The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-02
Wise Ones Think President Will be the Next Nominee
 Without Opposition
LIVELY SCRAMBLE
 IF FIELD IS OPEN
President Lives Simply and Is Saving Up More of His Salary Than Any President for
 Past Years
By c. E. STEWART

| Washington, July 1.-(Special. )-Demo- cratic presidential possibilities in Wash ington are all more or less interested in the recent inspiration from the pen of John Temple Graves to the effect that President Wilson will not be candidate for the nomination in 1916, but will stand on the one-term plank of the Baltimore platform leaving the field clear to his Secretary of State or someone else.
 All agree that MT. Graves. who is a | talented orator. and a versatile writer wrote most interesting and entertain ing story. There is an impression here. however, that perhaps MT. Graves was a little mixed In his facts.
 l There are few who believe that the President will refuse the nomination. However. there are some politicians here who agree with MT. Graves that the President. who, they contend, is a candi- date for a second term, ''acts less like candidate than anyone they ever saw" and will not only seek the nomination, but will make 1t plain before the time comes that he will not accept 1t. Without Opposition
 l The common accepted theory, however, is that the President will be nominated at the next democratic convention with out opposition and will accept the nomi- nation.
 | Those who hold to the theory that the President will not be a candidate declare that the President can retire from the presidency with one term and go down in history as having accomplished more in the way of reform in that single term than any other President of the United States. They believe that he will not only do this, but will insist upon this course. and cannot be dissuaded there from. They point to the fact that the lpersonal strain on a man of the Pres ident's temperament is great and that he
 is not physically able to stand up under it for another term. and that he realizes this fact, and will refuse to do so. On the other hand, National Chairman McCombs laughs at such a thing q
 never saw the President looking better"
 he said significantly after a recent visif
 to the executive. It is evident that MT. McCombs, one of the Presidents close
 political advisers, takes no stock in the
 stories that the President will not accept another term
 However, 1t is a subject upon which
 no official at the White House will com
 ment. Secretary Tumulty merely smiles;
 1t Is hard to always place the correct in
 depreciation upon smile. It may mean
 one thing and 1t may mean another. One
 thing, however is certain, the President
 may not be playing politics, and few people accuse him of 1t. but he has in
 the person of Joseph Humility close and almost constant companion who
 knows how to play the game, and who is not overlooking any bets in case the President does not decide to run. 
 l If Field Is Open
 In case the President did not become a candidate there will be merry lit tie scrap for the nomination in 1916 There are several prospective candidates Of course, the Secretary of State who
 has figured in every democratic con- vention since 1896, is always a possbil- ity-for the nomination. It is certain that MT. Bryan will be in the fight In case the President Is not. It Is equally as certain that he cannot run off with | the nomination without a bitter strug- gle. Champ Clark will be in it; Under- wood will be in it, and in the House leader, the wise ones of Washington 1 claim to see the logical successor to Wilson. if the latter is not a candidate 1 Both Bryan and Clark will be fought | viciousy. they point out. Underwood may not be the first choice of the ad- herents of these two, but he will be the first choice of many others who ad- mire the Alabamian's qualities above all | others, and he will be more acceptable to the followers of Clark than Bryan will be, and more acceptable to the followers of Bryan, than Clark will be.
 However. until President Wilson him self speaks all talk about other candi- dates Is idle. It Is admitted that so far as the nomination Is concerned, 1t lies
 with him.
 President Saves His Money
 If the President should retire at the
 end of this term. 1t is probable that he will go out of the White House with a record of not only having accomplished more in one term than any of his pre- decessors, but also with a record of hav- ing saved more money than any of them. The President lives a very simple life. Congress has been in continuous session virtually ever since he was inau- gurated. He has spent the most of this time in Washington, and spent 1t at work He is simple and modest in his habits. and so are the members of his family. He is far too busy with the affairs of the nation to run around the country and spend his money, and while the entertain ing he does is worthy of the high station he fills, there is no useless and extrava- gant displays. Unless he makes up for lost time during the latter part of his term the major portion of the $26,000 . year TOT traVellnS expenses VIII revert 70 the government.
 The admirers oh the President declare that his life as chief executive Is an ! example to his successors. His devotion to his work and his dignified but sim pie home life in Washington are just what the country should expect from It's l President.
 In all events if MT. Graves story was l written with the view of drawing an ex- | pression from the White House on the subject 1t was a failure; it served only l to arouse political interest temporarily in Washington, and perhaps the rest of the country. No one but the President him. self can answer the question now; and he won't.
 nTCpENCA ARY CAT.EC