Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-05


w Wisconsin is the most significant and de-
cisive event that has yet come to pass in
the contest for the presidential nomination
The Democratic primary, held in th4t state on
Tuesday. afforded genuine test of the national and
popular strength of the candidates in the field 1t
vas far removed from the spheres Of "favorite SON.
influence. Ii vas purely matter of business, with
the complimentary element excluded At the same
time it brought Governor Wilson into straightout
conflict with the triple alliance that is fighting him.
and with the strongest opponent they could pit
against him in that particular territory. He won
the support of practically every district in the state
He carried big cities like Milwaukee; and the eoun-
try communities, he carried almost solidly
Congressman Underwood not even considered
at the polls Governor Harmon, originally the candl-
date on whom the triple alliance counted to defeat
wilson in Wisconsin! had been withdrawn, because
OF his evident weakness before the people, and the
machine support had been transferred bodily to
Speaker Champ Clark. Back Of him stood the com
bination with all the money and influence at its
command But given an opportunity to register
their choice the people declared overwhelmingly for
wilson
That primary has shown three things cOnclu-
siveIy:
the national strength Of Woodrow Wilson,
The national ,CeGkness Of each aud all Of the
receiUing the nomination,
And Il has shOu0n too, that Woodrow Wilson is
tee logical and indeed the only ICth lChOns the
Democrats successfully oppose President Taft in
re approaching campaign.
The most casual observer cannot fail to be i'm
pressed with the fact that Congressman Underwood
was entirely unheard of in the Wisconsin primary.
As a party to the alliance with which the special
interests seeking split the Wilson strength,
ne was wholly excluded from that field Just he
has been every other part of the United States
except few corners Of this section, where the in1
terests hope to him TO advantage.
II is also a significant fact that Governor Har-
mon withdrawn from Wisconsin, although he
had been proclaimed at the outset as especially
strong in that state, and had been selected by the
combination defeat Wilson there. In the eleventh
hour, Harmon was precipitately retired. while his
erstwhile campaign workers Hocked to the stand
ard Of Champ Clark
Thus there were left only two candidates in the
Democratic primarys-wison. who is running in
every part Of the country, and Clark who like I'm
derwoOd and Harmon. is running in such local terri
tory as the alliance may assign If anyone heId
q lingering doubt OF the three-cornered campaign
contriEed against Governor Wilson the Wisconsin in
cident furnishes final proof of its existence And
4 ProVes furthermore that Woodrow Wilson is not
only stronger than GHy Of the three candidates
agasf him. but also that IS iHcomporaby stronger
than TIE combination itself
On the same day that the Democratic voters of
Wisconsin declared themselves for Governor Wilson,
the Republicans in their own primary, rendered
signal rebuke to the Taft administration. 1t is
doubIy significant that the state which repudi-
ated Taft Endorsed Wilson. No doubts that
President Taft will be nominated by the Republicans
Woodrow Wilson is. by every token, the one Demo
crat best equipped and best circumstance to defeat
him.
Mr.. Taft viii have the support of ,ne reactionary
element and. no matter whom the Democrats might
nominate they could not hope to take it from him.
But he viii get the support of the progressives
in his own party or that Of independent voters By
nominating Woodrow Wilson, the Democrats will
make surc Of winning this great following to their
cause. and Wilson is the only candidate in the field
who can do so. Between Taft and Harmon or Taft
and Underwood. Taft and Clark, the progressives
would have no choice and. if .-ey were Republicans
they would naturally swing the former. But when
offered truly liberal and constructive statesman Of
wilson's record and ability. they viii inevitably
choose him in preference to TAFT
This is the great lesson which Democrats may
read in the Wisconsin primaries and by which they
should profit Mr.. Henry c. Campbell OF Milwaukee,
editor Of the leading independent newspaper in Wis
consin, declares:
wilson ICiH carry Wisconsin to a Ger
faiHfy AGAINST Taft. No other Democrat can
do SO. Taft sCiH easily tDin Wisconsin as
against Clark or Harmon Underwood or
amp other candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation. What is absolutely true of Wisconsin
IS UsTy largely true Of other states in the
northeast They do not regard Clark
progressive. They stamp Harmon and I'm
6eT10ood as outright Tories. They see in Wiz
son strong. progressive leader fearless as
tCcII as sound. and he iOiH get a tremendous
tote al over the northeast"