The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-07
Bryan, in Big Fight in Own
State, Not~Mentioned Now,
and Champ Clark May
Run AS Governor of Mis-
souri, to Keep It In Demo
cratic Column.

C1dG1C OO1Q11Iu.
Chicago, Feb. IA close range
scrutiny of eight Middle Western
States, casting 1926 out of the 435
electoral votes, has failed to reveal a
single weak spot in the Democratic
National organization.
The same observation has not
brought to light any strong spots in
the two wings Of the Republican
army.
The Democratic State organizations
in each of these states-Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin,, Mis-
souri,, Nebraska and Ohio-are con-
fronted by no end of local disturb
ancess yet each faction is committed
in advance to the support of their
party President, imme asurably
strengthened by the proof of his pop
ularity resulting from his nonpartisan
appeals to patriotism during his tour
of the Central West The strongest
claims is it's loyalty to the Presi-
dent. ~
The Republican opposition -
Straight goods and "Progressive''-
on the other hand, is divided as hope
1essly over a Presidential program as
they are over local issues. =
No one doubts that the Dem ocratic
voters will. reflect their unanimous de-
sire to have Mr.. Wilson for their can
dfdate when it comes time to indicate
their wishes in the party primaries,
the first of which will be held on
March in Minnesota
The Republicans, befuddled by a
confusion of party problems, have
neither Presidential program nor an
effective organization in any one of
the states named. LESS buster and
extravaganza of prediction now marks
their discussion of the outcome of the
contest The tour of the President
opened their eyes to the fa1Iacy of
their views of Mr. Wilson'S place in
the hearts of the people.
They had Iooked-for a frost" They
were confident their professional esti-
mate of him as an unpopular Pres
.ident'' would be confirmed by I'M
friendly receptions. Beyond a GER
tain Difference usually paid Presi-
dent, regulars and progressives alike
We're smugly convinced that his APP
.peaIs for the popular support of his
national defense program would not
result in any personal Endorsement.
Hence it was thae rhe actual events
swept the oppositions leaders off their
feet and made them revise their cal
cuIatfons. The daily sequence of per-
sonally fattering demonstrations.
eclipsing in magnitude and sincerity
of expression those accorded to Col.
eneed canpaigners- the oppo-
sition leaders between wind and wa
ter" as it were.
For the first time they awakened
to the realization that 1.-The school
master was 'Ethe most popular man
in American public life. The awa|k-
ening was a sad one for. them, for
business men, wage-earners and the
constantly growing Independent vot-
ers of the Middle West Joined in offer
ing their approval of the President in
wayside hamIets and important indus
trial centres alike.
His critics, who looked for mere
scholarly addresses from him. were
amazed at the amount of punch
he put into his appeals, and which
aroused a. greater volume of enthusi-
asm than they believed any man
could arouse, with the exception of
Col Roosevelt
The President made ne attempt to
seek political advantage in his pure
" patriotic undertaking; he Strove to
prevent his supporters from doing SO.
That he failed in this plan is due to
the ruling passion of the leaders, be-
cause politics comes first in every
thing with them.
The President did not see a single
important man of his party during
his entire trip. He declined to discuss
with his personal friends the political
features of it. But he couldn't help,
the leaders from induIging lin that
pastirne nor prevent those of the OPP
position from imputing to him the
most naturaI-to them-of Interior
m otives
The political aspects of his tour
were not fully developed while he was
engaged in his mission. They have
monopohzed the attention of the
headers of both-or rather three sides
since he returned to Washington. to
hTIr WI 6rOD-
ped to undo tthe damage resulting
from representation and -accelerat-
ed opposition to- his legislative pro-
gramme.
That he succeeded in this venture
is manifest from the delight express
ed by his Democratic supporters and
by sthe reluctant admissions made by
his political enemies and the critics
within his own party.
The most important political result
of his visit to the States which he
must have to insure a second term is
that he has spiked the guns of the
minority element in the Democratic
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which for various
reasons, mainly personal would
rather have the st. Louis convention
name a standard bearer more pliable
and susceptible to political ambitions
of their own.
These men whose views find greater
expression at the national capitol than
elsewhere, nave cIunS 70 Inc 1oIlofh
hope that some propttious eircum-
stance might eliminate the President
Fl ON the coming contest and bring to
the fore Bryan, Speaker Clark or SEN
ator Underwood.
Each has. or rather, had, enough
supporters to make more or less mis-
chief for the nine-tenths of the lead
ers who are convinced that it would
be nothing short of political suicide
to nominate any man but President
Wilson The unmistakable popularity
of the President instanced during his
recent tour, however, has completely
upset the plans of the minority.
Bryan, who has already lost much