The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-06

New York. May 5.-The Herald says:
rapid spread OF Roosevelt seuti-
meni.
Marked falling on in the Woodrow
Wilson wave.
,,b Widesg 2r,a' gains for Speaker
Likelihood that President TAFT VIII
have a majority OF the Chicago CON
Nehion delegates on first ballot, pro-
t!o'hg an delegates now instructed
lot or pledged 20 him remain in his
camp.
That. in nutshell. is the presen.
situation in the presidential battle as
SHOWN by the Herald's impartial coun-
rE-wldc poll. which is based on re-
ports from trained observers In all
parts OF the rat'on-eii of them eau
Toned repeatedly against letting the
slightest taint of bias creep into their
estimates
The most notable feature OF the
week just passed in the Democratic
struggle has been the growth of the
Clark movement. The Speaker now
mas 1875 delegates as against 1874 for
governor Wilson and thirty-six for
Representative Underwood. The Mas
shchusetts primaries gave 10 him the
preferential vote. thus insuring him
the thirty-six votes from that State.
Colorado also instructed her ten
delegates for him. Governor Wilson.
III the week. captured the six dele.
gates from Delaware. Representative
Underwood gathered in the twelve
from Florida and Governor Simeon e.
baldwin, OF Connecticut, received the
fourteen votes from his State. This is
merely complimentary. however. The
delegation is said to be about evenly
divided between Governor Harmon and
Speaker Clark.
President Needs Only Ninety More.
President TAFT ended the week with
$50 delegates to his credit. within
ninety OF the required majority OF
5i0. He captured ;h!rty-three during
the week. Theodore Roosevelt gath
cred in twenty-nine. which brings his
total up to 23S. His managers, how
ever. declare that many of the dele
gates classed as TAFT men were
fraudulcntly elected. and Will not be
seated. They declare also that many
OF them do not bear instructions. and
have already notified the Roosevelt
men that they will be with them. They
assert that twenty-one of New York's
delegates will be with Mr.. Roosevelt,
and that scores of delegates from the
South are preparing to "flop" to the
Roosevelt camp.
The situation in the Republican con-
test commands the attention or every
one. Among politicians there is con-
siderable talk that the fight has gone
so far that the manag gers at the last
moment will seek some way of agree
ing upon n third man to head the
ticket. The political leaders say there
is no doubt that the President will
have enough votes to be nominate
but they say further that he is not as
strong now as he was week ago. so
far as popular favor Is concerned
Rumors have eheen persistent during
the week that iifany Southern dele
gates were getting ready to "nor" and
to ascertain just what basis there was
for 1t the Herald made especial re-
quests of its correspondents 1t de-
vclopcd that In South Carolina one
Taft delegate bearing instruction has
said he would vote for Mr.. Roosevelt
and that five more are to make similar
announcements. One or the delegates
said that practically all the South
Carolina delegates of whom there
are eighteen. would be with Mr..
Roosevelt. All but two have Taft in
structions. From Mississippi came the
report that there may he n bolt OF
negro delegates from President Taft
although the Federal managers say
they will be able to hold them all in
line for tho President. The Roosevelt
forces have elected contesting dele