The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-20
WHOLE FIGHT IS
AGAINST WILSON
Organization Leaders Have No
Real Candidate in Mind for
Presidential Nomination.
MUCH TALK ABOUT BRYAN
State Convention This Week
Will Probably Send Unin-
structed Delegation.

w mic organization leaders will make
determined fight against an instruct
cd delegation for Woodrow Wilson.
friends OF the New Jersey candidate
10: the presidential nomination will
nting the issue squarcly before the
pclnocrauc state Convention, which
meets i'm Norfolk on Thursday Speak
ing generally. the delegates elected
10y county conventions arc uninstruct-
ed, although in many counties the cam
dldacy of Governor Wilson has been
Endorsed.
Nichard Evelyn Byrd. who is re-
Earded as Governor Wilson's cam
palgn. manager in Virginia. takes the
position that the least the conven-
ton can do is to express a preference
Tor the Governor, even if it does not
instruct for him. The Ucnrico coun-
" convention Endorsed without in
STRUGGLING. and that idea seems to ia
N"red in other sections of the state
For Nonc-tgnlust Wi~ou.
The party leaders contend. however.
that Virginia would have more weight
at Baltimore in the event that it's
delegation goes into the national con-
Nention with IA free hand. AS IL poll
tician remarked yesterday. any man
who can deliver Nirginia's twenty four
votes might have the refusal of ii
fine Cabinet job. Still il is not
charged that anything like that Will
he done. There is no great sentiment
Tor Clark. none for Harmon, none for
underwood-the whole idea being TO
oppose the nomination OF Wilson. for
Reasons which have been obviously in
terpreted
With The past few weeks the opinion
has been more pronounced that VIII
liam Jennings Bryan is scheming TO
get the nomination. especially if The
cdore Roosevelt is nominated by the
Republicans, Yet conservative leaders
would deplorc that action in Balti-
more, remembering that Mr.. Bryan has
not vet outlived the feeling against
him. even when he is regarded as less
rcadicai to-day than Roosevelt.
1t is regarded IS certain. however.
that tho Virginia delegation will so
unins;ructed. provided the Wilson peo-
pie fail in their effort TO secure the
solid backing of the State convention
for their man. Speaker Champ Clark
has not created any tremendous en-
thusiasm In Virginia. While he is
leading AT present. and while a few
of the organization workers adv ocate
his nomination. he asn't aroused suf-
hcicnt sentiment in his own behalf TO
sweep the state.
Ell,son TO he Rc-eIectcd..
State Chairman i. Taylor Hlyson
VIII probably be elected to succeed
himself. He has been in charge or
tho party machinery since Readrustcr
days. and the party is willing ana
anxious to keep him in ha>ness for
four years more. Already many OF
the county conventions have indorsed
HIM
II is not known how far the con-
vcntion Will go III the discussion of
state affairs. Sole effort will be made
to bring the question OF Stato-wiae
prohibitio nto the front, with "a Tight
10 get the referendum plank in the
platform But there is no desire OH
the part OF the organization leaders
TO go too far. the one aim being to
act wisely, so that the Democratic
chances in the big national contest
may be aided at cvory turn.