The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-07
DEMOCRATS HOPING
MOOSE AGAIN WILL
SPLIT ENEMY VOTE
Leaders Find Encouragement In
Announcement Made by
Perkins.

Strong hope was expressed here today
In Democratic circles that George w.
Perkins Is not bluffing. II IL the fervent
wish of the Democratic leaders that the
manager Of the Bull Moose con-
vention speaks by the book when he
states that, for tho Progressive party.
there is but one man and one cause
and indicates that unles Colonel Roose-
welt Is nominated by the Republicans. he
VIII go before the country as third
party candidate.
Should this develop, the Democratic
leaders are as certain as mathematics
that President Wilson will be reelected.
They publicly profess to be sure of the
Presidents reelection anyway, but the
prospect of another three-cornered tight.
such as occurred in 1872 would be
doubly reassuring, they admit.
Back OF all the beating of tom-toms
in the Democratic, camp there has al
that President Wilson got into the
White House four years ago as the
minority candidate-that the sum total
Of the Republican and Progressive bal
for President Wilson by more than
100000.
Fear Normal Margin.
Assuming. as elections prior to 1917
would justify them In assuming. that
this margin of million and a third
votes represents the normal discrep-
cratic vote In the country. the great
uncertainty has been as to whether
President Wilson. in his handling of the
affairs of the country. foreign as well
as domestic, has gained in the favor OF
the public to the extent Of overcoming
this normal margin.
At best. II is admitted that the answer
10 doubtful. With Colonel Roosevelt In
the field as a third party candidate. II
Ia declared that all uncertainty would
be removed.
One of the strong cards on which the
Democratic leaders are depending is the
matter of prosperity. Aside from all
other issues. they declare that the
strongest appeal which the Republicans
had in past campaigns was the slogan
of the full dinner pail" Grover Cleve-
land went out OF office. as the last
Democratic President prior to Wilson.
in the midst of hard times. The Repub-
leans were favored generally with pros
perity. The voters bore this in mind
and voted for/the full dinner pail.
Prosperity as Argument.
The Democratic leaders now contend
that they can appropriate the full din
ner pail argument, and the indications
are that II the Republicans and Pro-
gressives do get together, the Democrats
Will concentrate their fight on the issues
OF prosperity and peace.
To that end party managere are clip
ping every item of information printed
, anywhere in the country that indicates
prosperity. The weekly bulletins Of the
Department Of Commerce showing the
, enormous foreign trade have been a
! veritable storehouse of campaign mate
; rial. albeit they have embarrassed the
! Administration in its efforts to con-
) vince Great Britain that her blockade
and contraband measures have injured
American trade.
Cite Chicago Election.
Considerable satisfaction was ex-
pressed in White House quarters to-
day over the success Of the Democrats
. of Chicago on Monday in elect,ng their
, entire local judicial ticket under the
' very noses of the Republican leaders
, gathered in that .city for the conven-
| ton. The entire ticket of nine candi-
dates was elected by majority Of be-
, tween 1900 and 10000. and Roger Sui
, Ivan. the Democratich boss OF the
Windy City. Is quoted as promising to
; take all ni| judges elect to st. Louis
to show them on. The leaders here
find no discomfort. they say, in the fact
that the entire vote polled In Chicago
was the smallest recorded in years.