The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-03
Disappointed that Wilson
Will Not Serve the Par
ty in 1920
MANY FAVORITE SON
BOOMS WILL BE TRIED
Insurgents in Congress Want New
Leadership in That Body-Younger
Members Not SATISFIED. With Clark or
Kitchin- other Candidates.

Kitchin-Other Candidates.
WASHINGTON, March 3,-The
Democratic national committee went
home worse demoralized than when it
came to Washington early last week to
reorganize and start work for 1890. Its
members felt that the prop which had
sustained them for half dozen years
had been suddenly withdrawn.
President Wilson, according to one
account of his luncheon for the eom-
mittee at the White House is absolutely
set against any third term movement.
This is not the worst Of it. Members
cherished only a forlorn hope when they
assembled here that he might run
again But they did have 4 strong de-
sire for him to keep his hand in and
help mould the party's 1920 campaign,
and this hope is likewise dissipatcd.
One story is that the President made
it plain that with the end of his term
in sight he positively washes his hands
Of all party politics. For the FIRST time
since 1912. therefore, the national com
mitteCmen feel lost and leaderless.
They have hope that Homer s. Cum
mings, Che new chairman, will be able
to weld things together, hut admit he
has work cut out for him. Some OF them
admitted frankly that they were going
home 10 start work on favorite sons
and other local hroins, whereas they had
been holding off iii the hope that the
President would either he receptive
candidate or produce some strong figure
as his personal selection. This means
that a Reed boola. an Underwood boom
a Baker boom, q McAdOo Room and any
number Of other booms will loom on
the political horizon in a few weeks
Discord therefore, that has been appar
ent since the President made his appca
to the country for Democratic con
gress last fall may endaHger, some feel
the party s chances in 1920.
A spirit Of insurgency that PROMISE
trouble in the near future is growing
in the Democratic party in congress- i
comes from dissatisfaction over thc
way the party 5 fights have been led, O
misled IN the past two years, especially
in the house
The Insurgents claim that faults an,
mistakes that occurred there were pri
marily responsible for defeat Of III
party last fall and that il The party j
to mean anything, or win support o
the country in 1920 it must start
spring housekeeping.
Plans for this Job are being con
sidered he hope icing that il can b
1,s1,n 4 l.,
held during the spring or just prior t
the next session OF congress- Many con
ferenccs have becu held in the last FEY
days at which the matters were Iii,
cussed
The dissatisfied elements are crit
cising Speaker Champ Clark who is gen
orally regarded as their leader in Oh
next house 1t has been rumored thel
would be n contest between the sraal
er and the present leader, Claude KitvI
in, for this place, hui their friends den
that any friction will ocenr.
That however. has not settled til
question for the insurgents, becaus
they claiia TO be dissatisfied with NJ
Kitchin, too
The Insurgents, in the main, Al
younger men Of the party. They asaa
that because of the failure to ha,
leadership the country turned to Il
Repuf Leans and viii not trust the Den
oerats with the government unit
changes are made Therefore they va
TO picl, new leaders more in spirit Wi
the problems of the day and who n
qualified to lead in the house
Among the new names mentioned i
the hoar leadership are Finis Care
of Tennessee who IS member of {
rules committee, and Scott Ferris, cha
ran of the congressional committee a
chairman of the committee on pub
lands. They have mad much experien
in parliamentary tactics and as pres
ding oficcrJ.