Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07
FIGHT ENDS
Taft and Clark Loom Up at
Campaigns Close.
ALL CAMPS MAKE CLAIMS
Speakers Friends Refuse to Concede
Anything to Wilson.
OPTIMISTIC FOR PRESIDENT
Executives Manager Feels Sure Of
State by Handsome Majority
Over Rivals.
OPTIMISTIC FOR PRESIDENT
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO. April "a primary cam
paign Of unprecedented bitterness. fever
ish activity and which is expected TO de-
eide who will lead the democrat and re-
publican parties in their struggle for the
presidency. practically came to a close
in Illinois tonight.
Champ Clark on the democratic side
side seemed to loom up in the maze Of
conflicting claims and statements OF the
probable victors on their respective
tickets.
Intermingled with the presidency bat
tie is wild scramble on the part OF
several thousand candidates for city and
county and state offices and seats in Con-
gress The people are TO vote Tuesday
for every Office from village constable to
United States senator.
Because of the great significance at
tached to the vote of Illinois in her first
presidential preference primary, two or
the candidates for the high Office Of Presi-
dent of the United States were I'm the
state speaking on their own behalf. while
a battery of orators was scurrying about
the state speaking morning, noon and
night in city and country. wherever a
handful of voters could be gathered,
Tor the other candidates.
Clark's Friends Firm.
Speaker Clark's friends tonight would
concede little or no chance to Wilson.
Clark sentiment is said to be practically
unanimous in the extreme southern
counties of the state and some observ-
ers give the Missourian strength to win
in Chicago and the remainder OF the
state.
Frank l.. Smith, Taft's Illinois man.
ager. claimed that the President would
carry the state by a handsome majority
and also would carry a majority of the
twenty-five congressional districts
Chauncey Dewey, the Roosevelt man.
ager in Illinois, asserted that the former
President would carry the state and
every district except the fifth (Senator
Lorimer's district on the west side OF
Chicago).
Managers for Senator La Toilette, the
third candidate whose name will appear
on the republican presidential ballot.
made no claims.
Managers for Woodrow Wilson claimed
majority of the districts. but did not go
into details.
The followers of Champ Clark are CIV
ing Chicago the liveliest campaign ever
seen. Numerous meetings were held
throughout the city tonight. among those
speaking being United States Senator
Stone of Missouri former Representa-
tive George Fred Williams of Massachu-
sets and former Gov. David r. Francis
of Missouri.
Wilson Charges Coalition.
Gov. Woodrow Wilson Of New Jersey
resumed his tour Of the state this morn
ing and reached Chicago tonight, de-
nvering three speeches locally.
In his speech at Dixon this afternoon
Gov. Wilson charged frame-up to de-
feat him for the presidential nomina-
ton. This sensational statement followed
information given him in the last two
days of an alleged alliance in Illinois
of the Harmon and Clark forces, under
which Harmon's name will not appear on
the preference primary ballot.
The Taft campaign closed locally with
a big mass meeting in the auditorium.
in which John Maynard Harland was the
principal speaker. Secret: ry of Agricul-
ture Wilson continued his tour through
out the state speaking in favor of the
President.