Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-03
DEMOCRATS DIVIDED.
Montgomery County Leaders
Differ Over Presidency.
SPLIT IN OLD ALLIANCE
peter Boys" Want Champ Clark;
Blair Lee Favors Wilson.
SPEAKER ON GROUND TODAY
Lends Presence in Effort to Girls
talize Sentiment in His Favor.
No Formal Speeches.
SPEAKER ON GROUND TODAY

speaker Clark is this afternoon making
a swift tour of Montgomery county, Nd.
where the presidential preferential pri-
maries are to be held Monday. The leaders
OF the county. the Peter boys" and
state Senator Blair Lee, have split over
the candidacy of Clark and Wilson, the
Peters supporting Clark, and Mr.. Ciark's
friends In the county urged his visit this
afternoon as a means Of cementing the
friendly feeling which many OF the demo-
cratic voters of the county have for the
Speaker.
Mr. Clark left the Capitol soon after
noon by automobile. His first stop was
made at Chevy Chase lake. and the Sec
ond at kensington. In Rockville, Mr..
Clark was entertained at luncheon by
Arthur Peter. Other places in the county
which he will visit are Norbeck, Gathers
burg, Darnestown and Bethesda. He made
no formal speeches during the trip. but at
each place held a reception, meeting
many OF the democrats.
The Peters-Edward Peter, now Judge:
Arthur Peter and Robert Peter-have
reached the conclusion. they say, that the
majority Of the democrats in the county
are in favor of Champ Clark as the demo-
cratic standard bearer, and for that rea-
son they have split with Blair Lee with
whom they have always worked in po-
Hticai harmony In the past.
Point to Speakers Record.
They point to the fact that Speaker
Clark has made a fine record as Speaker
of the House, that he is we'll known in
the county, and that he is favoring the
construction Of the Washington to Gettys-
burg highway as a memorial to Abraham
Lincoln. The highway will pass through
q
to the residents Of the county, it is said.
Should Mr.. Clark be elected President,
the residents of the county feel that he
would do all in his power to have such a
road built.
Blair Lee. on the other hand, takes the
stand that Gov. Wilson has made a splen-
d record as an anti-boss governor in
New Jersey, and that he would be an
ideal man for the presidency. Mr.. Lee
said today in an interview that he
thought Speaker Clark and Representa-
tive Underwood, democratic floor leader,
were needed Just where they are at pres
ent, and where they have made such a
good record.
Denial was made by both the Peter
and the Lee factions that the leaders had
split over other matters than the presi-
Dental nomination. or that the leader
ship in the county would suffer any
change.
Little Bitterness in Debate.
Mr.. Lee himself said that the debate
In the county was being carried on with
as little bitterness as possible in order
not to injure the chances of either can
didate who received the nomination. The
five delegates to the state democratic
convention have already been selected,
and are acceptable to all, he said. The
only question arises as to their instruc-
tons. On the ballots appear the names
of Clark. Harmon and Wilson. The
voters will also have an opportunity to
vote for an uninstructed delegation.
Arthur Peter has been selected, said Mr..
Lee, as the delegate from the county to
the national democratic convention.
1t was expected at first that the vote
in the county would be light. owing
largely to the fact that the season has
been late and the farmers are busy in
their fields. But the contest which has
arisen between the Clark supporters and
the Wilson men has added greatly to the
interest in the primaries. Senator Lees
personal friends are expected to follow
him into the Wilson camp, but already
most OF the county officials and old-time
residents have declared they will stand
with the Peters.
Many officials Favor Clark.
Among those known to favor. Clark are
tho county clerk and his four deputies