The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-25
He Decides to File Pc
tltlon as Candidate
for Congress.
SPREADS DISMAY
AMONG FRIENDS
His Candidacy for Two Offices
at Same Time Taken as Indica-
ton That He Fears Defeat
at Baltimore, and Wants
to Stay in Con-
gress.
rspeolal to Tn. rimes-pispatch.1

Washington May 24.-Is Champ
Clark out of the race for the presiden-
tial nomination? He decided to-day
to file mis- petition as candidate
for memb ership IN the House Of Rep
rssAntives In the Ninth Missouri DIS
trict. He Will appear as a contestant
for the congressional nomination nine
teen days before the Democratic con-
vention meets in Baltimore.
Mr. Clarks decision has spread DIS
may among his friends and has over
come his opponents with bewilderment
and Joy lie is in the lead in the race
for the nomination. He has more dele
gates than any one else. Yet he has
deliberately elected 70 keep himself in
the race for the congressional seat in
the Bowling Green district. The
Speaker has 800 delegates. Nobody
else is within gunshot of him. except
Governor Wilson, who has only 155.
Why. at this moment. he should decide
to cast anchor to windward by de-
clar!nS himself a candidate for Con-
Srnss is a thing that no frisnd OF his
can DISCOVER,
Under the Missouri law, candidates
Tor Congress must file declaration OF
their candidates. six Gays before the
primaries. The last day OF filing will
be June 6, and before that date Speak
Meaning Is Plain.
There is no doubt about It. It was
made public tonight by the Missouri
delegates, who asked him to become a
candidate for Congress. Its meaning
is perfectly plain--the leading candi-
date for the Democratic nomination
thinks his nomination so much in
doubt that he has decided to run for
TWO offices at the same time. and take
the lesser If he cannot get the greater.
| Mr. Speaker" The Times Dispatch
correspondent asked him tonight.
what is the reason you decided TO os
candid.te for Congress?"
The Speaker was plainly angered.
why. the reason is perfectly plain"
he cried. i've got a majority of the
delegates so far elected to Baltimore.
but / haven't got a majority of the
| convention and haven't got the two
thirds. 1t takes two-thirds to noni-
nate. In case | am not nominated for
President, the people of my district
want me to run for CONGRESS again.
Why shouldn't I become candidate
| for Congress? Can you tell me?'
How did you happen to decide that
you wanted to file petition for nomi-
nation to Congress-"
II haven't decided anything of the
kind. But the reason why l have
the matter under advisement is that
the members of the Missouri delcga-
| ton have asked me TO become d can
didate for Congress"
Mr. Speaker il is reported that the
Missouri delegation took that action
at your request"
That IS absolutely untrue" retorted
the Speaker heateily. Il can't sec
any reason at all for raising any
question about my action. Does any
body raise such question about I'm
derwood? He Is candidate for
President. isn't he? And yet he has
been renomina ted for Congress. Why
does anybody raise such a question
| about me, when no one raises II about
/ him?
III / am not nominated for Presi-
dent the people of my district want
me To stay in Congress. Why
shout mt do as they want me to-"
Nevertheless. his opponents are
using his action tonight as con-
| fession of weakness in votes. They
are saying that his decision is not in
| consonancc with the claims OF his
presidential campaign manager, that
he IS certain OF nomination by the
Baltimore convention. Candidates for
President. who have & sure thing, they
said. never entered as candidates for
another otficc in the same campaign.
In fact they pointed out that the
annals OF politics had seldom revealed
or disclosed candidate who had 10
play both ends against the middle,
as the speaker was playing it. I'm
derwood is n minor candidate. but
clark Is the leading one.
At the Clark headquarters this even
ing it was stated that senator Dubois.
the Clark campaign manager. was out
! Of the city. and tina nc would not re-
turn until next week Those In charge
stated that they knew nothing of the
Speakers decision to he a candidate
nomination as the Democratic candi-
date for President was assured they
said
Under pomocratic rules. the sue
cessful candidates must have two
thirds said Representative Borland,
OF Kansas CITY, Tonight. Speaker
Clark will have the two thirds, but
n. will not have 1t before June i. lie
now has a majority of the delegates
elected. and he will have the other
votes BY tho time the convention as
sembles on June IS. His friends III the
Missouri delegation decided that he
should also be candidate for Con-
gress and he has decided to Ale his
petition fer that place,
when he has been nominated for
President he VIII withdraw as a con-
gressonll candidate. and tho vacancy
on the ticket will be hlled under the
law Nv the Congressional Committee,
Other members OF the Missouri DEL
egation, who had signed tho petition
asking the Speaker to run, We're equal
~ Illuminating az Mr.. Borland in their
explanations. as to why Speaker Clark,
with a cinch on the Democratic pres
id@ntial nomination, should also be a.