The Washington times., 1915-10-30
DEMOCRATS TO
OPEN 16F|GHT
IN SIX WEEKS
Chairman McCombs Admits
Battle Is Expected, But Sees
Nothing But ictory.
TO MEET HERE DECEMBER 7

NEW YORK, Oct. 3.-The Democratic
national organization will swing into the
1916 Presidential fight within less than
six weeks. And Chairman william F.
McCombs admitted today that II Will be
a real fieht. though he sees nothing but
Democratic success In the offing.
"wheN the Democratic national COM
n,'ttce meets In Washington. Dcccmo9r
7. I shall urge y on the members thas
the work Of organization for the !slo
campaign be begun at once" said the
Democratic chairman.
II have been through one pre.no'nina-
ton Campo ign and one Presidential cam
paicn I know that you can no more
pick a successfu! political organization
out OF the air In few minutes tnan
rnu can build a second United states
Steel CORPORATION overnight. The WORK
Of orraniziny and OF obtaining campaign
funds should begin Immediately after
our December meeting
Wilson the Nominee.
President Wilson will be the nominee.
and the party will go before the country
with the Wilson Administration
achievements as Its argument In np-
peajine for votes. But the contest this
wear, Chairman McCombs said. Will be
n straight out-and-out fight between
Democratic and Republican candidates
In contrast to the three-cornered battle
The progressives will not figure In
next years campaign" said the Demo-
cratic chairman. II do not believe they
will carry a single State.
The reasons for the ,n dissou,,1n 80 ,ntspl OF
view shortly after the 1912 election. In
which I said the 1916 fight woLld be
between the Democratic and Republican
candidates. The ProsressIyes simply
lacked party. machinery; The Repub.
licans were beaten. badly beaten. but
their organization was still intact. and
they survived.
"The majority Of the Progressives
will be found voting with the Demo
cratic party in 1916. Some. OF course
who voted for Colonel Roosevelt be-
cause they were strongly attached u
him will be back in the Republican
fold.
continue to vote the Progressive
ticket in 1916. This will make 1t iif.
ficult for the Republicans to capture
electoral votes. though Of course moi
to the same extent as In 1917.
But. nevertheless. I realize that We
will know next November that W.
have been through a real hg ht."
An Unusual Year.
Chairman McCombs' attention wal
called to reports that possibly Vice
President Marshall would be sup
planted by another Democrat at th'
next convention.
TT Is too early to discuss reports
Of that kind" he said. This is III
unusual prediction year. The Euro
pean war has blanket interest In thu
details OF politics. There are man,
matters to be worked out"
The formal call for the meeting O
the Democratic national committed
was issued today after Chairman M
Combs had conferred over long dis
tance telephone with President vii
son. II was agreed that December
was an auspicious date. because /
follows the assembling of Demo
cratic Congress.
To date. Dallas. Chicago. and ST
Louis are seeking the 1915 Democrat
convention. Dallas has made the mos
alluring proposition. offering not onl!
the expenses OF the convention but 81
additional 100000. Chicago and 81
Louis. 1t Is understood. are willing Il
meet the expenses.