The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-30

some of the democratic delegates from
Minnesota. 1 hope he will get many. If
Champ Clark is nominated by the dem
ocrats, and President Taft by the re-
publicans, it will mean a clear, open
campaign"
There is also another influence work.
ing strongly behind Clark-William
Randolph Hearst. Clark acknowledges
letter to the Chicago American after
the Illinois primaries. He says:
Il am profoundly grateful to all who
aided in carrying Illinois for me-
Among them was the powerful infience
of the Hearst newspapers, who have
stood by me Loyalty, manfully and un-
selfishly from the beginning, from
Massachusetts to California
That Mr.. Hearst is supporting Clark,
as usual with idea that he may him
self, somehow, reap the benefit of the
campaign, is shown in this ingenious
letter to Mr.. Hearst to the editor of
Pearson's Magazine:
81 have declared a preference for the
man (Champ Clark who l believe rep
resents them tmy policies) best, and |
shall labor to secure the presidential
nomination for him. If at any time, or
for any reason. he should retire, and
| the selection of a candidate to repre-
| sent true democracy and genuine pro-
gressive principles should lie between
an avowed reactonary and a pretend
| ed progressive, 1 might become a can
didate."
| Now, the danger in this country is
i not from honest and clear thinkin g
men in public office, whether conser-
vatives or radicals. An honest, clear
| thinking man is not dangerous. If he
4 is a radical responsibility chastens
him. and if a conservative, the neces-
lsity of events pricks him forward. The
danger is not from clear-thinking, hon
est progressives like Wilson and La
| Toilette, or clear-thinking, honest con-
;servatives like Underwood and Hughes
but from men like Taft and Champ
Clark. Sometimes it seems, indeed, in
these hours of confusion and complex
ity that the qualities most needed in
the statesman who is to lead the re-
public for the next four years. are
lqualities of clearness. steadiness in
ltellectual honesty. Qualities wholly
different from those possessed by
Roosevelt are now required. We nc
llonger need the fiery moral revivalist-
great and necessary as his services
were at one time in arousing slug.
tgish people. We are convinced thai
the facts concerning the abuses tC
which Roosevelt refers are mainly true
what We need now is a patient. honest
leader to guide upward to new
plane of national life. The progress
sives of the country have today tive
candidates who are thus both homes
and clear: LaFollette and Wilson. ant
Mr.. Underwood
As for Theodore Roosevelt, no on,
has greater admiration for many o
his high qualities than the presen
writer, but what a pity that he shoulC
have been thrown into this campaign
They are thousands of people in thi
country who are for Roosevelt-but no
for president. We admire him. but w,
don't want him 10 own US or own tn,
country. AS Emerson says Of til.
genius: He thinks we wish 10 beIon.
to him. as he wishes to occupy US H
greatly mistakes usi Many progress
sives who followed LaFollette becaus,
they believed that he had the best an,
!, clearest grasp of public questions O
| any man in the field, deserted LaFof
tlette and went over TO Roosevelt. no
because they believed him to be NOR
NEARLY right, but because they though
he was the only man who could vii
Iagainst Taft. And winning. with tn
iordinary political leader, is the primar,
| Requirement.
| Not the least striking feature of til
! present campaign is the extra ordinar