The Detroit times., 1912-06-11
REACTIONARIES HAVE NO
CHANCE All BALTIMORE
tcontIausd frofn PAGE Oas)


ton OF our convtAnion will be infu-
enced by the action OF the Republican
convention. II q. dark horse should
happen TO be nolJnnated our platform
would have TO Ne written to cores
pond with the new conditions which
such result would create.
In the selection nof candidates, also,
our convention Glnnot escape from the
influence that will be exerted by the
Republican nomination. The Demo
cratic nominee will be "A progressive
that is already settled No reac-
tionary could be nominated now. even
II the Republ lean situation did not for
bid such action on our part. Mr..
Clark and MIR. Wilson. both progress
sives, will lave. together, more than
majorlty--possibly two-thirds-of
the convention. While a few reaction
aries may be included among their
delegates the number cannot be great
enough to- give any hope OF those
Democrats. woh are hostile 10 pro-
gressive IDEAS.
Gov. Harmon will have all OF his
own state, Ohio having adopted the
unit rules but to carry his state by
1900 majority out OF nearly 100000
votes cast. and receive less than one
fourth of the vote he received when
he was. elected governor, gives him
no standing in a national convention.
The prDgressives elected 10 district
delegates in Ohlo-more than twice
as many delegates as Mr.. Harmon
has secured In all the states outside
of Ohio.
Mr.. Underwood, the other reaction
airy candidate, did not allow his name
TO go before the people in AZ OF the
48 states, and he carried only four
OF the states in which he was n can
didake-his own, and three that Dor
dered on il. In the three neighbor-
ing states he had spirited contest
and his majority was not large
enough 10 emphasize his claims.
II these two men, selected from
among the reactionaries as the two
most popular of the men holding
their views, have made SO poor a
showing. what dark horse OF the re-
dictionary type would have a chance
TO secure a nomination at the hands
Of progressive convention?
While neither Clark nor Wilson has
enough votes TO make his nomination
certain, the chances are largely III
favor OF the nomination of one or the
other OF them. II they differed radio
ally in the standpoint from which they
view public questions the contest be-
tween them might bring out com
promise candidate. btu their support
ers have rivaled each other in prais-
Ing their progressiveness.
The one question which has been
asked-and the answer TO il has de-
cided the complexion of the delegates
in most states-is: Which OF the two
is the better progressive? Which one
can be most fully trusted to carry out
the principles and policies to which
the Democratic party has been COM
United for 10 years?
There cannot be bitter fight be-
tween two such candidates, and II
one, whichever one, finally with
draws, the other is quite sure to get
his votes.
Instructions will bind wherever
they have been given-the conven-
ton would hardly permit instructions
to be violated-but We must expect
some influence TO be exerted by the
public opinion which will express IL
self after the Republican convention
has acted The Democrats are
anxious to win and while 1t now
seems almost impossible for them TO
lose, no matter who is nominated by
the Republicans, still the delegates
! TO a national convention are usually
men OF caution as we'll as men OF en-
thusiasm and some of them have am
bition. They want the strongest man
nominated and they will sacrifice their
personal chonce when convinced that
someone else is more available. Then
there will be great many unofficial
visitors and they will have their in
fluence in moulding opinion.
The men who attend national
convention are the more active men
in politics, many OF them candidates
for local Offices. They realibe that
| the national ticket can aid or hinder
the campaign in states and counties,
and, other things being equal, they
are ready to shout for the man who,
| in their judgment, will poll the most
votes. This public opinion, while II
cannot affect the instructed vote, may
have a determining influence on the
uninstructed vote, and this uninstruct-
ed vote may determine the result IL
a considerable majority of ii is thrown
TO one or the other of the two men
no win the lead
The conclusion is, therefore, that
either Clark or Wilson will be nom
mated. unless some contingency. now
upnforeseen, arises. but the Chicago
convention may go long way to-
wards determining the relative avail
ability of these two candidates.