The Washington times., 1912-06-19
WINNER IS
GUESSW0RK, SAYS
SENATOR RAYNER
Maryland Leader Declares
There Is No Possible
Way to Tell.

BALTIMORE. June 19.-"who, in
your opinion. will be nominated by
the Baltimore convention for Presi-
dent?"
This question was put to United
States Senator Rayner in his law Of
flee, in the Rayner building. on Lex
ington street
THE most accurate and comprehen-
sive answer which l can give to that
question" said Mr.. Rayner, sis to
state the conclusion arrived at by
Democratic Senators in a cloakroom
talk in Washington a day or two ago
That conclusion was that 1t is only
guess work to say who the candidate
will be. Two-thirds of those Senators
Will be delegates to the Baltimore
convention, and II there are men in
the United States who have an in
sight into the political future, who
could with reasonable accuracy name
the winner in the convention, they
could; but they cannot
There are no developments yet and
none. in sight on which a line on the
result can be obtained. The condi-
tons in that convention will be un-
like the conditions in any preceding
Democratic convention, because of the
presence OF over two-thirds of in
structed delegates. men who are
conventions to vote for certain can
didates. Until tSose instructed dele
gates are free 1t will not be possible
10 see far enough ahead to determine
the winner
An instructed delegate must con-
slider the moral obligations which rest
upon him. He must not weigh the
political considerations or political ex-
nadianNv An cfH IAl A.
ought to remain true to the candi-
Date to whom he Is pledged by law
as long as that candidate has the
slightest chance to win. Perhaps it
himself or his representative to re-
"Can you see the nominee a week
aheed Of the Gonyention?"
son. secretary Of the national commit
tee, "and what is more, no other man
can see him. We all have our hopes,
but hopes are not realities. II ie alright
Tor candidates to have booms. but they
are booms and nothing more. BY the
way. wish you would correct the re-
ports which are appearing daily in the
newspapers that members of the ma
tional committee discuss candidates and
their relative strength and urge their
favorites every time they are throw.
together in group of half a dozen or
even less.
THE national committee does not
nominate candidates. am secretary
OF the committee and have attended ev-
cry meeting. I pledge you my word
that at not one OF these meetings has
a single candidates boom been discuss
ed. seq that the committee has prac-
tically agreed upon Judge Parker for
temporary chairman. That is news to
me. Until tonight there have not been
at any time more than eight of the
fifty-thPee members of the committee
here. 1t would be presumptuous for
this corporars guard to try to select
the chairman or do much Of anything
OF importance"
New York is regarded as a pivotal
State in the convention with it's ninety
votes. Those votes have been assigned
to Mayor Gaynor and Governor liar
mon.
For whom will New York's ninety
votes be cast for Presidential nominee ''
This question was yesterday put to
Perry Belmont, one of the New York
leaders, who knows as much about New
York Democratic politics in his State
as any other man, except possibly,
Thomas F. Ryan. Governor Dix. and
Charles F. Murphy.
New York's delegates" said Mr.. Bcl-
mont. will not decide for whom they
will vote until they come 70 Baltimore
ON Monday. and thrash out the whole
question"