The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-25
PROGRESSIVEISM
NOW IN THESADDLE
Everywhere the Radicals Are
Confidently Predicting Defeat
of Judge Parker, and An
other Castigation of Ma
tional Committee-Vir- -.
ginians Conservative.
ny ALEXANDER FonwAnp.

pEoeIcssl'rism Is III the Sddcle to-
night. ~ least. it is making all the
noise In every ho,cl LOBBY. in the
ranks Of scores of marching clubs, on
every street corner. may be found
de:eg ties ana on!oOkers predicting
the defeat OF Judge Alton b. Parker
tor temporary chairman and the ad-
ministration to the national commit
tee OF castisat!on similar TO the
thrashing OF 1896.
The conservatives may be here. and
they may Dr IN the majority, but they
arc not being heard. save in rooms OF
headers where the mention Of the
name OF certain distinguished Ne
braskau calls down maIed!ctions and
denunc!ations upon him as the man
who wrecks hts purity once every four
years.
Can't Whistic Him Down.
Il were folly 10 tty to wnis-.v WI
Nothing could oe clearer khan the
mistake Of Alfred Henry Lewis. when
he SAYS tnat the people VINO talk OF
Bryan's influence are those who are
opposed TO him Five minutes in the
Emerson. the Belvedere. the Rennert
OF the Herman tonight would con-
vince any man with Two ears TO the
contrary. lie is force to he reckon
ed with. True. there are men who
have heretofore followed his leader
ship who to-day are not In sympathy
with his position on the temporary
chairmauship. There are others who
arr not Bryan men" VINO are with
aim this time.
The issue had to come soon as
sir. Bryan said liis personality
would make any issue come TO
head. No matter how to-day's con-
terence had terminated. the platform
OF the candidates would nave made
progressive or conservative policies
the real matter upon which the dele
gates voted. at some time or 9TH
er. But. al i matter of fact. there
is no excuse 70: the issue To come
upon Il temporary Craftsmanship. II
becomes clearer every moment that
National Committeeman E!lyeon. OF
Virginia. was right in the opinion he
voiced few days ago regarding key
note speeches. Why should a commit
man 10 voice the keynote of the cam
paign to-day. Why keynote speech
any way?
Presidency Minor Matter.
In view OF the Experimentation
ary- Bryan Murphy-Parker fight one
almost feels he should apologize for
mentioning the minor matter OF who
shall be President. or course, the
earnest seeker for information passes
up headquarters bosh and campaign
manager twaddle.
Bryans advent into the forefront
makes his personal chances OF the
nomination much greater than they
were last night. Also, the poss .oility
that he may come before the conven-
ton as a candidate tends to make the
aspirants more ready to listen TO pos
s!ble compromises to prevent his nomi-
nation. For there is hardly a party
leader OF any shade of opinion who
wants Mr.. Bryan.
Clark has the best chance tonight,
for he has unquestionably the most
votes. \ cleavage may come ON the
Parker Bryan dispute which will d.
vide his forces and make for Wilson
success. but the Clark strength Is I'M
den!able and unmistakable. So is the
enthusia SIN for him. 1t will be diff
cult indeed to put Clark through with
out Wilson's consent. Therein may
come the Commoner's hope for the
nomination. Then Bryan's apparent
impending success IN the initial fight
will unquestionably force his name
to the front and be IN the mind OF
every delegate when the balloting
comes.
Everybody in Good Humor.
There is one cheering feature which
should not be overlooked. Nearly
everybody is in a good humor about
it. and the I'll feeling at Chicago is
not duplicated IN Baltimore. To what.
ever extent OF progresslvism the con-
vention may 60 Virginia will not help
The majority of the delegation Is con-
servative. In spite Of all reports TO
the contrary, the determination of
most Of the Virginians to stand by
Underwood as long as there is any
chance for him IS unshaken
Organization leaders claim tonight
that sixteen OF virginta's. votes viii
go for Underwood on the first ballot
and on every other ballot so long as
there is chance for him. They com
cede only seven to Wilson. with one
doubtful.
But on the unit rule the situation
seems different 1t IS doubtful. Indeed
II sixteen votes, or the necessary two,
thirds. can be invoked to make the WI
son followers vote for Underwood
whether they want to or not II ,s
probable the attempt Will be made
Even IL the unit rule is adopted Il
Continued on Ninth PaCel