Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-30
1920 CANDIDATES
ARE DISCUSSED BY
DAVID LAWRENCE
Labor's Vote Also in Public
Mind, Writer Finds on
Trip West.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Tlp WcSl.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
(This is second of series of three
articles giving analysis of conditions
as observed on President Wilson's
transcontinental tour)
Presidential primaries are six
months away-they have the first vote
in Oregon-and there is today neither
a capitalization of strength behind
party nor any certainty that the two
old parties-the democratic and re-
publican-will draw their support
from the same elements which have
cesses in the past
President Wilson disclaimed any no.
litical ambition on his tour and de-
nounced any man who would look at
the peace treaty and league Of ma
tions with an eye to the elections of
1920. That made 1t possible for re-
publicans everywhere who favored the
league to gather around the President
without giving the local democrats
the opportunity to garner advantage
to their party out Of the presence or
activity of Mr. Wilson. ~
Notion Persisted.
! But much ~ Nr. Wilson tried 70 de,
stroy it. the notion persisted in many
pisces that just as the Pfesid4nt
made q non-partisan tour for pre-
parednesa just before he ran for 3
second term 20 might the league tour
be q feeling-out process locking to-
ward q third term.
So everywhere I made inuufrfes Of
to whether they would support VIII.
SON II he ran for third term. and the
universal answer was that they would
NOT. Thattis why every time Mr.. VII.
son himself gave the Impression In
his speeches he had nothing political
or personal in view with respect to
the passage Of the treaty ana league.
he got most enthusiastic response.
His best friends do not want MIN to
run.
And his own desire 1 know positive.
~ is absolutely in accord with thst
advice.
Why No Announcement
But IL this Is SO. why hasn't some
announcement been made?
1t is true that many political. per-
sons among the democrats Thought n
wiser to withhold any statement ON
that point. believing that nothing
would be calculated to make the re-
publican. leaders watch their step
more tnan the creation Of set Of
circumstances compelling Mr.. Wilson
to take the league to the country a.
as issue In a presidential Campaign.
AS between the precedent of a third
term and the rejection Of a league of
nations many voters would fnd it
hard to decide, but admittedly Mr..
Wilson would get bigger vote than
he would II he had only the issue Of
personal capacity and not the broad
question Of International affairs to
argue.
Many republicans believe that the
strongest obstacle to republican sue
cess namely Woodrow Wilson
peace were acted upon and put out of
the way. Indeed. many who expect
to be supporting the republican ma
tional and state tickets next time
took part In. welcoming Mr.. Wilson
and even announcing their support of
the league because they believed
there would be time enough after the
league issues was disposed of to set
themselves back into partisan ranks
on domestic affairs without mecca
sarily absorbing any more Wilsonian
philosophy.
Democratic View.
AZ for the democratic, they take
pride in the Presidents popularityI
for the league has certainly made him
popular in the western states. the
in 1s16-and il left to the party pol
iticians. Mr.. Wilson could have the
nomination tomorrow.
The sources Of Mr.. Wilson's strength
are worth noting. He derives power
by the reason Of the confidence Of
rity and by reason Of the fact that
the opposition to the league has been
largely destructive and, no substitute
plan to assure peace has been Of
fered. AS between the treaty and
the league Of nations as now drafted
west would vote Overwhelmingly to
sustain the President. Persons arc not
rs important as issues.
In the west the Issue of reserva-
tions has not been an easy one for
republicans to cling to as In the east.
The people are expecting the issue Of
a league to be decided clearly. A man
who gives his reasons for refusing to
see the United States join any league
IL much more likely to be listened to
than a man who says he IL for .
league with qualifications or reserva-
tions that amount to q desire to re-
iect the treaty and LEAGUE which hs
seems to hesitate to say directly.
Sees Credit for Senator.
So II the peace treaty il defeated. IL
"a Hiram johnson who will get the
credit or discredit.- II he wins his
drht MANY republicans In the west
will regard him az the most likely
6eure for President on the repub-
iican ticket, largely because of the
sheer force Of his ability to swing the
senate in his favor. On the other
hand. il the treaty il passed and the
lea9ue set up, many Of Senator John-
son's own supporters fear his presi-
dential chances will be adversely af-
Continued on aeVe1th PaEe.l
\ y. ~