Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-18
Watterson Statement Re-
garded as Staggering Blow.
VIEWS At THE CAPITOL
Democrats Begin to Consider Va
rious Other Candidates.
HARMON BOOM IS GROWING
Mr.. Underwood Will Have the
Stanch Support of Alabama,
Georgia and Mississippi.

II was The cold Judgment of many DEM
ocrats at the Capitol today that Col
Henry Wattcrson's statement on Gov
Wilson was, 10 say the least a staggcr-
ing blow 10 the governors presidential
prospects Coming so soon after the pub
LEGATION of the Joline letter. which Of
tended the Bryanites, its effect is ex-
pected TO be highly damaging
For. they said, Col. Watterson found
the governor lacking in the prime essen
iial of a political leader--common graft
tudc and appreciation. In addition, Col.
Watterson voiced what a great many
democrats had feared-that Gov Wilson
IS scholarly recluse and not a politician.
Gov. Wilson's treatment Of his hacker
and virtually his maker. former Senator
Smith of New Jersey. shocked the "prac-
teal politicians at the time. The re-
suit was shown IN the overturn in New
Jersey in the by-eiections last fall, when
the republicans, through the aid of dis
-runtled democrats, made sweeping gains
Other Names Considered.
Today, proceeding upon the assumption
that Gov. Wilson's star is on the wane
democrats turned instantly to considera-
ton Of other candidates. There were
sounds of champing OF bits and rest
lessness in the stalls Of the dark horses"
IL is now any mans race was the
declaration OF the Big democrats in Con-
sress. meaning that with Wilson's lead
diminished the chances of every other
candidate were augmented.
Champ Clark, Oscar Underwood, Gov
harmon. GOV. Marshall, 90. ~ oy
ross. Garter Harrison of Illinois and
others were discussed Champ Clark
has fhKay 81 h..y 1t,
Hearst. and thus far has not been OPP
posed by Bryan.
Oscar Underwood will go to the Bal
timore convention with the delegations
and. II Is said. prime favorite with
New York. How far Bryan will an
tagonize him is not yet apparent.
Harmon Stronger in the East.
Gov. Harmon is said to be growing
steadily in the east. but faces that
Bryan thunderoloud of opposition. He
also will have to take into account a
certain element in his own state dead
set against his nomination. All reports
agree that Bryan will fight Gov. Har-
mon to the finish. and as long as he
can control one vote in excess of one
third of the convention will refuse as
sent to his nomination.
There was renewed talk today of that
Kern and OGorman ticket. said to be
MIR. Bryan's choice. Mr.. Bryan, in dis
GUESSING this report a day or two ago.
did not deny that he favored Senator
Kern. but only said he had not talked
presidential politics with him during his
three-hour stopover in Washington,
Which was quite likely.
Ii Is known here that Mr.. Bryan feels
more than kindly disposed to the ticket
OF Kern and OGorman at this time. al
though changing conditions may bring
changing preferences.
Boomers Not Despairing.
The Wilson boomers have not given up.
however. and their press bureau, the most
active and the largest coming under OBJ
servation i'm recent presidential CAM
paigns. was still at work not later than
this morning The local publicity man of
the Wilson campaign supplied a state
ment in which it is said:
THAT Gov. Woodrow Wilson is the only
democrat VINO can command the support
of progressive republicans as well as the
independent vote of the nation is the be-
lief of Senator Gore of Oklahoma, who Is
now making fight in his home state for
the selection of the ten delegates at large
favorable to the candidacy of the New
Jersey executive. The Oklahoma con-
vention. which meets thirty days hence.
will be the frst of the democratic state
gatherings to choose delegates at large.
Noting the report that an effort will be
made to lure delegates away from Gov
Wilson by resort to trickery, Senator
Gore said:
: In 1904 the democracy of Oklahoma
instructed its delegation to cooperate
with those who We're friendly to Mr..
Bryan However, the delegation disre-
garded these instructions. We want no
breach OF faith. no betrayal of trust in
1872. We want no wolves in Sleeps
clothing, no reactionaries in progressives'
clothing, no anti-Bryan men in Bryan's
clothing, no Harmon men in Clark's
clothing. II such thing should be at
tempted IL must be done over my protest.
/ make this neither a charge a
threat-merely as a warning. Let every
man win or lose in the open. The dem
ocracy cannot conquer in the sign of the
double cross
Senator Gore has polled the news
papers OF Oklahoma and finds them
friendly to Gov. Wilson. This poll up to
date gives Wilson 81. Clark Al and Har-
mon q