The Washington times., 1912-05-25
CLARK HOUK DAUG
KEEPING TABS ON
UNDERWOOD BOON
Friends of the Speaker Are
Showing NoLittle
Concern.

That "houn' dawg" Of Champ Clark's
isn't doing much baying about it, but
II is picking UP Its long. Topped ears
and keeping both eyes open for any
strange manifestations of activity on
the part of the Oscar Underwood
Presidential BOOM
The fact is, the Clark leaders are not
| a little concerned over the Underwood
movement. Not many weeks ago there
was a general disposition to treat the
Underwood boom lightly. And It has
| been freely assumed by the Clark
| leaders that they would be able to
| harvest the crop OF Underwood dele
gates at the ripe time.
But the outlook is getting less promis-
ing for the aforesaid harvesting OF Un-
derwood delegates by the Speaker and
his friends, and they are not a little
concerned over what they are hearing.
| IL has made them sit up and take no.
| tice, and they are going to give Under
wood and his Presidential aspirations q
lot more attention hereafter than they
have in the past u.
Playing Clever Politics.
And 1t appears they have good rea-
son for watching the movements in the
Underwood camp Those who are on
the inside Of things in Democratic quar-
and his lieutenants are playing a lot
of clever politics. 1t will not do to
overlook the Underwood candidacy.
Probably 1t is because a lot of friends
Of other candidates have been easily
tolerant of the Underwood boom be-
cause they thought 1t would never get
anywhere and might be made to serve
their own purposes that Underwood
has made as much headway as he has
hn hn
| Presidential boom has been paved by
his able management of Democratic af-
fairs in the House which has undenia-
bly, given him much prestige through
the country.
Look to New York.
The fact the Roosevelt nomination is
looming up as more and more probable
is tending to help Underwood 1t is
being quietly urged by his friends that
ne is the best possible man to nominate
against Roosevelt and that in a fight
against Roosevelt he could carry New
York and much Of the East.
The Underwood managers take an in
teresting view of the situation with
resrect to the Wilson vote. They take
it for granted that the S New Jersey gSv gov,
the Clark forces have assailed Wilson
With great bitterness, and they assert
- that when Mr.. Clark attempts to get
two-thirds Df the convention, he will
be sadly disappointed. The Underwood
leaders believe much of the Wilson vote
yill 20 to their candidate rather than to
! Speaker Clark.
Mr.. Clark's leaders naturally will not
admit the truth of the proposition, but
to be giving it attention. 1t may be
expected that from now on one will
hear less of virulent attacks on Wilson
from the Clark direction.
Underwood is Confident
That Underwood himself. who is out
wardly a calm, ceol, collected parsonage
not given to flights of fancy. Is con-
vinced he is going to land the Demo
cratic Presidential nomination IS sn-
other fact about the Democratic stu
alton that is attracting notice. Mr..
Underwood is not in the game with any
notion that he is going to play second
fiddle for anybody. He is steadily gath
ering up a good lot of delegates from
the South and getting assurances OF
'r support in the North. which have led
,s him to the conviASon he is going 10
> be in a most powerful position at Bal
- timore.
a The fact that Underwood lately made
"a It possible for the direct elections
p amendment to get through the House
Il is being advanced by his friends as an
"a indication he is of Presidential size
y. despite the fact that his countenancing
= of the BriStoW amenoment lot reoelu
s. supervision of Senatorial elections made
II him some enemies in the South. The
Commoner of Mr.. Bryan lately hailed
n this action in the House with appro
baton.
0. Meanwhile, the friends of Underwood
al at the Capitol are doing lot of qule
n. talking among members from th'
le North, East, and West and promoting
In as best they can the notion that thu
-, time is at hand when a level-headec
~ man from the South ought to be nomin'
% ated by the Democratic party for Presi
dent, and that the fact he is from tht
e. South ought not, a half century aftel
lie the civil war, be considered.