The Washington times., 1912-06-24
Warfare Bitter AS That In
Chicago Threatens To J
- Break Out.
OPEN Split WILL
HELP ROOSEVELT
Clark Appears At Present To Have
: Best Chance Of Nom
! ination.
By JOHN SNURE.

BALTIMORE, June 24-Not less real
than 1t stood before the Republican
party in Chicago last week, the specter
or disruption stalks before the Demo-
cratic party, which will begin its ma
tional convention in this city tomor-
row.
On the face Of things, the war Of
Factions among the Democratic ooher-
ents ts not as fierce and bitter as It
was at Chicago. But it is bitter enough
1t Is the same issue in a broad sense
-proEressivism versus conservatism,
radicalism against standpatism. The
TWO wings Of the party are held to-
gether by a thread as weak and tenu-
Gus as the one between the Republican
factions which could not stand the
strain at Chicago:
Nobody expects a bolt at Baltimore
None is openly talking Of two conven-
tions. But everybody knows that If the
conservatives put UP a man disliked and
9istrusted by the progressives, then the
Democratic vote in November will
stump on by hundreds of thousands.
And If the progressives dominate the
convention and select a man hated by
the conservatives, there will be another
slump. Roosevelt will be the gamer If
the progressive Democrats go home
from Baltimore disgruntled. Taft will
gain II the conservatives find their plans
palked. and the progressives triumph.
Seek Satisfactory Candidate.
The problem put up hard to the
Democratic leaders is to find some
man on whom the dissatisfied ele-
ments in the party can unite or in
large measure unite. If this cannot
be done, then the high-raised hopes
of victory inthe elections which the
Democrats for months have been
building. will go glimmering. And
dissolution will threaten the Demo-
cratic party no less than it looms
up before the Republican party.
In other words. when Roosevelt and
his followers decided on the forma-
uon of a third party in hicago, they
did good deal more than throw a
Ism.
At one stroke. they precipitated the
ng-discussed issue which has been
gathering force in this country for
years, the issue whether the Repub-
lican and Democratic parties shall
continue to stand as now constituted
ment of parties with the liberals on
one hand and the tories on the other
Long headed Democrats here do not
minimize the fact that their party IS
In as serious a situation as the Re-
publican party it. They say much in
public about the certainty of Demo-
cratic victory by reason of Repub-
ucan dlssentions. But in private they
admit the gravity of the conditions
they face.
Clark In Best Place.
Under the circumstances, with the
outlook indefinite as to who will be
nominated, the Clark boom is in a most
excellent strategic position. The Speaker
has certain points of advantage in the
q ar P,,t ho ho.
such overpowering advantage as to
warrant the conclusion he is going to
be nominated.
His opponents here are attacking him
in severe terms. They call him weak
and vacillating. They say that If nomi-
mated he would be mere puppet In the
hands of stronger men. and would be
used with altogether too much freedom
ana facility by the smooth politicians
with whom he is surrounded. They
point that with Roosevelt in the field.
Champ would not dare take the stump
TO make whirlwind. train-end tour of
the country, because he would be "eaten
alive" by the former President. But,
on the other hand, the Clark boomerse
are arguing that Clark is the only man
N the race who can poll the solid DEM
ocratic vote.
CLARK can get all the Democrats"
they say. "and, with the Republicans
divided. that will elect him. He has
not offended either faction. Bryan will
support him and so will the conserva-
tives. No other candidate can come so
close to ccmenting the two wings of
the party" This sort of talk goes far
with many of the delegates. Besides
Clark is in the lead in delegates and
has more than half enough to nominate
The progressives will not listen to the
notion of Harmon or Underwood. Some
talk is heard here of growing strength
for the Harmon boom. The progressives
will not stand for Harmon, and, while
there will be hard work by the conser-
vatives to force his nomination, such a
result would drive so many voters from
the ticket that it will be uphill effort.
Wilson Men Enthusiastic.
The followers of Woodrow Wilson are
more enthusiastic than ever in pro-
claiming him the right man for the
situation. That many of thethinkng
men in the party feel Wilson would be
the best man for the existing emerg-
ency cannot be doubted. But the trou-
BILE is the politicians in the party, the
manipulates do not want Wilson They
don't know what he'd do If he got in
the White House, but they are pretty
we'll convinced 1t would be hard sled
ding for the boys who were looking
for the reward of pffce. 1t looks
doubtful If Wilson can get the two
thirds needed to nominate him.
A Bryan stampede is one of the in
teresting possibilities. But II is hardly
probable. Many delegations are filled
with anu-Bryan men. So that II Bryan
should be nominated II would be most
remarkable tribute to his hold on the
party. His nomination can come only
II a lot OF leaders and delegates here
are willing to sink their dislike OF the
Nebraskan for the sake OF helping on
the prospects OF victory at the polls.
As dark horses, Gaynor and Kern are
worth watching How far Boss Murphy
is going in his support of Gaynor no.
body seems to know. But II Murphy
persists in holding out for Gsynor, and
continuously dropping the ninety dele
gates from New York into the mapor' 8
basket. he will make Gaynor formid-