The Washington times., 1916-01-17
Persistent Reports CommOner
Trying to Induce Speaker to
"Bury, the HatChet."
UNLIKELY TO FIGHT WILSON
Head Of House, It Is Stated,
viii Run Only # President Is
Not Candidate.

The political atmosphere in washing
ton for days has been thick with rumors
touching the Democratic presidential
situation, These reports center about
the efforts Of Bryan TO oppose Presi-
dent Wilson for denomination, and his
indirect approaches to speaker Clark IN
the hope that the Speaker will forget
what Bryan did to him at Baltimore
and forgive the past in the expectation
Of gaining Bryan's support for the
Democratic nomination this year.
into the situation has entered the one
term Issue, which by reason of the dis
closure of the letter Of the President
to A. Mitchell Palmer. has been much
discussed. However. the one-term 'ques-
tion, II is recognized by practical poll
ticians, Is academic and not vital. and
the friends Of Wilson point out that
with q strong movement on to re-
nominate Colonel Roosevelt for what is
commonly referred to as a third term,
st is hardly worth while to discuss the
question whether Wilson is bound to
one term.
Clark RumOrs Worry.
Uneasiness has been caused in Admin
Istration quarters by gossip and rumors
of all sorts that Clark will unite with
Bryan to an extent to bring about the
defeat OF Wilson and secure the nomi-
nation of Clark. The Administration
T tn kA
Speaker completely and find out more
about the Bryan plans. Much Of the
gossip finding its way to print is said
to be inspired by this purpose.
Close friends of Speaker Clark have
no idea he is going to make a fight
against Wilson or listen to the siren
song of the Commoner.
There isn't one chance in a hundred
said q close friend Of the Speaker to-
day, that >she will make any, attempt
6sI{ e. get ison fe n9mna9S n SO long
Tho situation which Speaker Clark
and his friends are keeping an eye on,
however, Is the possible decision of the
President not TO run again.
Some of the advisers of the Speaker
have persisted with a persistence which
other folks have thought strange, that
b President Wilson would not run again
They have said for months that the
Clark would be the man nominated. In
this connection, some Clark men tell
the story that not merely Bryan, but
other leaders in the Democratic party
have let the Speaker know they are
sorry now they did not name him al
Baltimore.
VIII Not Fight Wilson.
Not the slightest question need be
raised that If President Wilson should
abandon the field. the friends Of Clark
would be found with their preparations
complete to nominate the Speaker. They
have not been sleeping. On the othel
hand. there is every reason to believe
that IL Wilson stavs in the race. as
him to. the President will win renomina'
tion. Speaker Clark will not fight him
unless he Rbandons his present attitude
What the Wilson men and other poll
ticians. Democrat and Republican. can
not find out to- their satisfaction is ex'
Actly what Bryan is going to do. That
he is going to war on Wilson to the
point Of opposing preDaredness ant
some of the other Wilson policies Il
clear. That he intends by. speech ant
editorial to foment trouble for the Presi
dent Is plain. That he will insist or
trying TO shape the Democratic platform
at ST. Louis Is Just as ,9byious.
tion. 1t is not clear how far he will go
That he would gladly see Clark named
in preference to Wilson, Is stated witt
confidence by many Clark men, and
that he would undoubtedly grab the
nomination himself IL he saw the way
open, is also predicted with equal con
tidence
Believed To Be Waiting Events.
1t is the belief OF the best Informed
political leaders here that the Com
moner and former Secretary of STATE
simply is waiting on the course oi
events as to the Presidential nomina
&ion itself. That is, he IL down a
Miami watching closely all develop
1nents and helping on anything tha
promises to embarrass the Administra
tion. Whether he Is 10 run himself, hj
will let the events of the next few
months, especially those relating L
preparedness, determine, 1t y said.
He is not expected to pit himself al
( = candidate against Wilson II he fore
sees sure defeat, and there is littl,
doubt this Is what would happen Il
him. One of the most serious possibil
ties, as the Democratic leaders here
see it, is that after a vain tight L
have his way In platform and othel
matters at st. Louis, Mr. Bryan will
bolt and run on an independent ticket
/ following practically the course o
/ Roosevelt in 1912.