New-York tribune., 1912-02-14
THEDAvINWA WASHINGTON

,t.,biIity OF starting a third party with an
oilionca between Robert NJ. La Toilette ano
IvuI,am 7 gryan as its basis. The frlends
=, NJ Rrvan repudiate the idea that ne
rcu,d align himself with the Wisconsin
patriot. even were the Democra'ic Na.'oha
Convention TO name man he couiu "o'
consistently support. as, for instance "o'
emo; Harmon Of Ohio. furtherihore' '"e
(, meyhat pertinent question Is hskeu
would Ia Toilette expect TO be the standaro
bearer for such party, ana IL So "na
guarantee would Mr.. Bryan have that ne
NO, II. keen faith? In other words. those
who. have been looking up the poilticai MS
tor,. Of the Wisconslnite realize that ne u
~. 90 no trusted In politics. The friends
Of the wisconsin patriot point OUT 'hat "e
las voted with the Democrats IN tue sen
ate quite as often as with the hepuoiieahs
and that "he Is actuated solely by prln-
cinra" go that he would be unhampered D!
,nv nartisan allegiance in forming such ar
alliance. TO this the Bryan Democrats re-
uIv that. were Il not for the compelling
f,roe NJ fhe maxim, "de mortuis nil nis'
bonum." they would be moved 10 respoho
that the only principle which has ever actu-
ated or guided the Senator from WISCONSIN,
in 30 far as they can discover. has been the
nr,n,ot,on of his own political fortunes.
I-SDERWOOD SCARES CLARh.-The
Sneaker of the House has recently received
information which Is the occasion OF more
than ordinary anxiety TO him. Ihis he"s
concerns the excessive activity or Repre-
sentative Underwood as Presidential can
6idate II appears that Mr.. Underwood Is
mastering the entire South with letters
written chiefly by his friends and protegeS
in Congress. urging that delegations be in
structed to vote for him. Some OF thest
letters 10 so far as TO point out that since
his election as Speaker and since his name
has been somewhat prominently mentioned
in connection with the Presidential nomi
nation Mr. Clark has become 'nonenity'
in the House: that he has been afraid tt
take a stand on any subject for fear II
would make him enemies; that he has side
stepped all responsibility, and has thrust
most OF his cares on Mr. Underwood. II il
further pointed out in this friendly CORE
spondence that Mr.. Underwood has riser
| 10 the occasion. has shouldered all the re-
sponslbllity which naturally devolves or
him as chairman OF the Ways and Means
Committee. and also all which Mr.. Clari
has unloaded on his willing shoulders. ant
that lie has conducted himself In sucl
manner as to win the marked respect o
his colleagues. From other sources Mr.
| Clark has discovered that certain Republi
cans are looking up his political speeches
and that they have discovered that no nu
| merous occasions he has declared himself
! IN favor OF abolishing all customs and con
| vertlng all custom houses into schoo
! houses: that after stoutly advocating Cana
| dian reciprocity he proceeded 10 kill th'
! policy he favored by talking with the mos
| reckless folly about Canadian annexation
| and that lie has otherwise shown himself
| undependable when intrusted with any po
sition OF responsibility. In order to offse
! the charge that he Is a ''nonenity' In th'
| House Mr.. Clark is watching for an op
| portunity to make a whirwind speech
] with which he hopes to retrieve his reputa
tion and electrify his hearers. c. q. II.