The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-08
WOODS ARE FULL
OF WILSON MEN
All Claim Now That They Urged
Party to Pick New Jersey
Governor.
THREE WHO LED HIS FIGHT
Montague, Tucker, Byrd, Smith
and Willard First to Stand
Behind Him.


Original Wilson men are getting to
be so thick in virginia that they have
been falling all over themselves since
the Baltimore convention. You can't
turn in any direction without meeting
one face to face. NJ matter wl,a; you
say. he's got the evidence to prove that
way back in the early fall he toId
Senator SO and So that tho only leader
who could save tho Democratic patt:-
was the distinguished Governor OF Sew
Jersey.
But IT would have been the same ii
Clark or Harmon or Underwood or
somebody else had occn nominated,
which simply goes 70 show tina. man
of these original Wilson men are just
ordinary takers Noariy eve. body in
Virginia who keeps track Of political
events can call the mares Of the real
Wilson advocates The number was
rather small at nrst. It made up in
quality what it may haze lacked in
quantity. although long before the
Norfolk convention there were thou
sands OF Wilson shooters all over the
state who We're demanding tina. Nir-
ginia instruct for Wilson and Nir-
giuia would have at least indorsei him
except for the violent hatred Of the
Virginia ring.
Not Tuncicd hy the Ring.
Governor Wilson uuS such crimp
into the Sew Jersey machine that ma
chine leaders in this state saw ne vas
a hard nut to crack and a dangerous
chicken to handle. Stll. the Virginia
machine was forced at the eleventh
hour to jump into the Wilson band
wagon. though In so iumpine II Called
TO cover itself with glory
Onhand. ono may pick ave listin-
Euished Nirginlans who early In the
Aeht warmly advocated tho nonina-
tion of Governor Wilson or this num-
Der. two Of them-Captain Joseph +
Willard and IT. NJ Smith. Jr-arc not
IN politics, and not likely TO be il is
somewhat different with the other
three Richard Evelyn Byrd. Mr VIII
sons manager in Virginia. announced
just before tho baltimore .ouvon,un-
and at time when Wilson'S chances
did l't seem SO brlgn:--,hat he mad
retired from active politics. This
statement was regarded by many Dec-
pie as significant. for IN csnousinc, the
cause OF the New Jersey Governor Mir
Byrd practically broke away FROM TIE
machine Of which ne had baon lor-
regarded as an important part But
1e fought so hard that eventually Inc
saw the machine ready and willing AMI
anxious to 'eat out of the hand"
Montague idvocntcd wilson.
Former Governor Andrew Jackson
Montague, who IS in politics again as n
candidate for Congress from the Third
District, let 1t be known months and
months ago that he considered Cover
nor Wilson the logical nominee OF the
Democratic party lie expressed tho
belief that If nominated. Wilson would
he elected by n tremendous majority.
and he Is more convinced % that
fact now than ever before In this
connection. politicians believe that
the overwhelming dem<nd and sonti-
ment for Wilson IN Virginia has ma
terially aided Mr.. Montaeue's chances
But the active politician who took
tho longest chance. and who ramblce
most heavily on wilson. is Harry ST.
George Tucker. candidate for Cover
nor Tucker practically dcnod the
ring IN fighting the battle for W H.
son ~ tho Norfolk convention. when
there We're Kisses and howis for many
DISTINGUISHED office holders when
Governor Mann's name brought groans
and when Senator Swanson was called
upon 10 state for whom ne was light
ing without making a reply, there
were cries for Tucker. and wnen
Tucker got up to speak he shouted
in his opening sentence tnat he was
a Wilson man
Mig Demonstration for tucker
The big demonstration he received
showed that ths convention at heart
was FOR Wilson. Mr. Tucker went 10
Baltimore as a Wilson delegate. He
never changed and when the ring
was finally beaten into line and the
stampede started. ne could be seen
from all parts OF the hall standing
in his chair and waving his hat So
IT is but natural for fuckers friends
to contend that he is stronger with
the people Today than ever before
or course. it is possible in the event
OF Wilson's defeat in November for
the ring 20 assert that 1t would have
been different had Clark or Under
wood been picked as the standard
sible to make the people think That
way They are willing to stand or
fall with the man named by the ma
hional convention, and they figure.
too. that II the party cannot win
this year !; might as well quit and
line UP with something else.
Some who Opposed Him.
While the five men mentioned az
original Wilson boosters are best
known locally. there are others. Of
course, many others. They are 10 be
Martin and Swanson and Flood anu
! i2llyson and Ryan were never for
( Wilson. Governor Mann Stated Just
1 before leaving here for Baltimore
/ that he would vote for Wilson on the
/ first ballot. But It took nerve to defy
/ the ring. when the hope of nomnat-
T ing Wilson was slim. inrccd. and the
leaders In that memorable flight arc
so proud that they can hardly re-
strain Themselves. And the general
/ idea Is that the election of Wilson
/ will be the beginning Of a new poll