The Washington herald., 1919-11-09
POLITICS
By The Occasional Prophet


"A member of the Democratic ma
tional committee had been informed
by physicians In attendance upon the
President that his physical condition
Will render It impossible for him to
accept the Democratic presidential
nomination in 1870 or, at least, TO en-
oure the strain of a presidential cam
paisn. says Sveellon Brown in The
providence Journal Several Of the
residents physicians were consulted
oy the committeeman. They were
unanimous In their opinion. The in
formation had been given the national
committee. Future Democratic policy
wiz be shaped upon the knowledge
tnat, whatever the party necessities
someone else must make the race.
Mr. Wilson's political leadership Is
even now passing on to Attorney Gen
erai A. Mitchell Palmer, who is In
dustriously reshaping Democratic
policy to accord with the law and
order verdict In Massachusetts, a pro-
cedure. however. which Mr.. Palmer
began before the vote was cast in
New England. While a national COM
mittee Is expected to keep aloof from
candidates. the Journals representa-
tive Is told that a considerable num-
Der OF committeeman are known per-
sonally to favor Mr.. Palmer.
A combination Of circumstances has
given the Attorney General an ex-
eeptional opportunity to dominate the
situation here where Government by
Cabinet is still in operation to a large
extent despite the continuing improve
ment in the Presidents condition.
Whatever the result In Massachusetts
may have done to Democratic pros
poets In New England, there Is no
galnsayins ii has strengthened Mr..
f'alms', giving him his first incon-
trovertible demonstration of results at
the polls that can be achieved de-
spite the danger of alteration Of a
part or all OF the organized labor
vote.
A friend Of Mr.. Palmep tells the
Journals representative that the
Attorney General will soon find oc-
casion to make 1t clear that while
he is fighting the wrongs of dicta-
ton by organized labor. he is not
nghting labor. Information as to
show this is to be done Is not vouch-
safed but it is said the situation
has now progressed far enough to
permit the issue Mr.. Palmer is MAX
ing to be further defined and clari-
ned in a manner that while il will
not lessen the political value 9f his
handling of the coal strike IL will
guard him against the charge of
tighing labor.
What of William Gibbs McAdoo7
certainly a concerted effort is being
made to swing every party influ-
ence in favor OF Mr.. Palmer and
MS new policy. Moreover. Mr.. Pal
mer appears to have had a clear
neld since 1t became known def
nttely that Mr.. Wilson could not be
the Democratic nominee again.
This would seem to Indicate that
Mr.. McAdoo has dropped out. II
has always been taken for granted
here that the Administrations sup
port for the nomination would be
Mr.. McAdoo's for the asking, not
only because OF his close personal
as well as official relationship with
the President, but also because Of
the implicit confidence the President
reposes in his Judgment and ability.
But ii Mr.. McAdoo intends to come
forward he has not done so yet, hut
has left Mr.. Palmer a clear field
which the Attorney General has not
been slow to~cover.