The Washington herald., 1912-06-21
.HANDsOFF PARKER,
DECIDE CLARK Men
Speakers supporters at Conference
Agree to Make No Fight on Jurist
as Temporary Chairman.
FEAR LOSS OF NEW YORK

The supporters Of Speaker Champ
Clark for the Democrats Presidential
nomination win not make a fight next
week at the Baltimore convention against
the selection OF Alton B. Parker. Of New
York. as temporary chairman This de-
cision was reached yesterday at a con-
ference between the Speakers political
managers and about fifty prominent
Democratic politicians from different
parts Of the country, who are supporting
Mr.. Clark. The conference was for the
purpoes Of molding the Clark delegates
into solid fighting force and to de-
termine their attitude on important ques-
tions to come before the convention. A
canvass OF the Speakers actual strength
was made, and It was announced that as
q result Of the information brought from
the different sections OF the country by
the Clark adherents, that the Speaker
will receive at least 800 votes on the frsi
ballot.
Dubois Issues Statement.
After the conclusion Of the conference
last night, former Senator Dubois,
Speaker Clark's campaign manager, gave
out this statement:
There was a meeting to-day at the
Clark headquarters OF about fifty dele
gates representing about thirty-five
States. These delegates were men who
were prominent in Speaker Clark's cam
paign in their various States and met
here to-day for the purpose OF becom-
ing acquainted with each other and for
the purpose Of personally meeting
Speaker Clark. who was present and
made a short address. thanking his
friends for the splendid Endorsement
which they had given him and for the
loyal and earnest manner in which they
were supporting his candidacy.
Speaker Clark said he confidently be-
lieved that he would be the nominee Of
the Baltimore Convention. The delegates
then resolved themselves into a meeting
presided over by Speaker Clark's ma
tional manager, former Senator Fred T
Dubois, who reviewed to the delegates
the result Of the campaign up to the
present time The meeting was then ad-
dressed by all Of the delegates present,
who told Of conditions in their respec-
tive States II developed that Speaker
Clark has carried a majority OF the
States and his friends will control the
Baltimore convention.
Delegates Are Optimistic.
Every delegate present was enthusI-
astic, optimistic and confident. They
agreed, among other things, that they
would constitute themselves a commit
tee to aid Senator Dubois in the fight
which Will have 10 be made at Balti-
more: that they would place themselves
at the disposal at the Baltimore head
quarters on Saturday, and from that
time until Speaker Clark is nominated
that the fighting would be fast and
furious; that Speaker Clark had demon
strated that he was the choice OF the
Democrats Of the country for President,
and that he should, and would. be the
choice Of the Baltimore convention. The
meeting demonstrated that Speaker Clark
has about 800 delegates votes that will
support him first. last and all the time,
until he is nominated"
Among those present at the conference
were Senator Chiffon OF West Virginia,
Theodore A. Bell, OF California; Senator
Stone Of Missouri; former Senator Tur-
ner OF Washington; William Randolph
Hearst, Of New York; former Senator
PettiErew; George Fred Williams, OF
Massachusetts,; Representatives Gould Of
Maine and Pujo Of Louisiana, and Gov.
Luther z. Hall, Of Louisiana. The more
radical Clark men, such as former SEN
ator Pettigrew, were in favor Of making
a fight against the selection OF Parker
as temporary chairman, but more con-
servative members Of the conference
took the ground that a fight against
Parker at the opening Of the convention
would probably be disastrous to the
Clark forces because Of the fact that
they are not sure OF obtaining a sum.
cient number Of votes to prevent Parker
from acting as temporary chairman Of
the convention.
Another consideration which led the
Clark forces to counsel against a fight
upon Parker was that the Speaker would
run the risk OF losing the support OF the
New York delegation n the Clark men
showed any opposition to the choice OF
Parker by the National Committee.
Speaker Clark's selectin for temporary
chairman was Senator-elect Ollie James
of Kentucky.