Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-30
OSCAR UNDERWOOD'S
REAL AIM DIRECTED
TOWARD SPEAKERSHIP
~ RALPH sMITH.

By RALPH SMITH.
WASHINGTON, D., c., April 27.-The
Georgia and Florida Democratic presi-
Dental primaries which begin next
week are dividing interest in Washing
ton with the Massachusetts, primary
to be held next Tuesday.
Democratic senators and representa-
tives are concerned in the Georgia and
Florida results because they are anX-
ious to determine if it is possible to
mislead the people of either state into
casting their votes for candidate who
is not seriously in the running and
whose name is being put forward by
his friends solely for the purpose of
helping a candidate who is not contest
ing in either of the states
UNDERWOOD FOR SPEAKER
1t is recognized in Washington that
Representative Underwood is not a
candidate for the presidential nomina-
ton, but has accepted denomination for
congress in Alabama. 1t is also rec
ognized that Mr.. Underwood's friends
hope to make him speaker of the next
house. if they can sidetrack Champ
Clark. The Underwood forces hope to
eliminate Clark by nominating him for
president, if possible, and they figure
that the most helpful, move they can
make in this direction is to defeat in
Georgia and Florida Clark's only real
opponent for the presidential nomina-
ton. They are helping Clark in Georgia
and Florida by using Mr.. Underwood
as a presidential candidate.
The contest for the Democratic nomi-
nation has progressed far enough to con-
vince Washington that the race is square
" between Champ Clark and Woodrow
Wilson. Although Governor Harmon, of
Ohio, has gathered in three or four del
egates it is not believed that he can pos
sibly win the nomination, and he is now
being urged as a vice presidential pos
sibllity
WASHINGTON is AMUSED.
Representative Underwood has not de-
veloped as much strength as Governor
Harmon. While his ability is recognized
in Washington, it is regarded as anus
ing here that his candidacy is taken with
seriousness in Georgia, and Florida. The
Clark people look to Mr.. Underwood as
the logical successor to the speakership,
in the event Clark can defeat Wilson for
the presidential nomination.
Mr.. Underwoods friends look with hope
to the possibility of presenting his name
to the next house for speaker.
AS a prominent Democrat said today,
vote in either Georgia or Florida for IN
derwood is a vote for Champ Clark for
the presidential nomination, and Champ
(ldIh DIS q pIGGluclllAdl NdiluludlC ID III
possible if the party would succeed in
November.
IT do not believe the Democratic party
can sustain another defeat for president"
he said, land 1 regard it as deplorable
that states like Georgia and Florida may
be deceived into giving life and succor
to the candidacy of Champ Clark. He
cannot possibly be elected, if nominated"
CLARK WOULD BE SUICIDE"
by the New York World the leading
World says editorially that Champ
Clark's nomination would be political SUI
icide."
The editorial in full follows:
IF the Democrats expect to elect a
president next fall they must go into the
campaign with a stronger candidate than
the speaker of the house of representa-
tives. For Mr.. Clark personally The
World has only the friendliest feelings,
but his nomination for president would
be equivalent to a certificate of election
for his Republican opponent.
Like New York, and New Jersey,
Connecticut has elected a Democratic
governor since 19OS-and by the grace of
the Independent vote, Mr. Taft's plurality
over Mr.. Bryan in Connecticut was 1850,
and Champ Clarks nomination would
give that state to the RepuDlcanS, too.
New York New Jersey and Connecti-
cut have 66 of the Il electoral votes that
must unquestionably be gained in order
to elect a Democratic president. Champ
Clark can never get them. To nominate
him is to give these votes to the Re
publican candidate, whoever he may be.
CLARK STRONG NOWHERE.
Where. then, are the Democratic
votes coming from? Ohio? Indiana?
They have only 80 electoral votes be-
tween them, and Champ Clark has no
especial strength in either of these
states. He has no especial strength any
where, and it would be difficult for the
Democratic party to name a more vul-
nerable candidate.
1.-THE World is not seeking to force
candidate of its own upon the Demo-
cratic party. 1t is merely dealing with
the political situation as it exists. We
had hoped that it would not be necessary
to treat Mr.. Clarks candidacy seriously.
That was a compliment we had paid to
the intelligence of western and southern
Democrats, but it was a compliment
which we now find was undeserved. The
sooner, then, that the plain, blunt truth
is stated in the frankest possible fashion
the better.
Champ Clark's nomination would be