Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-30

L
states vote in the national convention must 60
Congressman Underwood is not truly contestant
for the Democratic nomination. There has been
not even a pretense of presenting his name to the
Democracy of the country at large. The interests
behind his mock campaign in Georgia do not expect
or intend him to be nominated. They are simply
using him as a handy means for pocketing the
states vote, which they propose to deliver, at the
telling moment not to Mr. Underwood, but to an
other candidate who they think, stands chance OF
defeating Woodrow Wilson for the nomination.
Should the people vote for him. their ballots would
avail him nothing AS candidate for the nomina-
ton he can be considered seriously in Geor-
gia than in those numerous other states where ne
has not even entered the primaries
There was a time, no doubt, when Governor Har-
mon had an appreciate following in this state, but
he has developed so little strength throughout the
Union that today he stands practically eliminated
from the race
There thus remain only two real candidates be-
tween whom the Democrats of Georgia can choose in
the approaching primary. They are Woodrow Will
son and Champ Clark. The contest has narrowed to
these two; and every ballot cast will count ulti
mately for the other of them. If we vote
for Woodrow Wilson at the polls, he will receive
that vote in the convention and the peoples will be
carried squarely into effect But, if vote for Mr..
Underwood, the states support in the Baltimore
convention will not remain with him, but will be
switched to Speaker Clark unknown can
didate, and the peoples intent will be thwarted. We
repeat, therefore, that on next Wednesday must
determine whether Georgia shall cast her influence
for Wilson for Clark.
Can afford to commit the party's fortunes in
the coming campaign TO Champ Clark who, however
likable he may be the purely personal sde is
virtually fated to defeat presidential candidate?
There appears elsewhere this page an edito-
rial from the New York World conceded to be the
greatest Independent Democ-atiC daily in America,
and the most influential We commend its clear and
forceful analysis of the speakers prospect for the
presidency to every Georgia voter who has the in
t rests of the party at heart.
III the Democrats expect to elect a. presi-
dent merit tdH" the World begins, "they must 90
into the campaign 10ith stronger candidate than
the speaker of the house Of representatives. For
Mr.. Clark personally, the World has only the
frtendIieSt feelings but his nomination. for presi-
dent igouId be equivalent to certificate of cleo
ton for his Republican opponent"
And the editorial concludes:
Champ CIark's nomination ,oouId be Demo
cratic suicide"
These are not, the words of a partizan advocate
with candidate of its to urge, but the deliber-
ately formed and fact-supported judgment of
paper noted for its foresight and independence The
New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio ana Indiana all of
them pivotal states speaks for itself and clinches
the conviction that his nomination "l0ould be Demo
cratic suicide"
Are the people of Georgia, disregardng the partys
interests, to aid in the nomination Of such
didate?
That, and nothing less is what we shall be doing
if we cast our ballots for Mr.. Underwood; for,
we have shown, vote for Underwood will be simply
vote for Clark
The speaker is most amiabe gentleman. But
the nation has never forgotten that it was he who
critical moment Of the countrys history. compared
Grover Cleveland to Benedict Arnold and Judas
Iseariot nor that it was he who proposed further
the difficult task Of tariff reform by burning down all
the custom houses in the land that it he
who publicly suggested Canada's annexation by the
United States and thereby aroused Canadian fears
and prejudices that the reciprocity pact defeated
Can man of this type and this record attract the
countrys great body of independent voters who wied
the balance of power in national elections?
Have the people of the south and of Georgia
any reason whatsoever to support Mr. Clark for the
nomination?
Shall we turn our backs upon Woodrow Wilson,
who is not only southern born and Georgia Bred but
who also truly national leader holding the conf
dence and inspiring the enthusiasm of every part of
the union-shan we renounce him for a man whose
nomination would predestine the party's defeat?
Let us remember, then, that no matter how many
ballots we Democrats of Georgia might give Mr. I'm
derwood they would avail him nothing in the conven
ton but at the decisive moment would be swung to
Speaker Clark and thus, unwittingly, perhaps, but
none the less certainly should have voted for a
man whom we never favored.
Let us compare for moment the candidates. of
these three-Wilson and Clark and Underwood. AS
one state after another has named its delegates
the national convention, it has become and
more evident that Woodrow Wilson is the national
figure in the contest; that, next to him. Speaker
Clark is the only candidate who is winning any
siderable support; and it is especially evident that
Congressman Underwood is not even in the
Woodrow Wilson has been declared the Democratic
choice in states apart, in distance and tradi-
tion as Oregon and Pennsylvania. He has the