The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-01
Balloting Indicates Process
of Elimination Is Under
Way Among Delegates
ATTEMPT TO "SHOW"
CLARK AND WILSON
Man Who Is First Choice to More
Than a Hundred and Second
Choice of Nearly All, Is
Almost Impregnable

Despite the unexpected complications
which have arisen at Baltimore, Mr.. I'm
derwood's friends now in Birmingham be-
lieve that he occupies exactly the strategic
position which it was sought to obtain
for him from the very beginning of his
campaign.
His telegram to Senator Bankhead Sat
urday in which he said, 1--WE control the
situation" seems to describe the case ex-
actly. 1t takes 725 1-S votes to nominate.
Mr.. Underwood has more than 100 which
will remain loyal to the end AS Senator
yardaman of Mississippi put it, IF Under
wood should drop dead we will vote for
Underwood's ghost" Champ Clark's max
imum vote with all the hurrah and the
support of New Yorls's so was $50 on the
tenth ballot, 40 short of enough to nomi-
nate. No one could see where he was
teenth ballot his losses were steady and
constant.
Wilson's Highest Vote
Wilson sot his highest vote, 4071a on
the last or twenty sixth ballot Saturday
night This is s1s short of enough to nom-
mate him. However, it is probably not
his maximum strength, and when some of
the Clark forces realize their man is no
longer factor, part OF them will prob
ably try Wilson tor few ballots. But
In order to win, Wilson will have to get
practically every vote which has been cast
for Clark except New York's 90. Political
students in birmingham, at this distance
from the scene, believe that this will be
impossible. and that there are scores of
Clark delegates slrh as those from IL
linois, Missouri, Michigan and West yir-
sinia who wiz never consent to vote for
Wilson. .
Cannot Figure Wilson a Winner a
In other words, on the basis of the data
before the people OF birmingham yester-
day. there was 10 one who could lgure
out convincing series of moves on the
political checkerboard by which Wilson
could win.
On the other land, it is definitely known
that many of the suppol tiers of both Clark
and Wilson are ready to vote for Under
wood as soon as they are convinced that
their own man cannot be nominated.
1t is believed that the sensational squirt
for Clark Was aided in a way by UNDER
Woou supporters IN OTuef 20 give MIN Ills
maximum strength and to prove to him
that he could not be nominated. Indeed,
this seems To have been proven by the fact
that New York, known to lie al heart
favorable to Underwood. joined in the
movement to help Clark Put mis- bets foot
forward. The steady losses of Clark on the
last IA ballots seem 10 prove the grow
ing realization that he could not deliver
the goods"
Movement for Wilson
Furthermore indications point to the
conclusion that on Saturday night a SINH
lar movement was begun to prove to Will
son that de could not WIN That Under
woods friends were willing to aid in show
ing him UP at his best was indicated by
the fact that a number OF Underwood s
real supporters helped in the Wilson
movement. Thus several of the delegates,
from North Carolina known to be Under
wood men, voted for Wilson on the last
few ballots.
In short, 1t has been proved to Clark
that lie cannot win. A movement is now
under way to prove to Wilson the same
thing. 1t may &c that a dark horse of
Bryans personal seleetion-perhaps Kern
will be brought forward, and the con-
yention will then get busy to prove to him
that he cannot win.
When this has been done Mr. Under
woods strong position can be ready real
lied The man who is first choice to
more than 100 and second choice Of prac-
tically all the rest will occupy an fmpreg-
nable position.