Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-22
MITCHELL PALMER
MAY LEAD PARTY
TICKET IN 1920.
BY THEODORE TILIER

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-Proba-
bly, fifty per cent of all political
stories begin with 'if' or have a few
'ifs" written into the lead para
graphs-so here's following prece-
dent:
If Attorney General A. Mitchell
Palmer makes good in his prosecu-
ton Of the profteers and the depart
ment of justice, with it's all-embrac-
ing machinery, appreciably reduces
the high cost of living, watch out for
the Palmer boom for president Of
the United States.
Of course, the attorney general is
not mixing politics with the cost of
living crusade. The campaign is
necessary, not political. Something
must be done. The country demands
it and Mr.. Palmer happens to be in
the position to take charge of the war
profiteers.
So if the attorney general credi-
tably performs his task and his dis
trict attorneys from Oregon to Geor-
gia and back around again show
a reaction politically favorable to the
administra ton and to Attorney Cen
eral Palmer.
Mr.. Palmer's name is now in the
headlines. The president has turned
over to him and other government
agents the job of running the hoarder
and profteer to his lair. Mr. Palmer
is virtually the national prosecutor
of the INSCRIPTIONS dealer in food
and clothing. There is no subject so
close to the American hearthstone
today as the high cost of living. Or
binary folks are thinking more about
it than Shantung, the League of Ma
lions or the Monroe doctrine. Other
issues become somewhat secondary
when pocketbooks and stomachs are
pinched.
Assuming that the president will
not be a candidate, Mitchell Palmer
will be a big figure and a presiden-
tial possibility if he gets results.
Men who do things in big way
officially cannot avoid mention for
higher honorS and Mr.. Palmer is
already being mentioned.
Got Wilson Nominated.
The Pennsylvania is the newest
member of the presidents cabinet.
A month ago there wasn't boom
for him. Today, in casting over the
available timber, folks of varying
stations in life are beginning to ask:
What about this fellow Palmer?
Any chance of the Democrats noml-
mating him?"
server of political events is likely to
say that it all depends upon this
high cost of living campaign, what
Mr. Palmer does with the profiteerS
and other malefactors of great
wealth, and so on.
Baltimore convention in 1912 who
held the Wilson forces together
when the convention seemed about to
go to Mr.. Clark; When in fact, Mr..
Clark was leading on successive bal
lots, but was bit short of the pro-
verbal Democratic two-thirds major
ity. It has never been denied that
Governor Wilson himself was will
ing to have his name withdrawn,
thinking the cause lost, but Mr..
Palmer, as floor leader, stood his
ground and eventually Mr.. Wilson
was nominated.
Stranger things have happened,
and the floor leader of the Baltimore
convention of 1912 may be the Demo-
cratic white hope" next summer.
This is not written as a boost for
the Palmer boom, which is just now
in it's incipiency. Attention is mere
ly called to the prospect that if Mr..
Palmer can deliver the goods" in
the present campaign against the
high cost of living and proceeds re-
lentlessly to prosecute those respon-
sible for almost unbearable living
conditions, his name is certain to be
considered as a presidential posi-
bility, and in such consideration he
will probably outstrip other men,
bers of the presidents cabinet.