The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-17

Seagirt. N J.. July 16.-The polit- ical battle-ground of the campaign of 1912 where the democratic party will strain its sipews for every vote, was placed before Gov. Woodrow Wilson like checkerboard this afternoon by the man he regards as better informed than any other on conditions through out the country, oscar w. Underwood, leader of the democratic majority of the House of Representatives.
 State by state the nominee and the House leader went over the map at their luncheon at the Country club of Trenton and when the conference ended two and half hours later they had taken from the debatable states Wisconsin, Missouri, Maryland, Ken lucky and New York, with a reserva- tion that there would have to be some campaigning done in Missouri and that while New York was pretty certain to go democratic, the democrats there would have to be on their guard and not feel too cock sure, and made list of the states where they will have to fight for votes with good chance of carrying them
 The Western States
 In this list, they placed first the great middle western states of Illinois, Ohio and indiana from the New England group they put down Maine and Con necticut. Along the Mason and Dixon border they made note of West Vir- einia In class by Itself, they placed Pennsylvania, and last of all they jotted down New Jersey as debatable, al though the Jersey leaders close To the governor have, promised the state to him by pluralities ranging from bo'ooo to 100000 votes. These states the gov ernor referred to tonight as "debatable' a he believes can carry every one
 MT Underwood told the governor that before coming to Trenton, he had con suited with congressman from these states and could therefore, speak Wlth fair working knowledge of conditions.
 The governor feels that representa- tive in congress knows the situation m his own district if anybody does, ana from their reports, as reflected by Mir Underwood to him. he feels that ne op- tained this afternoon a good working idea of just where the fire of the cam paign artillery Is to be directed
 eve went over the situation in the debatable states Governor Wilson said tonight. ''concerning which was the best campaigning ground in tne country With MT. Underwood's very unusual knowl- edge of conditions through his colleagues in congress, I have gotten great deal out of the situation that was very val uable to me.
 Expect to Carry Maine
 Maine the first state discussed is re- earded as having strong inclinations to remain <cmocratic. MT Underwood re port places 1t high in the list of states 10 be won with fair amount or cam paigning. Indiana is counted upon 10 support the ticket Loyalty, not alone be- cause it's "favorite son is Wilson's run ming mate but because of local condi- tions, the divided republican vote and strong trend towards democracy since the last presidential campaign,
 In Ohio Governor Wilson believes the third party will divide the republican vote so that the democrats will have more than an even chance of carrying the state In fact it is understood that the third party movement was reckoned with more heavily there than in most or the other states, Penn5yivania excepted, that are regarded by the nominee as de- batable Were the republicans united the outlook would still be good, he be- 1ieves notwithstanding the fact that 1t is President Taft's home state.
 Pennsylvania is placed in a class by it. self because from all over the state there have come to Seagirt and to Washington declarations from republicans that they win vote for Wilson and because of the unusually rosy hue of the reports Of the party leaders there.
 The views of Governor Foss of Massa- chusetts regarding Connecticut, snppie- mented by reports to MT. Underwood ie,- ters from Wilson leaders and other demo- crats in the state are reflected In the at titude of the nominee towards Connecu- cut. MT. Underwood told him that there was an excellent chance of carrying the state. Massachusetts. for some reason, was not mentioned but this is not re- garded as significant as the list is by no means complete and there are yet many states to be taken up.
 West Virginia Debatable
 west Virginia, of course. is debatable ground This from Governor Wilson sums m the nominees attitude towards that commonwealth.
 Missouri 1t developed tonight, was dis cussed in detail by the governor and Speaker Champ Clark when the latter was here last Saturday. At that time the speaker is said to have told Governor Wilson that some work would have to be done there but that there was no reason why the state should not support the ticket
 Coming down to New York. the gov amor feels pretty confident of the re- suit there next November. This feel ing. he said, was strengthened by a talk at Trenton today with Lieutenant Gov ernor Conway.
 He said that the feeling in the state was very strong for me-" the governor said tonight in discussing the interview. That was the principal theme. He is particularly familiar with the conditions
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