The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 181
617 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Wilson Movement in Texas, 1910-1912
of the party by Senator Bailey, but it also represented the
progressive spirit in the state.46
In Texas the lines of battle were tightly drawn between Wilson
and Governor Judson Harmon of Ohio. Harmon, like Under-
wood, represented the conservative element of the party; he
was the stolid, old-fashioned, prosaic governor of Ohio. Since
Harmon developed little actual strength within the nation except
in Texas and Ohio, the support he received in Texas is of great
significance. In the summer of 1911 the Harmon supporters in
Texas formed a loose organization," and Harmon-for-president
clubs appeared in the latter part of 1911 and during the winter
and spring of 1912.4" Harmon headquarters were established
in Dallas in March, 1912, under the direction of Rice Maxey
of Sherman.49
At a conference of prominent Harmon Democrats at Dallas
in March, the conservatives sounded their call to the Democrats
of Texas. They lauded Governor Harmon for his conservatism
and pleaded with their fellow-citizens to preserve the funda-
mental and conservative principles of the Democratic party
and to destroy forever the Populistic and Socialistic "heresies"
which were again gaining ascendancy in the candidacy of
Woodrow Wilson. Progressive Democrats they labeled radicals,
Populists, and Socialists. The president of the Harmon or-
ganization "showed the cloven hoof" by declaring that if the
Democratic party adopted the principles of "this so-called
progressivism," he would turn Republican."
Colonel Reinze M. Johnston, publisher of the Houston Post
and Democratic national committeeman from Texas, was per-
"sAn editorial from the Houston Chronicle, cited in W. J. Bryan's
Commoner, March 15, 1912, illustrates this point. It follows:
"The progressive wing of the Texas democracy has rallied under Wil-
son's banner, the stand-pat wing under the banner of Harmon.
"Now, in all candor, the Chronicle feels that the democrats of Texas
are fortunate in having the opportunity to choose between two such men
as Wilson and Harmon, in a campaign where the main issues are so
clearly drawn that no man can mistake them. ....
"They are to say whether they wish the party to stand for class gov-
ernment, advocated by the Harmon men, or genuinely democratic govern-
ment, advocated by the Wilson men."
"4Dallas Morning News, August 8, 1911.
4"Harmon clubs were organized at Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, San
Antonio, Greenville, McKinney, Decatur, Grand Saline, Kentucky Town,
Goree, Mansfield, Sherman, Grapevine, Arlington, Smithfield, Tuxedo, and
Lexington.
49Dallas Morning News, March 10, 1912.
5olbid., March 5, 1912; Houston Post, March 5, 1912.181
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945, periodical, 1945; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146055/m1/199/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.