The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-03-28
USE FAvoRlTE SON SCHEME.
Money Powers Make IL the Field
Against Wilson to Defeat
Progressive.
RY gibson GARDNER.

Washington, d. c., March 5.-Wall
streets efforts to prevent the nomina-
tion of Woodrow Wilson and to con-
troll the democratic national conven-
ton are becoming more evident every
day. The plan is to split the conven-
tion up in every possible way and the
fayorite son scheme is strongest play
at this time.
For instance, there is the candidacy
of Senator Thomas S. Martin of Vir-
ginia The suggestion of Martin as
presidential candidate is joke which
to be appreciated one must know Mar
tin. The senate is in commissions over
it.
Martin is a standpat reactionary of
no ability, who cannot even make a
standpat speech. He has maintained
his control in Virginia by the most
obvious and notorious of the common
corrupt political practices.
OF course, the purpose of Martins
candidacy is to take Virginia out of
the Wilson column. Previously Vir-
ginia had declared for Woodrow Will
son, one of her native sons. The peO-
pie of Virginia want him and there
is a strong public sentiment there as
in other southern states in favor of
southerner as the partys candidate
and of man who stands for real de-
mocracy as against reaction.
The Underwood candidacy is of the
same sort. When it was first an
nounced Underwood himself said that
his candidacy was merely little per-
sonal compliment to himself and that
he would not permit it to stand in the
way of Wilson or any popular favor
ite
Now the Underwood candidacy is a
much more serious matter It's let
tiers have gone to thousands of south
ern newspapers offering the newspa-
pers money if they will print matter
booming Underwood. The purpose
again is to take. Alabama out of the
Wilson column. Underwood is being
groomed now as the legatee of Har-
mons strength. 1t is felt that Har-
mon has gone stale as candidate.
Underwood has, on the other hand,
made good with Wall street He raj
lied the reactionary forces of the
democratic majority in the house of
representatives and showed what he
could do as reactionary leader in
opposing Bryan and killing Represen-
tative Henry's resolution for an in
vestigation of the money trust
He co-Operated with leader Mann of
the reactionary republican element in
putting a reactionary on the rules
committee to succeed the late Rep
reSentative Madison of Kansas
He made friends with the wool
trust by sidetracking schedule K and
bringing forward doubtful schedules.
He made alliances with Fitzgerald,
Cannon's democratic aide in the house,
and has outlined legislative program
which is eminently satisfactory to
the reactionary elements.
Unfortunately, Speaker Champ
Clark has allied himself with Under
wood and the reactionaries in the
friends for his presidential boom Clark
turned over the real power of house
leadership to Underwood and cooper
;ated with the latter within the last
week in securing an amendment to
THE rules restoring a large element
of "Cannonism" to the house organic
alton.
If any question remains as to how
Clarke is regarded by Wall street such
question would be removed by the po
sition which Hearst has taken. OF
late years Hearst has abandoned his
role as champion of the people and is
an open ally of big financial interests.
Politically he is in the field with his
tremendous publicity weapon purely
as a buccaneer.
His present game is to boost Clark
I'm order to tear down Woodrow Will
son and to bring confusion to the con-
vention in the hope that he (Hearst)
may get the nomination by falling heir
to the political strength of various
candidates such as Clark, Harmon and
Underwood.
Hearst has a tremendous amount
of money and since he has made his
alliances with big business he has not
much opposition from that quarter.
Under the present system of ma
chine controlled conventions and hand
picked delegates the Taggart-Murphy-
Sullivan Guffey Hearst Underwood
combine may control more than
third of the delegates in the Baltimore
convention, and that it will be throw
of the dice as to who will be the candi-
date after Woodrow Wilson has been
thrust upon the scrap heap.