Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-03-26
WOODROW WILSON'S STRENGTH
IN MAINE AND KANSAS.


and Maine Selling upon bagatelles and utterly ig-
noring facts, they would make it appear that both
these states have repudiated Governor Wilson's
ddacy If this really be their opinion, they sim
ply the victims of of those mirages that some
times beguile and famished wanderers in polit
ical Sahara For it is a we'll established truth that
a majority of the delegates selected in both these
states are stanch advocates of Woodrow Wilson's
nomination. and it is virtually certain that at the
strategic moment of the convention they will give
him their undivided support.
To be sure the Democratic state convention of
Maine did not instruct its Baltimore delegates to
vote for Wilson 1t expected that it would
do so. 1t is an unbroken custom among the Demo
Gratis of that state their delegates at least
nomnally free support whatsoever candidate they
may deem most advisable Some time ago Repre-
sentative McGillicuddy of Maine, declared: "Maine
lCiH not instruct but Governor Wilson'S friends mag
count upon its vote in the contention tohen the bal
Ioting begins"
There is a particular reason why this precedent
was adhered in 1912 Governor Plasted, of Maine,
has been prominently mentioned possible nomi-
nee for the vice presidency Naturally therefore his
friends in the party refrained from prejudicing his
chance, as they perhaps would have done had they
patty committed the state aforehand and thereby
alienated possible elements of his support
The fact however, that the Maine delegation goes
uninstructed does not alter the evidence that seven
of its twelve members favor the nomination of Wood
row Wilson. That is the marrow of the case. 1t is
known, furthermore that Democratic sentiment in
the Pine Tree state is overwhelmingly for Wilson.
This was reflected in a recent interview from Sen
ator Gardner, who declared that with Woodrow Will
son its nominee, the party sweep many of the
Oldest Republican stronghoIds of New England but
that with less popular and less representative can
didate it is almost fated to defeat. However des-
peratey the interests back of the Triple Alliance may
seek to distort the truth the Maine situation, the
fact remains that an effective majority of its dele
gates are for Wilson and that the proper time the
entire delegation will vote for him as a unit.
In Kansas, the state convention instructed its
delegates to cast their ballots first for Speaker Clark
but it also instructed them to swing to Wilson when
it became evident that the speaker could win the
nomination.
1t was but natural that Kansas should have taken
this attitude toward it's Missouri neighbor. He has
been making political speeches in the state for
than generation and, besides. that is one of the
special districts allotted to his candidacy under the
three-cornered plan to split Governor Wilson's
tional strength The remarkable thing is that
from this side of the Mississippi lacked but few
votes of having a straight majority in the Kansas
convention; and it is equally significant circum-
stance that neither Congressman Underwood nor
Governor Harmon mad any votes at ALL
The fact that the Kansas delegation at Baltimore
will first for Clark is only the prologue to the
real part they will play. For seriously
expect the speaker win anything like a majority
of the convention ballots, and the moment this is
actually demonstrated the Kansans, true to their in
structions, well to their personal preference,
will go as a unit for Woodrow Wilson For all prac-
teal purposes, therefore the vote of Kansas may be
counted in advance for the Wilson column.
twenty delegates from that state are avowed Wilson
supporters They will go through the civil formality
of giving the speaker a complimentary ballot, but
when the convention gets down to business their
votes will tell as a unit for Woodrow Wilson.
We have gone somewhat into detail over the Maine
and Kansas situation simply because the interests
that are opposing Governor Wilson in Georgia have
sought to make giants out of windmils and, in
desperate effort hearten their own hopeless cause
have tried to make it appear that he is losing ground
in the country at large when, a matter of fact,
he is every day looming larger and more formidable
1t will be observed that these interests are con-
tinually prating Of Woodrow Wilson's weakness,
they fegn to it, but they significantly silent
concerning the strength" of their candidate 1t
seems to have occurred to them that Con-
gresham Underwood failed to receiUe single cote
In Kansas and that he is without single supporter
in Moine or that he has no tooCtn0 qohdtsoeUer in
tricts of 0hat has been mistakenly called his ndtiUe
section.
The truth is, his candidacy is simply part of
that three-cornered and concerted movement which
Wall street has devised to break, if possible, the
nationwide and invincible march of the people to
Woodrow Wilson's standard. 1t is strictly the Under
I0ood cGmpdi0n limited Perhaps he is guilelessly
unaware of the role he is being made to play but the
purpose of the underlying influences in his campaign
is IN Of he hat
is absurdy impossible; but to break if they can, the
south's virtually solid sentiment for the Democrat
who has sprung from its soil and embodies its
own best traditions-Woodrow Wilson
Congressman Underwood, admirable though
he is in many respects, is unfortunately for himself
being used in the south for the design that
Speaker Clark is being used in the and Governor
Harmon in portions of the east.
The people of Georgia will not sacrifice their
states strength the national convention nor turn