The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-01

n nnut TART VIII be nominated by the
hepubiicanS. Whether or not he will
DC supported by the united Republican
pIrty Is another question, and come
Mhat IN doubt; but DO that IN II may.
nee me WI, ~ surely be the recognized noml
nee OF the Republican party. The
question, then. Is who had the Demo-
Hlhts better nominate to oppose him,
a .id IN considering this we must con
sIucr not only the fitness OF the man
Tor the high otnce. but we arc Obliged
10 MISC conEider his uvailabll(ty,
whe,h9r or not, everything considered.
nc VIII Dc the strongest candidate
with which to oppose Taft.
The leading candidates for tho Dem
"crat,Sc nomination, In the order which
l hhaIi consider them. are Harmon. IN
dcrwood. Wilson apd Clark. ana while
dark horec may win, IT Is very nrnb-
able that the nomination will go TO one
OF these ma.
IT seems TO me that Harmon should
three principal reasons:
% Ills age Is seriously against him.
~ inc incorporating opposition
tho persistent efforts OF Mr. Bryan 70, 70
dictate the policy OF the party which
he has thrice led TO dcfcut but II
cannot be denied that he still has n
when the Democratic party, as Il sI.ms
TO me. has the best chance to win
mat IT has had in eighteen years, We
ought not to Icopardize that chance
by swapping our ringers IN Mr.. Bryau's
face and dare him TO do his worst We
ought for this ono time at least 10
friends. the Republicans. who seem
to be about to monopolize the pr,vI-
leEe heretofore exercised by the Demo
Gratis OF doing the wrong thing at
the right time"
CD Harmon Is recognized as ultra
conservatives. and would not be ac-
ceptable 10 the radicals, or "proErea-
siyes, OF either party. and ! verify
4, N no
the Republicans and Harmon by the
Democrats that there would be n third
ticket nominated by. the coalition Of
the "proEressivcs' OF both Darties mud
OF the large independent vote. and
while ! do not for 4 moment believe
that such third nominee would win,
his nomination would make It abso-
lutcly uncertain which Of the old party
nominees would win.
The fitness of Underwood is unques-
tlonable In my mind. but I very much
doubt his availability M this time.
was in the Same law class with him
at the University of Virginia. and per-
eonally I would much prefer to see
him nominated. and II ! thought his
would make any sort Of ancrifice OF
time or effort that could to secure
such nomination. ! think nc possesses
tho qualifications OF both statesman
and politician that would make him the
superior President of any candidate
mentioned In either party, But. not
withstandinE my strong personal pre-
elections for him. cannot bring my
self to believe that his nomination at
this time would be wlse
: G) Because OF the bitter personal
hostility that has arisen between him
and Mr.. Bryan. and the reasons on this
point, given above with reference to
Harmon. apply oil the moro strongly
to Underwood. because OF the probably
greater bitterness OF Mr.. Bryan's OBJ
position to him.
ca Because no Is from the South.
While 1t goes without saying that
would be delighted to see a Southern
we ought TO Jcopardize this splendid
opportunity by trying u Southern man
for the first time since the war. Let
us have one more Democratic admins
tration, with Southern men largely in
positions of responsibility. and thus
show to the country that II Is safe in
Democratic and Southern hands, before
we ask them to elect Southern man
to the presidency.
Wilson is probably, tho man OF
broadcast culture and possibly OF
biggest brain of any OF the candidates,
and think unquestionably- is at this
time well In tho lead In the public
mind of any of the others, but do not
believe that no would make the
dJ He lacks experience in public
life. Our beat Presidents have In
nearly every instance first had wide
experience In tho national public life.
theorist, and short experience as
Governor of ono Of the not most I'M
portant States hardly gives him the
experience desirable.
(2) He has already aroused much
bitter personal antagonism within the
party.
opinion While an educator, his views
on many public questions were radi-
cally different from those which he
seems to now hold and whllo lie may
BIO sincere and free from demagoGucry,
certainly his rampant adoption of the
Initiative, referendum and recall fads
and untried theories. totally at va
rianoa with his former teachings, to
say the least smacks nightly of tho
arts OF tho de1nagogue.
(4) While he Is probably entirely ac-
ceptnble to Mr.. bryan, and to the rndi-
cal progressives in the Democratic and