A growing rift in the Republican Party gave Democrats their best chance in years to win the presidency . Though Bryan would not seek the Democratic presidential nomination , his continuing influence in the party gave him a role in choosing the party 's nominee . Bryan was intent on preventing the conservatives in the party from nominating their candidate of choice , as they had done in 1904 . For a mix of practical and ideological reasons , Bryan ruled out supporting the candidacies of Oscar Underwood , Judson Harmon and Joseph W. Folk , leaving two major candidates competing for his backing : New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson and Speaker of the House Champ Clark . As Speaker , Clark could lay claim to progressive accomplishments , including the passage of constitutional amendments providing for the direct election of senators and the establishment of a federal income tax . But Clark had alienated Bryan for his failure to lower the tariff and Bryan viewed the Speaker as overly friendly to conservative business interests . Wilson had criticized Bryan in the past , but he had compiled a strong progressive record as governor . As the 1912 Democratic National Convention approached , Bryan continued to deny that he would seek the presidency , but many journalists and politicians suspected that Bryan hoped a deadlocked convention would turn to him
1912 Democratic National Convention
1912 Democratic National Convention
William Jennings Bryan