Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-30

issue Of reservations has not been
an easy che 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 10
see the United States join any
league is much more likely to be
listened to than a man who says
he is for a league with quallnca-
tions or reservations that amount
to a desire to reject the treaty ana
league which he seems TO hesitate
to say directly.
on JohnsOn's Shoulders.
So if the peace treaty is defeated,
It is Hiram johnson who Will get
the credit OF discredit. II he wins
his fight many Republicans in the
west will regard him as the most
likely figure for president on the
Republican ticket largely because
OF the sheer force Of his ability to
swing the senate il his favor on
the other hand, If the treaty Is
passed and the league set up, many
of Senator Johnson's own support
ars fear his presidential chances
will he adversely affected and that
he will be out OF the running.
Talk of candidates persists every
where. but no undeTcurrent OF sen
tfment ia favor Of any one maI
las come TO the surface IN any con
siderable area Of our political map
In April and May, the west seemed
to think very highly Of Leonard
Wood. Today there is still much
talk OF MIN for president but other
candidates seem TO have taken the
stage and split up what was at one
time a fairly uniform sentiment.
The idea that no military men
should be nominated has been fos-
tered by the friends of candidates
who are rivals of General Wood.
And when General Pershing came
home, he. too got a little attention
as political possibility for the
same reason.
How About Hoover!
without attempting to say that
sentiment will be six weeks or a
month from now, | should say that
Herbert Hoover's transformations
return from abroad coupled with
MS straight forward statement that
ne wasn't a candidate for president
and would not become one made
aait with western folks who prompt
\ v set about thinking about him for
president just as they used to every
Zine Justice Hughes told some
State that intended to put his name
On the ballot that he was not cam
Aidate and did not wish TO be voted
in the primaries.
. Of all the returning candi-
es, Mr.. HoOver's returning re-
E4s4rks have set political gossips,
y Democrats and Republican, talking
~of the former food administrator.
But they don't know to- what politi-
sal partv he belongs. He is bust
ness man type which makes IL ap-
pear probable that he is Repub
Hcan but he supported the presl-
dent in his appeal for Democratic
congress and is enthusiastically for
the League of Nations. Thus he
has at least made of himself non
partisan figure. He is a California
progressive with a tendency to be
as radica! as the times demand. On
the other hand. he is not good
speaker or campaigner and so far
as the party politicians go, he
knows nothing of the art of politi-
cal mixing and hates the processes
~ which men get delegations to
support them at political cOnven-
. tons.
Labor Vote in Doubt.
The Democrats talk of former
Secretary william G. McAdoo and
A Mitchell Palmer. attorney gen
eral, with varying opinion and an
inclination to support Palmer #
SPresident Wilson says so. On the
Republican side. Governor Frank
Iowden of Illinois continues to be
talked of favorably by bankers and
business men but nearly every dis
cussion Of candidates that | heard
wound up in a state of doubt con-
corning the vote of labor. organized
and unorganized. in the next presi-
Dental campaign
It seems to be admitted that a
large part of the Irish vote which
has been the backbone of the Dem
ocratic party in many states. has
been lost by President Wilson's re-
fusal to commit himself whole
hearted1y to the cause of Ireland.
Also the Italian vote is counted on
to be largely Republican on ac-
count of the Fiume controversy.
Large bodies of Czecho-Slovaks
and Poles are likely to support
the Democratic ticket in apprecia-
ton of Mr.. wilson's efforts in be-
half of their former homes.
But votes of antagonism are
much more apt to remain than
votes of appreciation and the
Gzecho-SIo and Poles may be
come part afte.' all of the general
tide of the labor vote. while the
Irish voters who have a grievance
against the Democratic party, may
wreak vengeance for the accusa-
tons of hyphenatism tossed their
way by the president The danger
20 the Democrats is that many of
their party workers are Irish
sympathizers and many Republi-
cans with whom / talked rejoiced
at what they thought was body
blow To the Democratic organiza-
lions in many states because OF
Mr. Wilson's attitude
But while there is much talk of
The next election the editors. bust
ness men, politicians. male and fe-
male, whose opinions were obtain
ed, seemed to be absolutely unable
70 say what their respective reg
ions would do in the primary or