Fergus County Democrat., 1912-06-11
LOOKS LIKE WILSON,.


optimism of the supporters of Speak
er Champ Clark over that gentleman's
chances at Baltimore. We believe
the clark wave is almost at it's high
tide. He will enter the national con-
yention with less than five hundred
votes, not one-half Of the total, very
far from the necessary tWo-thirds.
He will get more votes on the first
ballot than he will on any succeed
fight, has the big, capable Missourian.
His campaign has been literally
financed, skilfully managed, but Champ
did wise in filing his papers for an
other nomination for congress-
Clark got the jump on his OPP
ponents and especially Woodrow Viii
son. His own state and several of his
neighboring states, Illinois, Okla
homa, Kansas, held their primaries
and conventions early in the game.
He piled up bunch of delegates,
which gave him commanding lead.
lie lOOk1u W D6 lllt llOSL lOl
candidate. This attracted to his sup
port all Of the band-wagon boys and
they are legion.
This paper has made no secret OF
it's preference for Governor Woodrow
Wilson from the beginning and moth
ing has occurred since the fight start
ed to cause US to shift our position
We still believe Wilson to be the
strongest man. We still believe that
he has the best chance of all the men
now actively seeking the place for the
nomination.
We believe that Wilson will receive
the nomination because he has made
his campaign on a national basis. lie
has been compelled to combat the
combined forces of all of the other
candidates. In the face of such a
coalition, he has made a wonderful
showing. Last week he captured the
"a delegates from Minnesota, the ten
from South Dakota. He now lacks but
a few votes of being up with Clark.
He will be very little behind on the
first ballot. He will be the leader
on the second ballot, have a majority
on the third and will probably be nom
mated on the fourth or fifth.
This is, of course, just plain pre-
dicton. Some of our friends may
flash this article on us about two
weeks from next Thursday and may
convict us OF being an exceedingly
poor prophet.
Our faith in the growing strength
of Wilson is based on the infOrma
ton and belief that he is the SECOND
choice of very large percentage O
the delegates instructed for other can
didates as their first choice. We be
lieve the second choice man is goins
to win. Even the delegates from Mis-
souri,, if Clark falls by the wayside
will go to Wilson.
There is rapidly spreading con
viction that William Jennings Bryal
may again be drafted to lead tn
hopes of his party. We do not be
lieve that Bryan will be nominated
but do contend that the frequent mer
ton of his name will materially as
sist Wilson. A very influential ele
ment in the party is opposed to Bryan
The New York delegation of 80 men
bers will unquestionably oppose hin
If they find that there is danger {
the Bryan sentiment sweeping til
convention, they will turn to the ma
who has the best show Of being nom
mated before the stampede is starte
and that man is Wilson. The powe
full New York World came out la
week for Wilson. That is stra
which shows the way the polite
breeze is blowing in the Empire stat
We have reason for the faith tn
ic in, hot Wilson ic thn CtrOn
candidate the democrats can nomina
and this goes even for the Peerle
leader himself.
In order to win against the pre-
able republican nominee, Rooseve
the democratic candidate must car
the east. The surely democrat
states in the souln, including Missol
and Maryland, will contribute but
of the necessary 266 electoral vott
With Roosevelt in the race, no {
pendance can be placed in the we
ern states to deliver democratic ell
toral votes.
1t will, therefore, be necessary
carry New York with it's 45 electo
votes, New Jersey with its IA el
toral votes, Connecticut with its
electoral votes. These three sta
would mean sc of the So required o.
what the solid south can contribu
Wilson would probably carry India
with Is votes and have better thai
fighting chance for the IS in Mas
chusetts, the "a in Ohio and the tn
in Delaware.
Clark or Bryan could either dou
less defeat Taft. Wilson would
feat him more easily, and, in additi
the New Jersey man is the one n
who would start out with an e'
break against Roosevelt, and it m
be remembered, as the situat