The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-02-17


have no doubt that in the national con-
vention more than two-thirds of the
delegates from the south viii favor the
domination of Mr.. Wilson"
What of the Watterson-Harvey in
cident?"
The regrettable incident growing
out of the New York interview has
strengthened Governor Wilson, say
this without any criticism of Col Wat
terson or Col. Harvey whose friend
ship I value highly. l know a number
of leading democrats in North Caro-
| lima, who were in doubt between Will
lson and Harmon-(for until the last
few days they were the only two can
didates having much following in
North Carolina who came out for
! Wilson when he declined to meet Mr.
Ryan to discuss his candidacy with the
magnate. Whatever others may think,
the people of the south generally re-
gard Ryan as the embodiment of the
partnership between government and
big business responsible for most of
the evils they wish to be rid of in this
country and if, after his vigorous ut
terances, Mr.. Wilson had held con-
ference with Mr.. Ryan about his cam
paign for the nomination, his cam
paign would have been ended the mo-
ment the people found out about the
conference. Mr.. Roosevelt has ntver
,regained popular confidence since he,
after vigorously denouncing the male
factors of great wealth" appealed to
Hartman to raise a big corruption
fund to buy the election in New York,
and gave the Steel Trust permission
to violate the Sherman antitrust law.
With Wilson's ideals and principles,
he could not have sought Ryan's help,
and, if he had sought or accepted it,
Wilson would by that act have elimin-
ated himself. Twenty years ago,
things were different. Since there has
been wonderful quickening of the
American conscience and what was
winked at then is now sternly con-
demned and frowned down upon"
What have you to say to the gov
ernor's early writings?'
The American people are going to
elect president this year upon living
and vital questions. What Governor
Wilson thought twenty years ago more
or less is cutting no ice. He has been
learning and the whole country has
been learning. The attempt to injure
him by parading extracts from his vol
luminous writings is failing of its pur-
pose. The people know what histor-
ians write in the large and give the
story of the country as historians. In
1904, the democrats paraded extracts
from Roosevelt's writings in which
tens of thousands of good people had
been called Jack Cades and anarch
lists How much impression did it
make? Not a ripple on the waves.
The people fight and win campaigns
upon the performance of candidates,
the record of the party and its pledges,
and pay precious little attention to
some fugitive expression written in the
long distant past Wilson's record as
governor of New Jersey and his stim-
ulating of real progressive doctrines
and not what he thought as historian
or as a teacher years ago, will insure
him the nomination and election"
"What of Governor Wilson's chances
of election?' Mr.. Daniels was asked.
'1 feel certain that Wilson will be
nominated, | EN- more than certain
that when nominated he will carry
practically solid the democratic vote
cast in 1910, together with nearly all
the independents and republicans who
voted to give the democrats control of
congress and many doubtful states.
Add to these the hundreds of thousands
OF progressive republicans whose de-
votion to progressive measures is gen
uine and deep. The elimination of Mr..
La Toilette means the nomination of
Mr.. Taft, and so William Allen White
was right when he predicted disaster
to the republican party in that nomina-
ton"
do you fear the fayorite SON.
trick?"
THE attempt to check the Wilson
tide by the new shibboleth "The south |
for a southern man" will have little |
effect" said Mr.. Daniels. This would |
have been true if it had not been en-
gineered and announced by men who
have, until they say their state could |
not be carried for him, been support |
ing Harmon There are many strong |
men in the south who are supporting !
the able governor of the Buckeye State |
because they believe he could be elect |
ed. That class of Harmon supporters |