Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-18
WILSON UNDERWOOD'S PUPIL
Floor Leader Instructs Nominee on
Political Conditions.
WILL WIN NEW YORK
Governor Takes Fancy to Reaction
ary Democrat Abhorred by Bryan
and Considers Him Entirely
Charming.

SEA GIRT N. j., July, 1.-THE political
battle-ground of the campaign of 1919.
where the democratic party will strain
Its sinews for every vote. was placed be-
fore Governor Woodrow Wilson like q
checkerboard today by the man he re-
CARDS as better informed than any other
on conditions throughout the country.
Oscar w. Underwood, reader of the demo-
cratic majority of the house Of represent
atives
State by state the nominee and the
house leader went over the map at their
luncheon at the Trenton Country club
and when the conference ended. two and
a half hours later, they had taken from
the debatable states Wisconsin. Missouri.
Maryland, Kentucky and New York. with
a reservation that there would have to
be some campaigning done In Missouri
and that while New York was pretty GER
tain to go democratic the democrats
there would have to be on their guard
| and not feel too cocksure. and made a
list Of the states where they will have
| to fight for votes with q good chance of
carrying them. ..-...
states CIassed Debatabie.
| In this list they placed first the great
middle western states of Illinois, Ohio
| and Indiana, From the New England
group they put down Maine and Connecti-
| cut. Along the Mason and Dixon border
they made note of West Virginia. In a
class by itself they placed Pennsylvania
and last of all they jotted down New
Jersey as debatable. although the Jersey
leaders close to the governor have prom
| ised the state to him by pluralities rang
Ing from $1,000 to 100000 votes. These
states the governor referred to tonight
as 'debatable." but Indications are that
he believes he can carry every one.
Mr.. Underwood told the governor that
before coming to Trenton he had con-
suited with congressman IN these states
and could therefore speak with fair
working knowledge of conditions The
governor feels that representative In
congress knows the situation In his own
district II anybody does. and from their
reports. as reflected by Mr.. Underwood
| to him, he feels that he obtained this
\ afternoon good working idea Of Just
where the fire of the campaign artillery
is to be directed.
| Learns Much from Underwood.
1--WE went over the situation In the de-
batable states" Governor Wilson said
tonight, concerning which was the best
campaigning ground In the country with
| Mr. JIpderuondts vary NM sunt r. Lrou,ln "A a.,
OF conditions through his colleagues In
congress. have gotten q great deal out
of the situation that was very valuable
to me-"
Maine. the first state discussed, Is re-
garded as having strong inclinations to
remain democratic. Mr.. Underwood .
report places 1t high in the list Of states
to be won with q fair amount OF cam
| paigning Indiana ls counted upon to
support the ticket loyalty, not alone be-
cause its 'favorite son" is Wilson's run
ming mate, but because of local condl-
tions, the divided republican vote and q
strong trend towards democracy since
the last presidential campaign.
In Ohio, Governor wilson believes, the
third party will divide the republican vote
so that the democrats will have more
than an even chance Of carrying the
state. In fact, 1t is understood that the
third party movement was reckoned with
more heavily there than In most Of the
other states. Pennsylvania excepted, that
are regarded by the nominee as debat-
able. Were the republicans united the
outlook would still be good. he believes,
Notwithstanding the fact that II Is Pres.
ident Taft's home state.
| PennsyIvania Claimed.
Pennsylvania is placed In class by
itself because from all over the state
there have come to Sea Girt and to
Washington declarations from republic
ans that they will vote for Wilson, and
because Of the unusually rosy hue Of the
representations Of the party leaders there
The views OF Governor Foss of Massa-
chusetts, regarding Connecticut, supple
mented by reports to Mr. Underwood
letters from Wilson leaders and other
democrats In the state are reflected In
the attitude Of the nominee towards Con-
necticut. Mr.. Underwood told him that
there was an excellent chance OF carry.
Ing the state. Massachusetts, for some
reason was not mentioned. but this ID
not regarded as significant. as the iist
is BY no means complete and there are
yet many states to be taken.
West Virginia. of course. is debatablt
ground This from Governor Wilson
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