Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-08
D GORMAN DECLARES
WILSON CAN CARRY
STATE OF NEW YORK
Believes Good Democratic
Candidate Would Whip Any
Man the Republicans Could
Possibly Nominate
~ RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, d. c., March g.
United States Senator James A. OGof-
man, of New York. today discussed the
Democratic political situation. He de-
clared that in his opinion either Gov
Woodrow Wilson. of New Jersey; Gov.
hudson Harmon. of Ohio: Speaker
Champ Clark, of Missouri, or Repre-
sentative oscar Underwood, of Ala
bama, in the order named, could carry
the state of New York in the next
presidential election over any candldate
the Republicans may nominate at Cn-
cago. Senator O'Gorman was asked u
rectlv concerning the strength of Gov
ernor Wilson in New York state. lie
said: 'I have stated to persons VINO
have asked my opinion that Governor
Wilson could carry New YORK IN the
event of his nomination at Baltimore
In response to further questions
about other candidates for the Demo
cratic nomination Senator OGorman'
on Reelection. included Governor Har-
mon. Speaker Clark and Representative
Underwood. in the order named, in the
list of available candidates who couio
carry New York state. He did not go
into details concerning the relative
strength of the several candidates men
toned, but the fact that he named
Governor Wilson first and referred u-
rectly to him in his original staten she
is regarded as significant OF Senator
O,csorman's real estimate of Wilson's
relative strength as a presidential can
didate in the state of New York. Con-
corning the action OF the Democracy OF
New York with reference to the nomi-
nation at Baltimore, Senator OGornah
declared that New York should take no
action rela tive to the party nominee UNI
til the very eve of the nomination
itself. Then il should decide as 10
the most available candidate, and give
to that candidate her 80 votes IN the
convention Senator OGormans esti-
mate of the situation in New York is
calculated to discredit the contention
Of Governor Wilson's opponents that 1T
would be a mistake for the Democrats
to nominate the Jersey governor be-
cause he could not possibly carry New
York state. His statement should put
at rest forever these absurd claims.
The straightforward utterance in this
connection is regarded here as one OF
the most significant and interesting de-
velopments in the fight for the Demo-
cratic nomination.
Senator O'Gorman's statement carries
weight. the value of which is not to
be underestimated. The senator is the
official head of the Democracy of the
greatest state in the union--a state that
has as votes in the electoral college
and 90 votes in the nominating conven-
ton. He is the first Democratic sena-
tor New York has furnished since the
retirement of Senator Murphy years
ago Although he has been in the SEN
ate but a comparatively short time,
he today ranks high among his col
leagues. He enjoys the confidence and
esteem not only of the people of New
York, but those with whom his serv-
ice has brought him in personal con-
tact. He is regarded as a credit to
the state of New York in the United
States senate.
While Senator OGorman has always
are not sympathetic with Tammany nor
SITS politics. II is not only the titular
head of the Democratic party of the
affiliated with Tammany Hall in the
state, but he has a stronger hold on
the mass OF the people in the city and
the New York legislature was com
him to the people of New York who
acter and lofty purposes have endeared
throughout the state than any organi-
cation His election to the senate by
sul pus ssSId qua 40 6IIBIsueS p9pusW
politics of New York, his high char
public. AS a senator his service has
been marked by an independence that
has strengthened him throughout the
country with Observant persons.
The anti-Wilson influences within the
Democratic party, especially in Sec
tions of the country where efforts are
being made to defeat Wilson, have
sought to create the impression that it
would be suicide to choose Wilson as
a leader. The burden of their argu-
ment has found basis in the contention
that he could not carry New York, and
that the Democrats cannot win without
the electoral vote of this great state.
Senator OGorman's frank declaration
that Wilson could carry New York over
any candidate that the Republicans may
nominate has caused an incipient panic
among the boomers of Champ Clark,
Oscar Underwood and Judson Harmon.
They realize that Senator OGorman's
statement will have tremendous weight
throughout the country, and they know
not where TO turn for ammunition to
replace this stock argument which has
been utterly exploded.