Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-06

Justices of the Supreme Court have
frequently served till long after they
were 20 although the duties of their
offices are not as strenuous as the du-
ties of President.
There is not the slightest doubt of
| Speaker Clarl1's intention to make
try for the nomination in 1916. He
has the good argument that President
Wilson was elected on a one-term
platform and that the Democratic par
ty is committed to it. There may
also be a sentimental argument for
him that he all but had the nomina-
ton at Baltimore in 1872 and would
have been the nominee but for the
Vigorous work William j. Bryan did
at the critical moment against him.
That might be something of an asset
should Wilson become an unpopular
President.
Put it almost goes without saying
that Speaker Champ Clark Will have
hard row to hoe as presidential
candidate. Even If he were near
nomination at Baltimore it might not
have followed he would have been
strong candidate. Who shall say that
as between Taft, Roosevelt and Clark,
Roosevelt would nor have been elect
ed? One can speculate and draw
whatever deduction he pleases. Ger
tain it is that Roosevelt and Roose-
velt's friends in 1912 were hoping and
praying that the Democrats would
nominate Champ Clark.
Notwithstanding the one-term dec
pol in nl9tfGTn1
which Bryan himself wrote, there is
slight question that Woodrow Will
son will permit himself to be a can
didate for denomination. Even though
this brings him into collision with
Speaker Clark. his friends will never
thcless insist that he run again. The
officeholders will be heard from in
due season on that point. In all prob
ability it will be the story of the first
Cleveland administration over again.
The only other Democratic President
since the Civil war it will be remem-
bered, had been elected on one-term
platform but long before the conven-
ton of 1888 had come around Cleve-
land had yielded his convictions on
the term question and permitted
himself to be nominated second
time. His party could not drop HIM
without being accused of having dis
approved of his administration
Similarly, whatever the success or
the Wilson administrator be, watch
for the clamor that if Wilson is not
renominateed it will amount to Ver-
dict of the Democratic party dis
crediting what he has done. The par
ty could not we'll go to the country
against such criticism as that.
There will be talk up and down and
all around. The wise big men ana
the wise little men will have their
views about it but, in the long run,
the situation will develop that calls
for four years more of wilson as far
as the Democrats are concerned, Un-
less something exceptional happens
Wilson'S denomination may be eek
pected, Champ Clark's ambitions to
the contrary, notwithstanding
Long before the National Conven-
tion of 1916 or before the preslden-
tial primaries. if primaries there are
to be, Mr. Wilson may be expected
to make a statement setting the con-
troversy at rest. 1t may not come
for year or more but 1t will come.
For the present, Democrats are more
concerned about carrying the Con-
gressional elections this autumn. A
continued majority in the House and
the Senate is very essential, even
though the President may have COM