The Fairmont West Virginian

BALTIMORE WILL SOON
BE IN POLITICAL
LIGHT WITH DEMOCRATS
Leaders and Committeemen
Are Slowly Gathering for
Convention.

CHAMP CLARK
IS IN THE LEAD
None of Candidates Has Yet
Secured Necessary Two-
Thirds Vote.

BALTIMORE, Md., June 18.-Overshadowed politically by the sensational goings-on in Chicago, Baltimore welcomes the prospective end of the battle there and will itself shine in the limelight next week.

Final plans are rapidly being completed and before the week ends Maryland's metropolis will be ready to care for the Democratic hosts.

Strong rivals with the candidates in discussion and conferences are the questions whether the unit rule and the requirements of two-thirds of the delegates to make a nomination should be eliminated.

There is strong sentiment among Democratic leaders who have arrived here in favor of changing the two-thirds rule to a majority. All are agreed, however, that no change will be made to apply to the present convention. The most done if any action is taken, will be a submission of the question to the Democrats in the states their verdict to be reported to the convention in 1916.

As to candidates there are seven having pledged delegates in their favor and there is much gossip regarding a few possible dark horses.

Best estimates made today of the strength of the active candidates credit Clark with 412 votes; Wilson, 280; Underwood, 88; Harmon, 31; Marshall, 30; Baldwin, 14, and Burke, 10.

There will be 1096 delegates in the convention and the winner of the presidential nomination will have to muster 724 of them.

Unpledged delegates number 207 and such as have arrived in town are receiving distinguished consideration from the representatives of the candidates.

Trading of delegates by party leaders, an important feature of national conventions for more than half a century, will be missing at next week's function.