Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-23

to decision on the character or the Okla
homa delegation. The turning point in
the long fight came when an amendment
authorizing Endorsement Of Champ Clark
for President was offered to a resolution
that provided for divided delegation to
Baltimore.
The vote by which the amendment was
lost showed plainly to the Clark adher-
ents that nothing remained but compro-
| mise, whereupOn the Murray resolution
! for a divided delegation was adopted. 1t
is contended by party leaders here that
the divided delegation precludes any Okla
homa votes being cast for Harmon. At
the Baltimore convention Oklahomas en-
tire strength will be thrown to either
Clark or Wilson as soon as one OF them
shows a majority in the balloting.
Clark Headquarters Pleased.
On receipt Of the news of the demo-
cratic state convention In Oklahoma, the
following statement was given out by
the Champ Clark headquarters, at the
Ebbitt:
VERY naturally, the forces at the
Clark headquarters were highly delighted
at the news from Oklah oma. No better
proof, certainly, could he had. as they
view 1t, Of the natural strength of Mr..
Clark throughout the country. Those in
charge have been very confident that the
claims OF the Wilson people of having
Oklahoma and being sure Of the twenty
delegates for Wilson were without
foundations, although they were quite
aware that the Wilson forces had been
furnished with abundance of means In
the Oklahoma campaign. and mad been
busy in the field for months before any
move had been made for Mr.. Clark.
"The chief embarrassment of the Clark
forces has been through Mr.. Clark 8
firm position that his own state must
speak first in his behalf, that unless
Missouri in its state convention spelled
Clark he could not permit his friends
in any other state to plan to present his
name to the national convention.
HE could not be shaken from his de-
termination, and those who know him
best realized that it was because Of his
which he had given to the people OF
Missouri
AFTER the withdrawal Of Mr.. Folk
la week ago from the contest in Mis-
souri,, the Clark forces really began
their campaign in Oklahoma, and all
their work was voluntary. prompted by
their love for Clark, and belief in him.
Their petty expenses were paid by
themselves. not one dime being fur
nished to them from the outside. and
thus. in a weeks campaign, they went
up against the Wilson. forces. which.
with an abundance of means and under
the leadership Of one of their own
United States senators. had been carry
ing on an active campaign for ninety
days. 1t was too late to correct or to
counteract the imaginative and jubilant
statements of the eloquent Oklahoma
senator that Wilson was regarded, east
Of the Mississippi river, as the most
available candidate. That statement, by
him. was undisputed. and accounts for
Wilson getting a part of the delegation.
Call Attention to Figures.
1.-THE figures speak for themselves.
There was q convention of 500 dele
gates, of whom 1872 were uninstructed,
and yet. upon a resolution to elect q
delegation of twenty to the national
convention. instructed outright for
Clark. the resolution was defeated by
but twenty-nine votes. and there
Clark and ten for Wilson, was
chosen. Everywhere else Mr..
Clark's friends have been free to
organize and work in his behalf since
the Joplin convention, and the result
in Oklahoma indicates plainly enough
that he will be in all other western
states easily the leader. This. of
course. will not be without contest but
from everywhere the word comes that
Ic Is dTcdOy SCCOuu CuOlCc wherever
he is not first choice.
1.-The candidate will be nominated. not
on the first ballot. but the last ballot
and the last ballot will not be the
first ballot 1t will take some time to
get through with the compliments to
Various favorite sons, and boil the
contest down, and that is why Clark, as
universal second choice, will win the
nomination"
Wilson's Friends Also Pleased.
The situation in Oklahoma is also
pleasing to Gov. Wilson's friends In
Washington, according to the following
statement made at headquarters today.
1.-THE news that the friends Of Gov.
Wilson control the Oklahoma convention
and have put through their program was
highly pleasing to the Wilson people in
Washington. who believe that other states
so confidently claimed by friends of
Speaker Clark will show equally crafty
ing results.
It is we'll known that the friends Of
Speaker Clark called the Missouri and
Oklahoma conventions long in advance of
the other state conventions in the belief
that they would control the delegations
Of both states and go through the coun-
try with such moral effect as might re-
suit from the election of solid delegations
from the two states to the Baltimore con-
vention.
The friends of Gov. Wilson had hoped
for little in Oklahoma, and they were
greatly surprised when Senator Gore
sent word three days ago that the Wilson
people would in all probability control
the organization of the convention. At
the beginning of the fight the friends of
the New Jersey executive, including his
campaign manager. Mr.. McCombs, had
hardly expected to .secure q delegate,
realizing that the weight Of the influence
of 10000 native Missourians would be
thrown to the Speaker.
Helps in Other States.
1.-THE result in Oklahoma will encourage
the friends Of Gov. Wilson in all the neigh
boring states claimed by the Speaker, and
1t means that the New Jersey candidate
will continue to secure delegates which
his most ardent supporters expected he
would have.
"Tke following telegram from Senator
Gore, telling of the work of the friends
of Gov. Wilson in Oklahoma, was received
today: We won on the first trial of
strength. We had twenty majority. We
then tabled resolution instructing for
Clark by vote CT 314 to 2S5. Our program
went through without opposition. Mag.
nificent victory"