THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 317, 5 July 1912, Page 5

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

THE PARTY PLATFORM. i i Br Association—Copyright. New York, July 3. Mr. Champ Clark refused the Democratic nomination for the Vice-presidency. Mr. A. Piatt Andrew, assistant secre- < tary to the Treasury, has resigned, alleging that he is unable to work under Secretary MacYeagh in consequence of, the latter's idiosyncrasies and incapacity for making decisions. The platform adopted by the Democratic Party favors an immediate downward revision of the tariffs, free passage for American ship? through the Panama Canal, with a prohibition of the use of the canal by railroad-owned vessels. A 1 single term tor Presidential appointments was favoreL THE VICE-PRESIDENCY. New York. July 3. At the Baltimore Convention, Mr. Marshall. Governor of Indiana, was nominated for the Vice-Presidency. Mr. Champ Clark congratulated Governor Wilson, and attributed his own defeat to Mr. Bryan's slanders. The platform was adopted unanimously. Mr. Bryan, who declined the VicePresidency, delivered what he characterised as a valedictory speech. He said he joyfully surrendered into Governor Wilson's hands the standard which he had carried in three campaigns. He predicted tint Coventor Wilson would be elected with a majority of two million votes. The Democratic leaders believe that Governor Wilson's nomination will prevent the organising of Mr. Root; vi It's third party. Mr. Bryan expects the Republican Progressives will support CtO\ei'.:or Wib-on. Mr. Rno-evelt. in a manifesto, declares that the result of the Baltimore Convention has not affected the third party or his candidature, as both Republican and Democratic conventions were ruled by bosses of the same type.

THE NEXT PRESIDENT. MR. WOODROW WILSON'S CAREER. [ Mr. Woodrow Wilson was from 1902 J until 1910 president of Princeton Uni- j versity. one of the most influential uni- J versities in America. List year he stood j as the Democratic candidate for the Governorship of New Jersey, and was elected bv a majority of about 50,000 votes. Writing of Mr. Wilson's prospects for the Presidency. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe said recently in the Fortnightly ReviewThat Mr. Woodrow Wilson could be elected, if he were put forward as candidate, seems extremely probable. He would carry the Democratic vote solid, and many of the Progressive Republican*, the "insurgents against high tariffs

and truckling to wealth, would support ( him. Even without them he would prob- j ably win. The prevailing sentiment of < the" country is believed to be Democratic. Since the Democrats carried the House of Representatives last year, it ■ has been the view of most American politicians and writers on politics that a Democratic president is more than a possibility. Mr. Woodrow Wilson would be a strong candidate, with an excellent chance of victor}-. Mr. Wilson is analytical, sardonic, a keen knife-edge of a man. In appearance Mr. Wilson i 6 sparse, win-, professional. He scarcely looks his fifty-five years. Women call him ugly until they hear him talk. His features are what would he described as "typically American." His expression in repose is hard and cynical. His mouth and chin are powerful, but harshly moulded; his eyes narrow and astigmatic, with a steely glint in them which suggests either grim determination or irony which bites, like acid on an etchers plate. There is nothing ficturesque about him, nothing to touch the popular imagination save his honest wish, backed by solid character, to "give the people back their chance." Republican policy has been for fiftv years, he asserts, too favorable to vested interests. He would not hear liardlv upon vested interest*; he is too wise for that. But he would keep the ring fairlv for them and the public. He would strip underhand fighting. He would not let consumers be pillaged, as they have been by many of the trusts. An arraignment of corporation piracy by a scholar and historian rings more truly in the public ear than the voices of regular politicians. People are Tather weary of machine-made politic. They like the idea of a college president taking a hand, sis Mr. Wilson did in Nevr Jersey, and '•-.-ci.-ig the bo-s-" with disastrous results to them. Against bis honesty and goodwill are set "the fact tint he is an amateur. He was once interrupted it a speech by this accusation. "Ye-." he <=aid. "that is too. bad. isn't it?" II- pau-ed. The nudier.ee half -mile.!. "But 1 have one satisfaction." hj" '.vent on. punching out the words as i. machine in a shipyard punches holes in steel plates. "A professional plavs the game, you know, because it pavs him. An amateur plays because be loves to play, and to win if he can bv fair means in ;i fair field. T'm afraid lam only an amateur. But I'm having a most interesting time of it."