Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-17

| Burleson. No one would pity him. He
might be mauled at the polls, he might
be trounced by a noisy amateur like Cali
fornias Senator Hi, he might be drawn
and quartered politically without inspir-
| ing any demonstrations other than songs
| of praise in which underpaid letter car
riers might lead the majority of their
countrymen.
Mr.. McAdoo is used to weathering
storms. Misadventures and travail seem
needed to complete the education Of Mr..
Palmcrs political soul.
1t is because Americans have great
fondness for James w. Gerard that they
will grieve to see him first OH a ticket
that cannot have even fighting chance.
Mr.. Gerard told the German emperor to
20 to the devil. He let the country know
that the lunatics at Berlin had actually
included the United States in their plan
of frightfulness and he did magnificent
service in behalf of the Americans who
were unfortunate enough to be caught
behind the war blockades at Berlin
We would wish for Mr.. Gerard a far
happier fate than the one he has chosen
by filing his own nomination papers in
South Dakota. Other companies of proud
and desperate men have advanced to
awful defeat before now, but none ever
faced odds so great as those that now
seem TO wait presidential candidates who
20 under Democratic banners in the next
election.
They may even be known in political
history as the Suicide Club of 1920.
Party interest or party prejudice is not
| necessary to sustain this view. Few men
think exclusively in party terms now
adays. The times are too serious; the
future is too uncertain for that.
1t is daily becoming clearer that the
Democratic party will be at a greater
disadvantage in 1920 than for genera
tion. 1t was the war party. 1t is asso-
| ciated in peoples minds with all the
| stresses and discomforts of the last few
! years--with profiteers and high prices,
! with lightless nights and workless days,
| with tea without sugar and fourteen
| dollar shoes.
Democrats were in power when we be-
came entangled with Europe. They were
/
| They will be held accountable for in
come taxes.
| The disposition of the average man TO
vote out a party in sheer irritation may
not be wise. 1t may not be just. But it
persists and the Democrats will suffer
| by it. The accomplishments of the last
| few years have been exclusively the ac-
complishments of Mr. Wilson. The Presi-
dent absorbed his party and in justice
to him it must be said that he seemed
during the war days TO care little about
| what happened TO it when the welfare of
humanity was in question. Retiring, he
will leave his party woefully enfeebled.
The collective mind of the Democracy
will return like an exile, enervated by a
lack of exercise and dazed by the sight
of world that has got ahead of it. And
it is only necessary TO look beyond the
President TO New York, to the South, or
at the alterations of the party during the
last gubernatorial campaign here in
Pennsylvania to see that the Democratic
party is--well, the Democratic party.
A one-sded fight is not thing that the
country may view with entire tranquility
in 1920. The misfortune of the Demo-
Gratis may easily become the misfortune
OF the entire nation if affairs are per
mitted to drift as they are drifting now.
The prospect of All easy victory will
not stimulate idealism or inspire great
purposes in the men who are now trying
for the control of the G. o. P. 1t will
not help the progressive element among
Republicans. Omens of a decline of
Democratic prestige therefore should
have very definite meaning for all those
on the Republican side who are preparing
to oppose Old Guard absolutism in plat
form conferences and at the Chicago con-
vention on June 8.
The Old Guard will correctly read the
lessons of history. 1t knows the habits
of the popular mind. It is aware that a
saint would have hard time to win next
year for the Democrats, not altogether
because of anything that the Democrats
have or have not done but because of the
atmosphere in which they functioned.
1t wasn't cheerful atmosphere and
the country is aching for change. The
danger for Republicans is that their vic
tory may be too easy.
Mr.. Gerard's candidacy is sure TO bring
other conspicuous Democrats hurrying
into the open with their hopes and their
plans. A declaration from Mr.. McAdoo
may be expected at any day. 1t is being
said chat Mr.. Hoover is Democrat, and
Mr.. Hoover has made it plain that he
would not run away from a nomination.
So far he has not been clearly identified
with any party. He was a long while out
of the country. And Mr.. Hoover is in all
likelihood far too wise to run for the
presidency against handicaps of the sort
that Mr.. Gerard is willing TO contend
I with.
Senator Hitchcock was viewed in recent
months as possibility. But the drift OF