Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-05
CAPITAL WONDERS
IF CLARK WILL BE
CANDIDATE IN 1915
/ umulty's Letter to Jersey
Democrats Throws Light
on Wilson's Attitude To-
ward Possible Rival.

WASHINGTON, Oct 5.-Wnl Speaker
Champ Clark be candidate for the
Democratic nomination for President in
1916? This is one of the questions that
| are uppermost in the minds of a good
many Democrats here, and one that is
eagerly discussed in hotel Hobbies.
The interest in Speaker Clark's plans
| would not be so great perhaps If 1t had
/ not been for the diplomatic letter Jo-
| seph p Tumulty, secretary to the Presi-
dent sent to Edward T.. Grosscup, chair
man Of the New Jersey Democratic State
| Committee. This letter. which had the
approval of the President, suggested TO
the New Jersey Democrats that 1t would
be wise for them to sidetrack their in
dorsement of President Wilson for a sec
ond term until other Democrats, not so
friendly with the President, indicated
their attitude.
There isn't the least doubt that the
President can get the Endorsement OF his
home State for anything and everything
he wants. A New Jersey Endorsement
would carry not nearly so much weight
as that Of say, Missouri 1t requires
multys letter to Mr. Grosscup to dis
cover a gentle hint to those who have
been lukewarm in their feelings toward
the President that an Endorsement from
them would not alone be opportune, but
would be pleasing as well to the EXecu-
tive Office.
Mr. Tumulty's letter, however, has
started the 1916 Presidential ball rolling.
The time is not far distant when candi-
dates and platforms will be in the lime
light, since the national conventions are
only a year from this coming June.
Hence the interest in the plans of Mr..
Clark and in the question as to whether
the single-term plank which Mr.. Bryan
injected into the Democratic platform will
return to plague the Secretary of State.
Not that he will be a candidate for the
presidential nomination himself, because
comparatively few Democrats take his
aspirations in that direction seriously just
now. They point out that he is part
an important part--of President Wilson's
Administration, and he has no alternative
but to support the President should the
latter signify his willingness to accept a
denomination.
There are some Democrats around here
whose facetious reply to the query as
to whether Mr. Clark would be a candi-
date has been ASK Hearst" Mr.. Hearst
and Mr.. Clark are inseparabe politically
and socially, and it seems only natural
that the editor should know the Speakers s
plans, or, at least, be able to make a
pretty good guess as to what they are.
OF course, it is true that If Hearst could
put Speaker Clark in the White House in
place of Mr. Wilson he would do so with
alacrity. He has not made the slightest
effort to conceal his antagonism toward
the President.
1t Is only fair to the President to say
that this Ill feeling exists on Mr.. Hearsts
side only. Close friends of the President
say he has only the kindliest of feelings
toward the editor.
A short chat with Speaker Clark wili
quickly convince one that he hasn't got
over the crouch he cultivated after the
Baltimore Convention finished its work.
He still believes that he should now be
in the White House, and takes no par
ticular pains to hide this belief He still
believes he is the most popular Demo-
crat in this country and could win the
Presidency If he set out after 1t.