New-York tribune., 1919-03-27
Conservatives Will Oppose
Naming of Radicals as
Choice of the Party to
Head National Ticket
South Is Against Baker
Many Leaders Believe the
President Will Insist on
Secretary as Successor
Ne'o York tribune

WASHINGTON, March ga bitter
hght between the conservative and rad
ical elements of the Democratic party
Tor control of the national convention
and the nomination of the party's can
ddate for President next year is pre-
dicted freely here by political obscrv-
ers. Not many of the old line con-
servatives, including the majority of
the party's members from the solid
South, will, it Is thought, "speak out
in meeting" as did ex-senator Joseph
w. Bailey, but there are so MANY
Democratic leaders, especially in the
Senate. who agree privately with Mr..
Bafley's criticisms of the Administra-
ton, that it is said there is actually
majority on the conservative side.
Men like Senator Martin, of Vir-
ginia, Democratic leader in the upper
House; his colleague, Senator Swan
son; Simmons and Overman, of North
Carolina; Hoke Smith, of Georgia; I'm
derwood and Bankhead, of Alabama:
John Walter Smith, of Maryland, and
John X. Shields, of Tennessee, have
very little common ground with such
members Of the party as Secretary of
War Baker, Tariff Commissioner Da-
vid J. Lewis, Assistant Secretary of
Labor Louis f. Post, and a host of
other Wilson appointecs.
Conservatives Oppose Baker.
Discussion has been stirred up since
the meeting of the Democratic National
Committee in Washington, while the
President was here, by fear that the
President Is determined to name New
ton ID. Baker as his successor. Such n
rumor IL very persistent and n sur
prising number of big Democrats be-
licve it, although they are not talking
much about 1t except in private.
Since the President told the Demo
cratic committee that after March 4.
1920, he intended to devote his time to
writing history. there has been n feel
ing the President would do all in his
power to bring about the nomination
OF Mr.. Baker. The Democrats are
alarmed over the prospect of an open
rupture in the party, which such n
stand by the President, they feel Ger
tain, would bring about.
The determination that no member
OF the radical wing Of the party,
whether the radical choice be Mr..
Baker or some one else, shall not be
nominated, has gathered great deal
of strength since the luncheon Of the
Democratic committee at the White
House. Up to that time there was
mild assumption on the part of Demo
cratic leaders that MIR. Wilson would
be the candidate. They are not alto
gether sure even now that no will not
be, but they are looking the situation
over and dete rmining just what they
Will do with Wilson eliminated
Wilson'S Control Weakened
This much Ia fairly certain: Mr..
Wilson will not be able to deliver the
votes In the 1920 Democratic convcn-
ton with anything like tho ease that
su;h things have been done by Pro si-
dents in Office in the past. For in
stance, it was pointed out to- day by n
big Southern Democrat that 1T might be
thought Mr.. Wilson could easily de
liver delegates to tho convention from
North Carolina, controlling them
through Secretary of the Navy Daniels.
But the North Carolina delegation will
not be controlled by Secretary Daniels.
II will be controlled. almost absolutely,
by Senator Furnifold NJ Simmons. TN
less there Ia political earthquake In
North Carolina before the delegates
are selected. OF which there is no pres
ent indication.
Conservatives almost certainly will
control delegations from many other
Southern states. particularly Maryland.
Virginia. tho Carolinas, Georgia and
Alabama. Even in Texas, despite
Colonel House, T. w. Gregory and bur
lsson, tho conservatives are absolutely
confident the delegation, whether or
not 1t Is friendly TO ex-senator Bailey,
might as we'll be elected on platform
excepted from Mr.. Baley's speech of
the other night.
All Radicals Barred
One Texan went 80 far as to predict
that House, Burleson and Gregory
would not even be permitted to be
delegates to the convention. The
southern conservatives will not be
alone in their fight on the radicals.
Many Of the Middle Western Demo
Gratis, including Senator Hitchcock
and others in Congress and some of
,ne national committeeman from near
oy states, are whetting their axes.
;, How about Bakcr?" | asked one of
these committeeman.
Not u chance" he said. eve don't
want a radical"
But all radicals in the party seem
10 be for him." ] persisted.
- mere won't be any radicals in Tho
democratic party next year. he sa;d
another national committeeman frorn
lne Middle West, who always has boon
Iegaroed as strong Wilson man
nodded his assent TO this answer Roth
.ook the ground there were nIenty ~
aooo candidates, but that aIl rad,coI,