The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-05-10
r1E NATIONAL CONTESTS.

THE NATIONAL CONTESTS.
With the action of each succeed
ing state convention or primary the
contest for the presidential nomina-
ton in both of the great political
parties grows in interest and excite
ment. That the final outcome OF the
fight in the republican party is more
doubtful now than ever before is ad-
mitted. From the appearance OF
lead pipe cinch the Presidents
chances have dwindled until now 1t
looks as if he would win if at all, by
lhe very narrowest margin. When
q great stajd old, safe and sane COM
monwealth like Massachusetts, tradi-
tionally committed to the principles
of the national republican party,
hesitates between Taft, the cOnser-
vative republican, and Roosevelt the
adventurer and opportunist the issue
for the President becomes exceed
ingly doubtful. It is certain now that
he cannot he elected if nominated.
The Roosevelt fanatics who are en-
gineering bolts and splits wherever
tine Taft Supporters outnumber them,
are lent upon policy of rule or
ruin. If they cannot defeat Taft in
the convention they will take his
measure at the polls. If necessary
t. accomplish this Roosevelt will be
nj independent or boiling candidate.
While the feeling between the
supporters Of the various democratic
candidates is less intense than that
which characterized the attitude of
the republican factionalists it is
now evident that the fight for the
nomination is going to be close and
spirited. 1t is Wilson against the
field with the odds at this time decid-
eddy in favor of the field. During
the week Wilson has lost every con-
rest. He was beaten to finish by
Clark in Colorado and Massachu-
sets and Underwood took his meas
ure IN Florida and also in Georgia.
Frnn the size of the vote that is be-
ing polled ID the democratic prefer
ential primaries the conclusion is
warranted that the great masses of
the democracy are not enamorei of
any Of, the field of candidates. For
example. there ale 10000 democrats
In Nebraska, but Clark carried the
state with vote of $4,000. In
Massachusetts less than one-fourth
of the democrats expressed choice
A large vote was polled in Florida
because at the same election the
candidates for state Offices were also
nominated.
The interesting phase of the demo
cratic situation centers around the
question as to which of the field of
three will finally reap the benefits OF
the victory of the triple alliance?
Clark and Underwood and Harmon,
through u gentleman's' agreement,
express or implied, but effective new
ertheless, will have a large majority
in the Baltimore convention. All of
them cannot be nominated for Presi-
dent, but all are ambitious. In the
final test will jealousies and dissen-
lions break up the alliance leaving
Wilson after all the victor, or will
the full strength of the field" final
ly 60 to enc candidate against Will
son, and II so to which of the three
members Of the alliance? These
are interesting quiries that probably
cannot be answered in advance of
the final roll call of the Baltimore
convention. Underwood is decided
ly the ablest and best equipped of
the three members of the alliance.
Harmon would prove an acceptable
candidate but Clark would be decid-
eddy the weakest choice the demo
Gratis could make, although he will
have the largest instructed vote Of
Any candidate before the convention
with the possible exception of Will
son.