumni arc looking after
tho sinews. and it Is promised that
enough Princeton money will be forth
coming to make very respectable
campaign. But the Wilson people de-
clare the spontaneous uprising is what
they must count upon. They declare
the South is being swept by the senti-
ment. and that organizations are form
ing every day. without any outside in
spiration whatever. to male the con-
test for Wilson delegates.
This sentiment has bacome so
strong that Southern Senators and
congressman, the great majority Of
whom were hostile to Governor WILL
son when they went home few weeks
ago, arc recognizing the uselessness
of opposing the popular disposition.
The practical politicians in Congress
felt that it would be bad politics to
name the Jerseyman, because they had
word he positively could get no support
from big business. They believed that
between President Taft and Governor
Wilson the big influences and the big
contributions would all be on the side
Of MIR. Taft. and he might be elected
Governor Wilson they regarded as
likely to develop the same popularity
as an orator and leader and the same
weakness In vote getting that Mr..
Bryan developed.
But tho Wilson case is much like
that of Mr.. Bryan in former years.
Mr. Bryan always was vastly stronger
with the people back home than with
the Southern politicians in Washing
BUS. would talk about eliminating him
and then would so homo to Airport
him, because 1t was good for political
health to do so.
Wilson boomers are worried greatly
about one spot In the South. 1t is,
of course. Alabama and the Under
wood movement. Most of them believe
tho Underwood candidacy Is wooden
morse of Troy, designed to get Har-
mon delegation under the Underwood
disguise from a State that, without O
favorite son, would be certain to go to
Governor Wilson