The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1912-05-24
WASHINGTON LETTER
Washington City,
May 20. 1912,

May 20. 1912.
am sitting here wondering what the
Democratic convention is going to do
when it meets ia Baltimore a month
hence.
On the surface it looks like Champ
Clark.
But there is a phase of the situation
that is running through my mind.
Clark cannot be nominated without the
help of Bryan. If nothing better can
be DONE Bryan is going to support
Clark That would mean Clark 's-nomi-
nation. Now, it is a fact that Bryan
does not regard Clark as a strong man.
Clark might be some sort of a match
for Taft. but not for Roosevelt Bryan
might be wiling to see Clark pitted
against the president, but
And now here comes the idea
The Republican convention will meet
ahead of the Democratic convention.
| believe Roosevelt will be nominated.
The minute that happens all the fight
ing blood that is in William Jennings
Bryan is going to surge to the front.
He is going to be like battle charger
shifting the smoke and the carnage. He
is going to say, Get out of the way
Champ and let man fight who can
fight
| say that wiH happen. | mean it
may happen.
The tWo-thirds rule in the convention
is going to make it impossible for any
man to be nominated with the votes
that are pledged to him. He will have
to draw from the instructed delegates
sent there for other men and from the
uninstructed.
With Bryan's support Clark can be
nominated, 1t has looked like he
would receive that support, but the
nominat!an OF Roosevelt may lead Bry-
an to lookout for himself. Bryan is
sincere in his opposition to the trusts
and he is convinced that Harmon and
Underwood are too closely allied with
Wall street. He really does not think
much of Clark. Also, he is intensely
interested in seeing progressive Demo
cratic policies triumph, and he knows
that Champ Clark does not stand for
anything in particular. Clark is in the
lead with instructed delegates and he
can be nominated with Bryans help,
but with Roosevelt already nominated
Bryan may feel that Clark is too weak
to be pitted against him.
If you want to see which way the
cat is going to stump, Bryan is the man
10 watch
1t looks like there will be long ses-
sion of Congress. An adjournment
before 1.-THE National conventions is
regarded as impossible The Democrat
&c senator's are going to insist that the
senate shal' vote on the important
measures passed by the House and that
will take several months.
The House Of Representatives passed
last week the Bristow resolution for the
amendment to the Constitution. pro
vlding for the election of United States
Senators by direct vote of the people.
The States will have to ratify the
amendment. When they have done so
the people and not the legislatures will
elect Senator'S
Congressman Bartlett, of Macon. in
PRODUCED an amendment to prevent the
United States from fixing the qualifica-
lions Of voters. supervising theI cleo
lions, putting United States marshaTs
at the polls, etc. 1t was voted down e
Representative iAUnderwood voted
against Mr.. Bartiett's amendment
The Georgia delegation voted with Mr..
Bartlett, whose fight was directed
against possible force bills. Some wears
ago Mr.. Underwood voted with Mr.
Bartlett's view but he no longer fears
force bills and Federal interference at
the polls. / observe that many Ge0r-
gia papers are attacking Mr.. Under
wood for his change of position. The
truth is the Democratic House has sur-
rendered the Southern view of this
question.
JOSIAH CApTEp