The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-06-08
KLAMATH FAILS. OREGON
rAURspAV. JUNE ., 1916
MecoMss-MAxeR OF WILSON

CONSTERNATlON overspread the
~ faces OF democratic leaders when
they read q few days ago the true
story Of the nomination OF Woodrow
Wilson--a story Of devotion and self.
sacrifice ON the part OF W. F. McCombs
Of New York. who started the Wilson
campaign. conducted It. largely nnan-
ced It. and won It. even with the oppo-
sition Of Colonel f. n. House. now the
presidents confidential adviser. and
without the help Of W. 9. AcAdoo. the
chief beneficiary of Wilson'S election.
And the reason for the consteEna.
tion 10 plain. While McComhs makes
no charge q insfatitude asainst VII.
son. NO man can doubt for moment
that every American citissn win draw
the inference. when he has read the
facts. The lover Of fair play does mot
like an migrate. The democratic lead
era fear the consciousness Of the dis.
closures.
The story has thus far been pub
lisLed by only two newspapers. but It
Is certain to gain wide circulation be-
fore the November election. 1t Is q
long story. when given in detail. but
may be briefly summarized:
McComhs u New York lawyer. =
graduate Of Princeton. q personal
friend OF Wilson's for many years. and
l. staunch supporter oe Wilson In the
dimculties he encountered while presi-
dent Of Princeton University. Nc
Combs started the boom for Wilson for
governor Of New Jersey. and immedi.
ately after the success Of that move
ment. he induced Wilson to make .
speaking tour Of the United States.
which NcCombs managed with such
tact q to arouse NO antagonisms. but
gain Wide publicity for man then
! little known to the country At large.
McCombs then opened headquarters
in New York. paid the rent. hired the
lstenogrsphes. bought the postage
stamps. paid the bills and asked for no
eontributious until he had demonstrat.
ed what be could do with . practically
unknown candidate. At one time his
icampaisn WAS $4,000 in debt. for
which McComhs was personally and
solely responsible. Wilson came ovsE
from New Jersey for consultations on
Friday nights, and was frequently %
discouraged with the outlook that he
wanted to quit and avoid humiliation.
. But McComhs wasn't the quitting kind.
When his own resources were exhaust
ed he went out and begged money from
/; his friends-his own friends. not VII
sons. Because Of troubles Of his own.
McAdoo couldn't help. and because he
doubted the success q the movsmsnt
Hoaos wealda't IN fAct, NeAdoo had
not met Wilson until after NcCombl
had started the campaign. and after
the nomination House came back from
Durops aad got lsttsr ffon NcCombs
introducing him to Wilson.
Il BY his publicity WORK. his lsttsl
writing and personal appeals to hi
friends. McComhs gained the initial
support Of ST. delegates at Baltimore
and organized the convention nght d
such . manner - to hold his forces
practically solid. even when ChamT
Clark had q majority on the Aoos
Through an agreement with Roger Sui
livan Of Illinois. NcCombs gained u
first votes that Indicated . break u
Wilson-these Illinois votes being casl
for Wilson on the forty.Arst ballot, and
being pledged for only I've ballots
But this piece of strategy was enough
to start the break. and Bryan. seeing
the opportunity. made bio grand stand
play, which won him credit for nomi
rating Wnsea.
\ At no time did NcCombs count oi
Rryan - . depsndabls asset IN fast,
Eryap's brother tried TO persuads No
Combs to quit. but the lsttsr replied:
M Bryan. you have come 70 tha
wrong man. TO stick By my friends ID
the bstter part Of my rslision.s
Il II was that last-ditch spirit that
started. maintained and won the VII
son nomination. II Wilson had treated
NcCombs decently. that sams spirit
might have marked his administra'
tion--a spirit that would have sddsd
strength to the Wilson cabinst--a Z
spirit that would have served the
American people wsll in the past thrss
years--a spirit that win b. lacking "a
the democratic campaign q 1915. fol
McCombs u 70 rstire - chairman d
the democratic national committee
hawaiian Reeerds at ohseherd's,
next dssr - pesesa1es. -