The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-16


Speeeh-Governor Wilson's lntellec-
tuaI strensth-His Record as an ex-
eeutive.
BY Hon. F. e. WHITE.
"lowa's Greatest Democrat" Three
Times Party's Candidate For
Governor.
Written for Dubuque Tclegraph.lleraldl
Ii is entirely safe to say that the III
divid,lal voters Of the United States
are ut this time doing more downright
clear thinking than they ever did III
any period of time preceding Il lresl
dental election The absence OF par
" rancor, the constantly diminishing
power of party prejudice and the gen
eral willingness to welcome ref"rna
tory measures and give these right oi
way make up n situation such rs the
present generation has not witnessed.
What then. in view Of these eXceP
tionably favorable conditions, Is the
primary duty Of Democrats? Simply
this: Hold fast with the faith and grit
of the crusader to the traditions ana
principles that have given the Demo
cratic party It's present prestige ana
powcr Suffer no abatement Of that
spirit Of devotion to what Is just AMI
right that has characterized our con-
duet in the past. Prevent the Replb-
Termination OF the Democratic party
and nominate for the presidency the
man whose mental and moral equip
mcnt will inspire confidence In that
vast throng of independent voters that
now holds the balance Of power.
In the very nature Of things it will
be impossible for Republicans TO re-
form their shattered ranks The vacil
latiuy tactics Of President Taft and
the amazing stunts enacted by that
man Theodore. while amusing to Demo
Gratis. are positively disgusting to thou
sands Of level headed, conscientious
Republicans. The annexation Of this
large class Of Republican voters to thu
Democratic column that il marching!
under The banner bearing the iInlnorta
inscription, Equal rights TO all, sl~
cial privileges to nonc." will make DE
mocracy invinciblc next November
From among the prominent Dem"
Gratis who are feverishly struggling f"
the mighty but elusive prize OF TN
nomination which one Of them "'igh
the Democrats Of Iowa to select 10
their support? without fear or h"s'
tation I answer Woodrow Wilson.
A president should not be nn emo
tionpl creature; he should not be In
; pulsive; he should not bc erratic; h
should avoid being spectacular; III
. should he SO built that he could b
} neither n hyporrite nor a moral deli
u,,cnt; SO should be II philosopher
. lover Of aud Il searchcr for the truth
, that are eternal. Under all the tryin
: circumstances which beset the Ollie"
, president should carry himself erc'
t and diyniirl. Among his indiSpcnS'
D Nle assets should be- Il fund of know
}, edge of human history and human III
ture TO enable him to diSs,rt II prop
Q sitio,, to ana,yZc Il problem ana
0 formulate an idea and a sound J'lh
8 ment. We have abundant evidence ia;
d Governor Wilson measures up 10 4
r these fundamental requirements. IL
4 history as an educator, Il scholar. Il
|. ujcian: his record as an executive, IN
t llicapped as he has been IN the COVE
:. nor's office by Ordcals Of the most !"
midablc character-all these dlScov'
!, 10 MS the man who admirably fits I'M
a the present emergency. His snpcri
intellectual strength will add prrsil'
= 10 the Democratic cause and will brli
= thousands of recruits from among u
/. educated class of our people
Iowa Democrats will indorse W."
= row Wilson or Champ Clark. NOT
the slightest do | wish to bclittle u
many good qualities Of our ncigh''
on the south, but | must he accorl'
!" the right to ask, DOES CHAM
CLARK MEASURE VI TO AL
THE FUNDAMENTAL REQtIIl
MENTS above enumerated: All ia
!, minded men must conccdc that 'l'l
- IS handicapped by Mt least % f'in'l
mental weakness-that is, his lack
:. a disciplined mind. His fatal mcnt
y defect is his inability to restrain hi
!, self, to maintain his equilibrium
!. is of an emotional nature, and his en-
- tionalism warps his Judgment ana u
- trays him into cXtravagant ana II
prudent deeds and declarations wfl'
a were he president. having to deal Wi
= nice, delicate questions tsuch. for
. stance, as foreign relatiOnsl, mig
!. prove disastrous Mr.. Clark has give
us recently an object lesson. SO
n sneak. of this unfortunate weakness
his. In a public speech delivered y
a. fore the reciprocity treaty was vot'
NJ on in Canada Clark declared he wal
ed to see the stars and stripes flo
Ia over the whole North American co
tinent. This unfortunate, inopportun
~ imprudent declaration Of the speak
a of the house was distorted, exaggera
n ed, misinterpreted and misapplied
II the Canadians to the point OF creatil