Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-24
uRG|N|AN5 FOR
OSCAR UNDERWOOD.
They Will Vote for Him as Long as
he Has Chance of Nomi-
nation.
MARTIN IS STRONG FOR HIM
Men from Old Dominion viii Be
Classed Among the Conservatives
Wilson Said to Have Little Show.

Baltimore, June 32.-Oscar W. Un-
derwood for president and the rigid
unit rule after the first ballot is the
present program of the party leaders
in the Virginia delegation. Unless
Richard Evelyn Byrd, as the crown
ing act of the political career prior to
his retirement, can scotch the road
roller, the Alabama congressman will
get votes of the Old Dominion as long
as there is a reasonable chance of his
nomination.
Neither Wilson nor Bryan will COM
mand Virginia support if Senator
Martin and Senator Swanson have any
thing to say about it, and as rule
they have u good deal to say about
such matters. Nor will progressive
platform such as will be demanded by
the ever-present, ever-persistent and
ever excited West get much sympathy
from the state of Thomas Jefferson.
Nor will the state stand for the Bryan
opposition to Parker.
Stating the case in different Ian
guage with the same effect, Virginia
will be classed as conservative by the
convention and as a reactionary by
Commoner whose distinguished edi-
tor received such an enthusiastic rec
eption this afternoon from the throng
of patient admirers, who had awaited
his coming all day in front of the Bel
vedere Hotel.
"The great majority of the Virginia
delegation" said Senator Thomas A.
Martin this afternoon, "wills Il am sure
vote for Underwood. | believe that
after the first ballot the unit rule will
be voted by the necessary two-thlrds
majority. 1t ought to be. There is
every reason why Underwood should
be nominee; none why he should not be
He is q man of pronounced ability, OF
clean life, of unblemished record. He
has been highly successful as party
lender of the House. Doubt as to his
availability because he is southern
man is heard only from our own peo-
ple. have yet to hear of such object
ion from the north.
81 hope all of the Virginia dele
gates will vote for Judge Parker Tor
temporary chairman. He has been al
ways a loyal party worker, and 1t
would be an outrage to defeat him
merely on the ipse dixit of Mr.. Bryan,
who chooses to call him a rectlonary.
"Of course | do not mean that Vlr-
pinia should keep on voting for Nm
derwood if it turns out there is no
chance for him. She would then GO
to someone else, perhaps Clark, per-
haps Harmonic anyone rather than
TO Woodrow Wilson, who has done
nothing to deserve party honors un-
less to help wreck it in his own state. -
Ot Treat SlSnludHCe.
It should be remembered always
that such positive utterances from
Senator Martin are of tremendous sig
nificance, for he does not talk for the
sake of hearing his voice.
Others of the Virginia delegation
would take into account the happen
ings at Chicago, where, with mucf
yexed heart and tear-dimmed eye, TIT
Colonel stood at Armageddon and bat
tied for himself. True, he said ne
fought for the Lord, but doubtless ne
thought a synonym permissible.
Senator Swanson, who probably viii
be chairman of the Virginia delegation
thinks if the Democratic nominee is
too radical he will split the conser'
vatiye vote with Taft; if reaction
ary, he will drive many of the pro
gressives to Roosevelt. He woui'
have man of moderate views, pro
gressive with conservative Tendencies
as it were.
Speaker Byrd, H. NJ. Smith, Jr, o.
Richmond, and Allen D. Jones of New
port News, the advance guard Of tn
Virginia Wilson people here. will no
admit that two-thirds of the delega
tion can be secured to vote for thi!
unit rule claiming that some of TIT
anti-Wilson people will not stand fo'
an effort to throttle the minority. The!
will join the Virginia Wilson rally il
Washington tomorrow as guests o
Harry ST. George Tucker.
An appointment as assistant ser
geant at arms of the convention ne
been secured by National committee