Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-05
PRESIDENT SAID TO De GROOM
ING HIS WAR SECRETARY FOR
Pre- sipENTiAL RACE.
OPEN WARFARE NEAR
IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Radical Element Now in Saddle Being
Openly Opposed by Conservatives.
Including Men Of Middle West--wsst
viii Not Suifcrt esker-Move to
Sidstraek Burleson and Other Poll
tical Misfits.
IBy f. G. Dougherty.J

Washington, April SIS Secretary of
War Baker to be. President Wilson's
choice for the democratic standard
BEARER in the 1920 campaign? Some
political wiseacres make this interest
ing prediction in looking into the
future Of the democratic party
Whether or not the former mayor of
Cleveland is to be advanced by Presi-
dent Wilson there is no installing the
fact that a bitter fight between the
conservatives and radical elements OF
the democratic party will ensue for
the control of the convention is now
looming up. Not many of the old line
conservatives in the democratic camp.
which element includes the majority or
the party's members from the solid
south. will. it is thought, have the
temerfty to speak out in meeting, as
did former Senator Joseph Bailey OF
Texas. recently in his Newark. n. j.
speech. but there are so many demo-
cratic leaders, especially in the senate.
who agree privately with the critic
isms of the Administration made by
Mr.. Bailey that in the opinion OF some
here there is actually majority on
the conservative side.
Men like Senator Martin, Of Virginia
the democratic leader of the upper
house; his colleague. Senator Swan
son: Simmons and Overman, of North
Carolina; Hoke Smith, Of Georgia;
Underwood and Bankhead. Of Ala
bama John Walter Smith, of Mary
land, and John K. Shields, of Tenn
essee, have very little common ground
with such members of the party as
Secretary of War Baker, Tariff Com
missioner David j. Lewis, Assistant
Secretary OF Labor Louis +. Post, and
host of other Wilson appointees.
What has brought the discussion to
head during the past few weeks
since. in fact. the luncheon of the
democratic national committee at the
Whites House when the President was
here's the fear on the part OF so
many committeeman and other promi-
nent democrats that the president Is
determined TO name Newton d. Baker
as his successor. What the foundation
for the fear is. or whether there Is any
justification for it whatever. have
been unable to discover, but the fact
remains that it is very persistent. and
surprisingly number of big demo-
Gratis believe it, though they are not
talking about il, except with all the
doors closed and the blinds drawn.
Open Rupture Feared.
Ever since the president told the
democratic committee members that
on March 4, 1921. he intended to de-
vote his time TO writing history, there
has been feeling that Mr.. Wilson
would do all in his power to bring
about the nomination of Mr.. Baker,
and the democrats are alarmed at the
prospect of an open rupture In the
party which such a stand by the pres
ident, they feel certain, would bring
about.
This determination that no member
Of the radical wing Of the party,
whether the radical choice be Mr..
Baker or someone else will be nomi-
mated, has gathered a great deal of
strength since the luncheon Of the