Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-05-19
Wntered at the Postoffice at Staunton,
Va, as second class mail matter.
Friday. May 10 1911
WILSON AS A PRESIDENTIAL
POSSIBILITY

Ever since President Woodrow Will
son, of Princeton, was nominated by
the Democrats for the Governorship OF
New Jersey, he has been looked on as
possible candidate for the Democratic
party in the campaign of 1912.
Since bis election and inauguration
as Governor this sentiment has been
steadily growing. Originating in New
York and New Jersey, the feeling that
Wilson is the coming man and the
proper man, has spread north, south
and west, until it has overshadowed
almost all of the 'tfavorite sons" of the
various states until at the present time
the three most prominent men are
Wilson, Champ Clark, the Speaker of
the House Of Representatives, and
Governor Judson Harmon, of Ohio.
Of course, the often defeated Bryan
Is willing, but the fact that the first
Democratic victory since 1894, was
gained, when, for the first time since
then he took no part in the campaign,
would seem to exclude him from the
race. In spite of the three overwhelm-
ing defeats given to him, he is the
greatest single force in the Democratic
party, and it is probably safe to say
that no man whom he does not endorse
will be nominated, or if nominated,
will be elected.
If this be true it seems to dispose OF
the chances of Governor Harmon, as
he has incurred the displeasure of Mr..
Bryan. AS yet Governor Wilson is
not on MI. Bryan's black list and this
seems to put him ahead of the Ohio
man.
Clark has.the friendship of Bryan,
but he Is in a perilous place as Speak
CT: one in which he may make many
and bitter enemies as did Blaine when
he held that post, and no one knows
what term of Congress may bring
forth. The main strength that sup
ported Clark for the Speakership came
to him from the South as Southern
man; but in the race for the Presi-
dency, this vote would be equally will
ingly cast for Wilson.
AS Southern, a man born in Vlr-
ginia and reared in the South, Wilson
would be even more likely to receive
what may be called the sentimental
vote of the South than would Clark
who is from a state that was not a
memb Der of the Confederacy and one
shat didsnoti experience the days OF
blood and iron.that solidified the true
ly Southern states.
At recentsconference OF Georgian
Democrats,tit was determined that the
votes of the. Georgian delegates should
be cast for Wilson. Such Southern
papers as the..Raleigh IN. g. News
and Observer, the San Antonio (Tex.)
Express, the New Orleans Times
Democrat, Pensacola (Fla.) News, and
most of the press of Tennessee have
come out for Wilson in no uncertain
tone. His speech short time since IN
Norfolk made great impression and
it is more than likely that the prevail
ing opinion in Virginia will be in his
favor.
Politics are proverbially uncertain,
and the idol of today is execrated to.
morrow. 1t is impossible even to guess
what may be the popular feeling a
year from now, but beyond question,
Governor Wilson has the best outlook
at this time.
I AS Stauntonians first and Virginians
next, we want to give this movement
our fullest support and we tervently
wish that nothing may disturb it.