The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-15
Wilson Not As Strong As Thought-Clark His Most
 Formidable Rival
THOUSANDS BELIEVE UNDERWOOD THE MAN
Big Pre-Convention Fight To Be Be- tween Wilson and Clark-Under- woods Wide Popularity As Sec
 ond Choice Possibility
Ny WALTER HARPER

NdSn1ngtOn, Apfii 4.-tSpeclal. )-BefOre the actual fight for delegates to the na- tional democratic convention began the politicians and the press of the country picked Governor Wilson of New Jersey and Governor Harmon of Ohio for the favorites. Those interested in the pros poets of other men figured on deadlock between these two aspirants in the con vent:on.
 Barring that stage of the calculation Champ Clark and oscar Underwood were the favorite second choice men.
 Unforeseen Facts Develop
 As the actual campaign progresses two unforeseen facts have been brought out. One is that Wilson is not as strong as he was declared or thought to be. The other is that Champ Clark is his most formida- ble rival and not Governor Harmon. An other apparent fact that has been dem onstrated is that Governor Harmon is not as strong as his friends and the poli- ticans believed.
 The present situation which was sud- denly developed yesterday in the Penn sylvania primaries, is that the big pre- convention fight is to be between Wilson
  and Clark and it promises to be bitter and furious. It promises to assume some thing of the vigof of the campaign De- tween Taft and Roosevelt
 The sudden ascendency of Clark into the ring a leading contestant in the preliminary campaign eliminates him from the list of promising second choice men and leaves Oscar Underwood practi- tYalv t.font Win thai esfsfinrtion. Sn stAs, Aarf 1.x., ft- back Into the position that was supposed to have been occupied by Clark. Under. wood is without doubt the second choice of more people than any of the other can didates that has thus far been mentioned.
 If neither Clark nor Wilson go to tine convention with enough delegates to land the nomination, and it is hardly possible, the support of neither could be expected to go to the other. Herein lies the op- portunity of the second choice man who comes to the convention clean of inscr- nal party antagonsm. No man will come cleaner and with a stronger initial backing than Oscar Underwood. He has a party record that tis equalled by no other candidate in the field unless it be that of Champ Clark. No record is bet ter.
 A poll just taken by the Columbia cor respondent of the Charleston News and Courier of the South Carolina state exec utive committee is a fine indication of the standing of Oscar Underwood as a second choice candidate It Is we'll to remem- Der that the News and Courier is partial to the candidacy of Wilson. The poll shows that majority of the committee favor Governor Wilson, while practically every man expresses himself for Under wood as a second choice.
 This Is a condition that is developing rapidly all over the country and is be coming so pronounced that it is receiv ing careful attention in Washington. The rapid growth of Underwood sentiment Is being commented on by politicians and others and this comment is having a country wide effect.
 Cnderwood's wide popularity as -ec- ond choice possibility is being conceded by men of all factions.
 The success of Clark in Pennsylvania would have given him a great impetus and would have served to almost elmi- nate Wilson from the running, but the success of Wilson after the great Clark success in Illinois puts both men square, ly in the race for finish fight up to the convention. The -Pennsylvania result in the democratic primary is as significant in that party as the result of the repL b. lican primary in the same state in that party. The results served te demonst ate the forInidabeness of both the Wilson and Roosevelt following.
 The results in Pennsylvania will bave great influence on the future fortunes of both parties.
 Taft's Defeat Significant The defeat of Taft in this highly rro- nounced protective state is considered as most significant. While Roosevelt stands for nothing on the tariff question t is shown beyond any doubt that Taft's stand pat policies are not approved by the people.
 The fact Is heinz more clearly demon- strated every day that good democrat can lead the party to success in Noveni- Der. but this assurance should in no way cause the party to neglect it's duty in se- lecting the very best man in it's ranks. Thousands of good party men in all states of the country %he even favor some one of the other candidates believe that Underwood is the best man to noni- nate but for the fact that he does not live in a colder climate