Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-03-23
congressman
SEEM To FAVOR
JUDSON HARMON
IS RAPIDLY GAINING SUPPORT
Claimed That South is Favor
ing Him

among the folks at home the Congress
men seem to believe that Harmon is
to be the winner. Even the hackers of
Wilson are forced to admit that Har-
mon is gaining in support. The Will
son people-there are not many of
them in Congress, either-are worried
over it, and the Republicans of both
House and Senate accept it as the in
evitable.
Opinions expressed before coll
gress convened that was the leading
candidate in popularity and that the
sentiment of the country was back of
him have been reversed. The eyes of
many of the Democratic leaders have
been opened. They come to Washing
ton with the impression that their
people had in some manner got a
prediction in favor of Wilson. This
one fact alone caused Senators and
Representatives to go slow in express
ing themselves as hostile to Harmons
candidacy. For the next few months
few legislators will allow themselves
to be quoted in the public press on
the subject, preferring to await de-
yelopments in the hope that Harmon
will become the accepted Moses. Pub
lie expressions, therefore, of support
from large number of leaders is
lacking because of the embarrassment
which might follow any announcement
of allegiance.
In the South Wilson made a hit at
his appearance at Atlanta. He was Civ
en- an ovation there and cold shivers
of dismay was noticeable among the
Harmonites who felt sure that Uncle
Jud" would not be able to swing the
solid South to his standard.
Three months ago Harmon men
were listening as patiently as possible
to the talk around the Capital and in
other political quarters about Wilson
as Presidential nominee. There was
nothing to it then but the professor
would be the next candidate the Dem
ocracy would select. 1t is quite diff
ferent now. Now the talk is all Har-
mon.
Wilson is not in any sense a candi-
date of the Congressional Democrats.
Most of them have already selected
Harmon and selected him for the man
of the hour.
Democrats in Congress represent on
the average, rather a more conserva-
tive view than do Democrats tn masse
throughout the country. The Demo-
Gratis who break into Congress are
impressed with the necessity of get
ting campaign funds and of maintain
ing touch with the fixed powers of
business, which always concern them
selves with big politics. Democrats
who have seen their party defeated
because of its extreme radicalism in
0ther years when Bryan was licked
70 FRAGILE would like, to see the
'arty get in line for victory. They
believe that Harmon is the right man
to lead them to triumph.
Congressional Democrats hope that
great financial interests might be
willing to stay out of the 1912 cam
paign and give Democracy at. least an
even chance if Harmon is nominated
With that kind of chance the Demo-
Gratis think they can win, for they
have become convinced that the Re-
publican party is certain of defeat on
account of the tariff issue and the high
cost of living
Not the least significant straw in
the rapid drift towards Harmon is the
recent enthusiasm for him in the
South. They are declaring down there
that he is the greatest governor in the
country.
Wilson started off with a great fur
ish of trumpets but he hadn't gone far
DCIOlC ne lCNGlNtS Sever dl SClDdChS
Among these was the election of a
Republican legislature in New Jersey,
where he is governor, the Harvey
Watterson episode, and other happen
ings which caused the professor to
lose ground rapidly. In the last
month his boom has gone dihtinctly
backward. though he is still strong in
certain sections There will be one
fatal objection to the New Jersey eX-
ecutive in the national Democratic
convention. That will be that h.
balls from New Jersey, and New Jer-
sey never produced a president. Be-
sides the number of it's delegates from
Jew Jersey in the convention is in
consequential A candidate who goes
into the convention must have a large
number of delegates from a big state
behind him to win.
W XS@