The Washington times., 1915-03-23
Wilson's Lieutenants Find Sur
prising Amount of Work for
Speaker.
RUM0RS FLYING AS RESULT
Disposition of President to Push
Primary Bill Also Arouses
Interest.

1t has come to the ears OF political
lieutenants Of the President that the
friends Of Speaker Champ Clark are
showing a surprising amount OF ac-
tivity in the effort to launch q Clark
boom for 1916
Lately, there has been some quiet re-
search work by politicians close to the
Administration. 1t has been a sort Of
quiet reconnaissance to find out just
how much basis there Is for talk that
in due time the Clark candidacy would
be sprung.
The result OF this reconnaissance has
led friends Of the Wilson Administra-
ton and supporters Of his denomination
In 1916 to the belief that there Is much
more work being done for Speaker Clark
than is generally realized.
The reports reaching the White House
Of Clark activity and the disposition Of
the President to press a Presidential
primary measure in the next session
OF Congress, If a way can be found to
do so without q Constitutional amend
ment. are affording no end of CONVEX
satlons just now for the Democratic
political wiseacres.
Bill To Be introduced.
President Wilson has not said pub
l.ely that he would insist next session
on Presidential primary legislation But
II Is well known he has been confer
ring with Senator Pomerenc about such
legislation, and Senator Pomerene ex-
poets to introduce a bill which the
President will support
The impression Is growing here that
the President is not going to give the
bill simply a perfunctory support, but
that he will put the Executive shoulder
to the wheel and try TO get law pass
ed. 1t Is true there Is wide difference
OF opinion whether a constitutional
amendment Is needful and IL the plan
Of constitutional amendment should
finally be considered Indispensable,
nothing which Congress might do in
the next session would affect the 1916
campaign.
President Wilson. so runs the gossip
OF some OF his political cnvoys. would
tial primary. At Baltimore, he was
not the popular choice. but his nomi-
nation was brought about by the at
tack or Bryan on certain elements that
| DdCheu SpedheT NldTk IN 1917. IN prl-
mary contests in various States. the
Clark forces got the better Of It, So 1t
would be source OF satisfaction to Mr..
Wilson. his friends aver. to go into
primary and get the unquestioned sup
port for the nomination of a majority
of the Democratic voters.
Would Hit G. o. P.
This Is one consideration which i'm
pels the President to be for eh pri-
mary. Another is that the primary
would cause a lot of Republican diff
Guilty with a score of asp!rants after
the nomination.
President Wilson's admirers are con-
WINGED he would win the nomination
easily in a primary, against Clark or
anyone else. But there are a lot of the
Clark lieutenants who are not pre-
pared to admit this.
They are, undoubtedly, feeling out the
situation, casting about to find out
where the financial backing can be had
to meet the large cost of a primary or
preconvention campaign. and displaying
kindred activity OF preliminary sort.
Last January. it became known that
Clark leaders were stirring. March Z. a
dinner was given to the Speaker here
| on his birthday, and there was talk be-
fore that that the Clark boom would
be sprung. But the boom did not ma
terialize. President Wilson seemed as
sured of a clear field.
But lately, there has been renewal OF
| activity for Mr.. Clark. Former Con-
gressman Rucker recently said in Col
| orado that Missouri leaders planned a
Clark movement. and that he had as
certained this on a visit to Missouri.
Nothing Binding.
Speaker Clark of late has been say
ing some nice things about President
Wilson, but old-tine politicians do not
see in such utterances any assurance
that Clark will refrain from becoming
a candidate.
incidentally. the friends Of Under
wood are keeping their ears close t
the ground, and II there is TO be any
thing like mix-up over the Democratic
nomination they want to be in on it
Some Democratic politicians there are
indeed. and they include various Clarl
| supporters, who arc not yet convince,
President Wilson will run again. TIL
| activity of)the Presidents friends. how
ever, makes it practical certainty h
| will again seek the nomination.
From this time on, the Presidentia
primary will command the keenest at
tention of all the politicians Ever
move made with regard to 1t will b
| closely because of the renewed report
of Clark activity. Whether the me-
who want Clark nominated will be foun
backing the Presidential primary in tn
next session of Congress Is a phase O
the situation which has not developed
although 1t is we'll known some of tn
Southern Democrats who prefer Clark