Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-28
CLARK STRADDLES
AND LOSES CHANCE
Of HELP BY BRYAN
Speakers Faction FIirted AL
ternateIy With Tammany
and Bryan on Tuesdays
Guardianship Vote
NV RALPH srKrTHl

DALI ldOIN1t MUS JuAS AO'--h III
ing alternately with Bryan and Tam
many. the Clark faction was a house
divided among itself on the temporary
Craftsmanship yesterday. This fact is
being hammered hard by the Wilson
forces. Representative A. Mitchell
Palmer. Pennsylvania, lieutenant for
the New Jersey executive. says the vote
was a test of the progressiveness of
Speaker Clark and Gov. Wilson and
their respective followers
There are persistent rumors that the
Clarkites have made deal with Tam
many whereby the New York vote was
promised to the speaker early in the
balloting for the presidential nominee.
contingent upon the delivery of the re-
quisite number of votes to put over
Judge Parker. Pat Calhoun corrobo-
rates this report, in effect.
The lineup indicates that the Clark
men are attempting to play both ends
against the middle. The Wilsonites
were quick to make capital of it. The
vote of the following Clark states on
the temporary Craftsmanship furnishes
an illustration of the ability of the
speakers friends to stay on the top of
the fence without making the fellow on
either side mad.
Missouri voted % for Parker and IA
for Bryan; California, Is for Parker
and 7 for Bryan; Massachusetts, is
for Parker and II for Bryan; Kentucky.
II IL for Parker and IL for Bryan,
and Iowa 10 each for Parker and
Bryan.
These divisions are typical Of those
in the other so-called Clark states.
WILSON WENT SOLID.
The Wilson strength went almost
solidly against the Tammany candidate
and the lines are now drawn more taut
than ever in the Wilson against the
field" fight. wilson's supporters stood
absolutely progressive, said Represen-
tative Palmer. with mingled pride and
bitterness.
"The Clark people split and no can
didate who is willing to have his sup
porters divide, for the sake of expe-
diency, on an issue like this has right
to be called a progressive. The vote
was a test of the progressiveness of
Wilson and Clark and will be so con-
strued."
A split between Bryan and Clark has
resulted from the middle of the road
action of the Clark delegates in the
crucial fight. The Nebraskan has said
repeatedly that he favored the nomi-
nation of either Wilson or Clark.
If there had been a coalition of the
Wilson and Clark strength in the con-
vention, William Jennings Bryan would
have had a walk-over. The Bryan men
are asserting that Clark cannot hope to
retain the support of Mr.. Bryan by
such tactics. especially when Governor
Wilson delivers his entire strength
against the reactionary.
Unless "Gumshoe Bill" Stone and the
Clark campaign managers have an iron
bound agreement with the Murphy
Sullivan-Taggart combination, the
speaker cannot afford to lose one whit
of Bryan support, for the presidential
nomination is decided by a two-thirds
and not a majority vote.
1t can be stated on high authority
that If there has been an agreement
between Clark's managers and the Tam
many chief it is of recent origin. Two
months ago one of Speaker Clark s
friends in the south journeyed to New
York to sound out" the BOSS Muir
ply" The message from the speaker
was delivered Murphy grunted and
said nothing.
ECHO OF A GRUNT.
An echo of the grunt was brought
back to Washington and since that
time the Clark managers have been
making overtures in the hope of corral
ing New York's 80 votes.
For the past month. and up to the
time of Murphy's arrival in Baltimore.
1t is learned that his preference ran
to a candidate other than Speaker
Clark. "favorite son" came first,
merely for trading purposes. Represen-
tative Underwood stood second with
Governor Harmon third. At the foot
Of the list was Governor Wilson and
Speaker Clark was sandwiched in
somewhere and stood a show in the
out conservative.
The Clark leaders go about now,
however, with a smile of confidence
and whisper keep your eye on New
York" The Murphy Hearst
combination talk augurs well for a
parting of the ways between the speak
err and Mr.. Bryan. 1t further. widens
the breach between the Wilson and
Clark people, who have 1t in their pow
er to combine and nominate any candi-
date
This leads to the gossip here that the
final alignment In the convention will
be behind a conservative of the Har-
mon or Underwood type and Governor
Wilson. This alignment is especially
probable in the event there are more
than three ballots. If the speaker is
not nominated on these ballots, some Of
his supporters privately admit his
chances will diminish gradually there
and the Bryan issue of progressiveism
and conservatism, without frills, win
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