Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-05
CANDIDATES FOR
PRESIDENCY ARE
ENTERING ARENA
Democratic and Republican
ASpirantS Buzz BuSiIy and
Independents Lay Plans for
Future Political Trades.
Ry Louis SclIm,d.

Washington, Dec with the
football season closed, the political
season is about to o9eu A record
treakns list of entries IN the presi-
dental handicap is already indulging
( in practice as a preliminary to the
actual opening of the big fight for
candidates and issues.
There ave a round dozen of aspi-
rants for the nominations by the two
major parties to say nothing of the
independent ventures projected by
several groups of restless citizens who
think the time has come to make war
on both machines.
Some of these new movements
are genuine reform undertakings, hut
most of them are being exploited for
trading purposes. Opportunities for
promoting new parties that may have
a substantial value later on are not
only promising but reasonably GER
tain of handsome returns,
The leaders of the big parties. are
not paying much attention to eater
prises of this character as yet, but
they win before the nominating con
ventions assemble. There is a sneak
ing suspicion that some Of the can
didates for the regular presidential
nominations are keeping in touch
with the promoters OF several new
movements and possibly financing
them.
Flirting With Democrats.
Those based on industrial labor
and agricultural unrest, mkewalm
Bolshevism, and which voice a de-
mand for n change in political condi-
tions seem to be drifting toward the
a l., ,.f,s Of Ixs
sound theory that the republicans
will adhere to the conservative" and
roactionary doctrines and traditions
of that party
1t is significant fact that none of
the men who are avowedly candi-
dates for the republican nomination
is seeking the Endorsement of the un-
classified groups intent on the forma-
tion Of the new parties" The re-
publican policy seems to be to force
the democratic party 20 provide .
retreat for all the radicals This
strategy is based on the assumption
that the majority OF the voters OF the
country will rally to the "conserva-
tive" program that the republicans
will put forth in their platform Re-
cent events seem to have convinced
the republican leaders that the next
democratic candidate for the presi-
dency will be lt8ded down with an
extremely radical platform and that
it will prove distasteful to the greater
number of citizens, The republican
leaders thing they have sufficient rea-
sons to justify the prediction that the
democratic party will "try to cora"
the labor vote, the organized farmers
movements like the hon-partisan
league and the independent factions
of the advanced thinking" type.
The fulfillment of this prophecy
will be entirely acceptable to the re-
publicans because the majority of its
leaders believe that the country will
turn away from such combination.
incidentally, the democrats, who are
manifestly at a disadvantage because
of the lack of adequate leadership
are not doing anything to discourage
the impression.
The Leaders Drifting,
The physical incapaclty of President
Wilson has left the subordinate lead
ers of his party to shift for them
selves. Unless he speedily RECEIVERS,
these leaders-few of whom have dis
played any unusual ability for initia-
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