Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-01
DEMOCRATS WOULD
Capture THE EAST
Executive Committee Plans to
Concentrate Campaign in
Doubtful States
M'AD00 BOOM IS GROWING
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT
star Correspondent OF the Evening Public
n eTT Ledger

htnu GortesDonoent 9I tne Wenmt Eupho
Washington, Oct. 1.--Inside history
81 the recent Atlantic City meeting of
the executive committee Of the Demo
cratic national committee is gradually
being revealed. 1t is known that when
the Democratic plan of campaign for
1920 was $discussed, Arthur Mullen,
national committeeman from Nebraska
did most Of the talking.
He outlined program of abandoning
much Of the West and Middle West to
the Republicans and making an effort
TO win, in the industrial states of the
East, such disputabie ground rs New
York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and
similar territory where recently cleo
tions had shown the strength of the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Mullen told bis fellow committee
men that the chances of his party were
none too good and that it was time a
definite policy looking to the getting of
votes in the most promising field was
adopted.
Members of the executive committee
generally agreed with Mr.. Mullen.
1t was the universal opinion that
President Wilson would not be a can6i :
date to succeed himself. 1t was believed
he did not wish to be renominated, and.
moreover, that he could not stand the
strain of a hard campaign, after his
strenuous service since this country s
entrance into the war
The leading avowed candidacy at At
lantic City was that of ex- Secretary
Of the Treasury McAdoo. Criticism OF
Mr.. McAdoo's candidacy was based
upon its too close connection with Wall
street influences and upon the unpopu e
larity Of his management of the rail
roads,
To win the votes of the industrial
East it was generally felt that the Dem
ocratic party must free itself of any
suspicion of sympathy with the pro.
hibition Of alcoholic beverages.
It was felt also that the party mus
take a stand against other forms o'
interference with individual liberty
growing out of the var. Certain for
eign language restrictions are said to be
n sented by the alien labor element in
the East, to whim the Democratic party
must appeal.
In reaching out for the industrial
vote Of the east, it was agreed that
Democracy must avoid committing it
self TO the closed shop or TO any ex =
treme demand of labor such as the
Plumb plan.
The interest in all this discussion is
that the Democratic party is cutting
Itself free from dependence upon Presi
dent Wilson The first step was the
Visit Of Homer Cummings and other
party leaders to the White House some
time ago to tell the President how
strongly the country felt upon the high
cost of living and other issues which
the President had overlooked because
of his absorption in the German treaty
On this occasion the party leaders
asked for the dismissal of Secretary
Burleson. That visit was remark
able act of independence on the part o.
men who hitherto wanted merely tC
take orders from the President.
The Atlantic City meeting was
further step in the development of {
party organization that was indepen
dent Of White House control and tina
would 20 forward to develop a con
struetive party program and prepare fo
the campaign of 1920.
The only thing that may interfer
with the Atlantic City plans will b.
defeat of the treaty or the attach