The Washington herald., 1912-01-13
THE POLITICAL PROCESSION

Rather mixed political gossip comes
from the Gopher state. legally known
as Minnesota. d. r. Lynch. member
OF the National committoe, indicated
while here that Wilson was having
things BIS own way in the Northwest.
especially In Minnesota. and promised
TO have the delegation. Then other
Democrats from the state, admitting
the Wilson popularity and declaring
that he would carry the State by 5oo,-
600 oveS President Taft. added that II
Roosevelt should be the Republican
by the same figures. This Is a Demo-
cratic prediction. and by men friendly
20 Wilson. and who may be found sup
porting Wilson IN the convention. Con-
Eressman Hammond. the Democratic
member from Minnesota. admits the
preponderance OF sentiment for Wilson
al present. and noted that the New
Jersey governor seemed TO have the
best OF Il during the recent gathering
| OF Democrats In Washington. Somehow
the Northwestern Democrats and inde-
pendent voters incline to Wilson as
they did to Gov Johnson, without ex-
aetly knowing why or caring why. and
the conservatives who incline 10 Har-
mon cannot explain it save that Wilson
seems compromise between the radical
Bryan and the conservative Harmon.
The old Bryan admirers hesitate about
another whlrl with the Nebraska citi-
zen, and appreciate his evident oppo-
sition 10 Harmon, Hence the turning
to Wilson, which may organize all the
conservatives against him and make
his nomination Impossible. The evil
dent lead OF Wilson has been the one
topic among Democrats In Congress
since the banquet. and has stirred the
opposition to find some fairly conserva-
tive candidate other than Harmon on
whom to unite.
There has been a sudden and a general
stirring up OF the Harmon managers
since the meeting OF the Democratic Ma
tional COMMITTEES. Hugh Nichols, who Is
not only lieutenant governor OF Ohio. but
chief captain OF the Harmon campaign
for all the States, viewed with alarm
the evident gain OF Gov. Wilson during
the convocation Of Democrats. and then
hilxed hurriedly 20 New York, where an
ofiice has been optned for the generation
and general putting out Of Harmon liter
ature. Not only Manager Nichols, repre-
senting Harmon, but every other Presl-
Dental promoter got busy following the
evident boost given Wilson by Bryan and
the evident inclination Of things toward
the Jersey candidate. Nichols took pains
to insist that GOV. Harmon would have
no actual headquarters in New York;
that there might be a dispensation OF lit
erature and advice from Gotham town.
but no open conduct Of the campaign
from that Tammsny town and resort OF
the wealthy malefactors described by
Roosevelt. The Nichols idea. backed up
by advice from his candidate, is to con-
stder Columbus and Washington the ae-
tual headquarters for Harmon. and a
little later this city may see a real bu-
rrau doing business for the Ohio gov-
ernOr and making efforts among Demo-
cratic CongresEmen and visitors TO Offset
some Of the Wilson Wiles.
Nichols is not inclined to worry over
the apparent friendliness OF Bryan to
Wilson. while realizing that many old
Bryan Democrats who cannot quite stand
for Bryan think Wilson a bit more con-
Eervative. Then. there are Democrats ever
opposed 90 Bryan who think Wilson fits
In nicely as a compromise, and II Is the
claim OF the Wilson managers that their
candidate will strike a happy medium and
all that sort Of thing. Gov. Nichols had
all this pounded into him while In WASH
Ington, and he FASTENED TO New York
for q conference with the oid-fashioned
stAndpat sort OF Democrats. who like
the conservative views OF Harmon and
want no compromise with Bryan Since
the National Committee meeting there has
heen much speculation among Harmons
friends as to who may be chief national
manager Of his campaign as II progresses.
Nichols will have much TO do in Ohio.
and there has been a reaching out for
some big leader In the East who knows
Eastern conditions and how to pick dele
gates.