Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-25

BALTIMORE, MD, June 25.-It is
interesting and important that the
perspective Of the Baisimore situation
taken by the most astute politicians in
charge of the Taft and Roosevelt
forces in Chicago is not in the least
bit altered by the information OBJ
tanned here from leaders who will be
the chief figures in the convention
which opened today.
The Republican leaders in Chicago
had their minds filled with the grave
political condition which confronted
them. But absorbed as they were by
the political drama in which they were
playing prominent part, whenever the
tension was in the slightest degree re-
laxed they evinced an interest in the
outcome of the Baltimore convention.
They realized that their own politi
cal fate was bound up almost as much
in the decisions with respect to can
didates and the platform which the
Democrats will make here, as it was
in the result of their own convention
labors. Freely they confessed that
they saw only two chances of Re-
publican success in the approaching
campaign-both of them admittedly
slight
Thought Taft Might Retire.
The first chance which they consid-
cred was the possibility that they
might be able to persuade President
Taft that, having accomplished the de-
feat of Roosevelt, he should retire from
the race Of his own volition and aid
them in persuading Justice Hughes to
accept the nomination. They appeared
to have a strong belief that with
Hughes as the candidate they would be
able to win
With Taft as the nominee most of
them looked for Roosevelt bolt and
conceded defeat, unless the Democrats
should make a stupendous blunder in
the selection of their candidate, This
was their second chance, and they at
tached more Importance to it than they
believe that there was any strong like
lhood that President Taft would be
able to see the situation in the light
in which they intended to present it to
him and because they were inclined
to think that the number Of aspirants
for the Democratic nomination would
lead to such rivalry as to create a
storm of i'll feeling, which would end
in party havoc.
The one great overshadowing fear
in the minds of the Republican leaders
was Of Democratic harmony AS they
sized up the Baltimore situation the
chances Of Democratic dissension wer7
! more than even, In fact, they figured
IT out that the only Democratic can
didate to whose nomination all ele
ments of the party could be COM
pletely reconciled was Champ Clark,
Clark Could Unite Leaders.
Mr. Hearst having ardently advo-
Gated the candidacy of Speaker Clark
and Mr.. Bryan having stated that
| Mr.. Clark would be entirely acceptable
to him the selection of Mi. Clark
would bind the two most conspicuous
Democratic leaders to the enthusiastic
support of the conventions selection
Moreover, Clark being progressive
he would fan heir politically to a
great deal of the Independent pro-
gressive force which is now such a
potent political factor in the politics
OF tie country.
Deep down in their innermost hearts
the most cherished hope of the Re
/ publican leaders in Chicago was that
the Democratic convention would
nominate a reactionary. With a re
dictionary at the head of the Demo
cratic ticket and with Roosevelt opt
as an Independent candidate the Taft
leaders thought that Mr. Taft would
have very good chance to win
Their expectation or at least their
hope, was that if the Democrats
should select reactionary to head
the ticket there might be a bolt of the
progressive element OF the Democratic
party or such feeling Of resentment
on the part Of this element as would
detract from Democratic solidarity
Even the Roosevelt leaders calcu-
lated upon the possibility of a situa
ton Of this kind arising, and if IT