Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-28

WOODROW Wilson's campaign manager,
William r. McCombs, returned to Wash
ington last night from a trip west, which
he made with Willard Salisbury. demo-
cratic national committeeman from Della
ware. The two spent some timo in Kan
sas and stopped IN Kentucky and Illi-
nois.
Il am highly pleased with the Kansas
situation" said Mr.. McCombs, land the
same is true of conditions in Illinois. I
spent several days in Chicago and other
Illinois points and was greatly impressed
with the strong support that is being &C
corded Gov. Wilson by leading democrats
from every section of the state. Some Of
this support I had hardly dared to ex-
pect. I found that sentiment Is strong in
Kentucky in favor of the nomination Of
Gov. Wilson. 1t was highly gratifying to
learn that conditions there are SO favor
able"
Mr. Mccombs attaches much importance
to the result in Oklahoma, where the
Clark people were defeated in an effort to
instruct the delegation in behalf Of their
candidate. The result there. he main
tains, is a distinct victory for the New
Jersey executive. II had hoped for little
in Oklahoma" said Mr.. McCombs, and
the action of the convention was a pleas
ing surprise to me. The fact cannot be
overlooked that Oklahoma is a sort of a
front yard to Missouri, and that there are
the state. The friends Of Mr.. Clark made
a great fight to capture q solid delegation
and the Speaker himself contributed seven
speeches in the month Of December to
bring about that result It was the spon-
taneous support Of the people that en-
abled Gov. Wilson to make such q splen-
do showing in Oklahoma. The result
there only reflects the strength of Gov.
Wilson with the public throughout the
nation
Representative Bartholdt of Missouri,
while being a republican, keeps in touch
with all political conditions in the coun-
try and In his state. Mr.. Bartholdt thinks
that the democrats will nominate Champ
Clark and the republicans President Taft.
taft and Clark-these will be the OPP
posing nominees Of the election campaign
to follow the conventions" said DR.. Bar
tholdt. and II they are, it will be a
campaign between gentlemen-a battle for
principles There will be no injection of
personalities. Both men are my warm
friends and 1 would say on the stump
In Missouri or elsewhere that there is no
purer, cleaner man in public life today
nocent as child, and as pure as dia-
mond.
1T seems to be very plain" continued
DR.. Bartholdt, that Gov. Wilson cannot
NC uOuuIl6lcOs Tic Wei SIiApic IOooOH
that 1t is impossible. with the combined
strength of the candidates opposing, for
him to get the necessary two-thirds, or
100 votes. The supporters of none Of the
other candidates would turn to Wilson,
whereas they probably would go to Clark
when it became apparent that Wilson
could not be nominated. Wilson's great
est test Of strength will come on the
first ballot, in my opinion. and have not
the slightest idea, from my knowledge of
the situation, that he will have anywhere
near two-thirds Of the delegation"
In response to a telegram from the
leaders Of the California progressive or
ganization asking permission that his
name be placed upon the ballot as a
Roosevelt delegate to the Chicago conven-
ton, Representative William Kent Of
California wired as follows:
''The contest in the republican party
between progress and reaction is 'primar-
~ one Nf principles and second of men.
Due to Whatever causes, the leadership
has shifted. While admiring and appre-
chatting La Toilette, recognize that