Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-06-07

sis?
Let us look at the facts
1t will require 266 electoral votes
to elect President. The so-called
Southern States, including Maryland
and Missouri, have ITS votes. AS
Stunning that Arizona will go Demo-
cratic too, practically any Democratic
candidate for President can count on
17S electoral votes. But SO more are
necessary to victory. Where can these
SO be found?
1t is folly to look for them west of
the Mississippi River. The west is in
the midst of another revival of
Populism. In Theodore Roosevelt it
has found a new substitute for its
gospel of free silver. He is the poll
teal reincarnation of James b.
Weaver, Mary L. Lease. Jerry Simp-
son and PETER. He is the heaven
born ratio of 16 to l in a still more
fascinating form. II is idle to think
that any Democrat could appeal to
the vest against Roosevelt. 1t is idle
to think that anybody who is not
far more masterful and dangerous
demagogue than Roosevelt could com
mand the support of the Populists
who now call themselves Republican
Progressives.
The Democratic party, if it is to
win the election and safeguard
American institutions, must unite the
East and South as Tilden did in 1876.
The candidate must carry New York
with its 15 electoral votes. He must
carry New Jersey with its Z electoral
votes. To lose these States is to give
Roosevelt n walkover. To win these
States is to win not only &C of the
SO electoral votes that are needed,
but in all probability it is to win
Ohio with "a votes; it is to win In
diana with Is votes, which is the
historical political ally of New Y ork
and New Jersey; it is to give the
Democratic party an opportunity of
victory in Massachusetts with it's IS
votes, and to bring Delaware with its
3 votes back into the Democratic
column. In other words, it is to elect
Il Democratic President of the United
States.
1t Is in the East that Democratic
victory must be won. 1t is in the
East that Rooseveltism must he over
thrwon. 1t is the East that must save
the country from third term md
all it implies. For that reason The
World regards Woodrow Wilson as
the strongest candidate the Demo
cratic party can nominate.
The New Jersey primaries were a
vital test of his political strength not
only in New Jersey, but in New
Yo rk.
J They proved that local opposition
to him is largely myth. Although
the campaign against him was we'll
organized and abundantly financed, il
failed miserably. He swept the State,
and the only four delegates he lost
were lost through the personal efforts
of James Smith, Jr., a political boss
whom Governor Wilson kept out of
the United States Senate. In sec
ton of the country where Wall street
and the political bosses are most
powerful Governor Wilson demon
strated that he has the confidence of
the rank and file of the party, with
out which any mans candidacy is
futile. He demonstrated as well that
his political strength is the kind OF
strength that is essential to Demo
cratic success in the vitality necessary
States of New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut.
So much for that.
During Governor Wilson's public
career the World has been compelled
to take issue with him on many ques-
tions. We regarded with grave mis-
givings his sudden conversion to the
initiative and referendum, reversing
the principle of lifetime We re.
GREETED his apparent disposition tt
initiate MIR. Bryan's sweeping charge
against the so-called Money Trust
| "'s"Oue SupPoiti h6 lieSc Charges
with facts and specifications. We re-
getted his long campaign tours. his
too eager chase after the nomina.
ton, and certain symptoms of insta
bility which threatened to weaken his
public usefulness. We have not hest
tated to warn him when we thought
he was going astray, and shall not
hesitate to do so again in the future.
But Governor Wilson's elements of
weakness are vastly overbalanced by
his elements of strength. He has
proved his political courage and his
fearlessness. He has proved himself
sound on tariff reform. He has proved
himself sound on the Sherman law.
He has proved hismelf sound on cor
poration control. He has proved him
self sound on trust prosecutions ant
personal guilt He has proved him.
self sound against government by