The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-05-03
DEMOCRATIC SUICIDE!

1.-The democrats have three or four
men who could defeat any republi-
cam says Mr. Bryan. They may
have, or they may not have, but this
much is certain: Champ Clark is not
one of those three or four men who
could defeat any republican; yet the
Champ Clark candidacy is the bene-
ficiary of Mr. Bryans enthusiastic
support.
| If the democrats expect to elect a
president next fall they must go into
the campaign with a stronger candi-
date than the speaker of the house
of representatives. For Mr.. Clark
personally the World has only the
friendliest feelings, but his nomina-
ton for president would be equiva-
lent to a certificate of election for
his republican opponent.
Mr.. Clark's friends proudly declare
that he could poll the full democratic
vote Perhaps he could; but much
more than that is required of a dem
ocratic candidate for president this
year. He must not only poll the full
democratic vote, but he must poll
hundreds of thousands of independent
votes.
Mr.. Bryan polled the full demo-
cratic vote in 190S,, but Mr.. Bryan
was Overwhelmingly beaten. Mr..
Taft's popular plurality was 1,269.S04,
and Mr.. Taft's majority in the cleo
toral college was 159.
There will be 531 votes in the next
electoral college, with 226 necessary
to choice. Mr. Bryan had 1872 elep'
toral votes in 1905 Maryland's vote
was divided. Assuming that Mary
land will go democratic next fall, the
states that gave 1862 electoral votes to
Mr.. Bryan in 1908 will have ia cleo
toral votes in 1912 under the new APP
portionment. The successful demo-
cratic candidate for president next
fall must obtain 80 votes from states
which Mr.. Bryan failed to carry Civ
ing Arizona's votes to the demo-
Gratis and conceding that Missouri's
Is votes will swing back to the dem
ocratic column, there is an adverse
majority of II electoral votes to over
come. Where are they to be obtain
ed for Champ Clark?
New York, with its As electoral
votes, must be considered first. Mr.
Taft's vote in this state was S70,070,
and Mr.. Bryan's was 667, 468, the Taft
plurality being 202,6O2. What chance
would Champ Clark have to overturn
such a majority? What appeal could
he make to the great body of indie
pendent voters who decide the cleo
tions in New York?
New Jersey, with IA electoral votes,
is almost certain to go with New
York In 1908 Mr.. Taft had 265,326
in New Jersey to Mr.. Bryan's 1867,
a republican plurality of S2,759.
Champ Clark would make as sorry
an appeal to the independent vote of
New Jersey as to that of New York
Like New York and New Jersey,
Connecticut has elected a democratic
governor since 190S-and by the
grace of the Independent vote. Mr..
Taft's plurality over Mr.. Bryan in
Connecticut was 44,660, and Champ
Clark's nomination would give that
state to the republicans, too.
New York, New Jersey and Con-
necticut have sc of the II 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 republican
candidate, whoever he may be.
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
anywhere, and it would be difficult
for the democratic party to name a
more vulnerable candidate.
Mr.. Clark is a fine type of the old
fashioned, slang whanging politician,
but the country has outgrown that
type. No personal charm, no person
al merit, can overbalance the partisan
defects of such candidate.
WOn16 tho ;,,fr