The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-25
Presidential Campaign for 1920
Opens in Washington.
Prospective Candidates EN-
plOying Stats of Journalists.
THIRD TERM QUESTION OPENED
Silence of Democrats Gives Rise
to New Political Rumor.
States Rights May Be Platform
PIank-PrOhibitiOn Cause.

Washington. Nov. 25.-Republicans
and Democrats today began actively
organizing for the business of eIecting
president of the United States in
1920.
Leaders were on the ground arrang-
| ing for meetings of the Democratic
and Republican national committees
here January 8 and December 10, re-
spectively, to pick convention cities.
Piss agents representing the can
didates were also beginning to appear,
armed with much literature. An
nouncements of new candidates. were
the G. o. P. ranks within a few days,
but the Democrats were holding back.
There were many ideas as to what
the issue would be. Miles PoindeXter,
senator from Washington and one of
the first Republican aspirants in the
and that he would make his fight on
platform promising eradication of
the Red menace"
Senator Lodges expressed willing
ness to go to the country with the
peace treaty as an issue made it ap-
pear that he had presidential aspira-
tions himself.
Senator Harding, Ohio, also a can
didate. has not yet announced his con-
ception of what the principal point of
contention between the two major par
ties will be.
Senator johnson is understood to be
planning his race on a straight Amer
ican'' platform.
Some of the candidates who loom
biggest, such as Governor Lowden of
Illinois and General Wood, have not
entered the battle of press agents here
as yet, the inference being they are
holding back until the situation is a
little more clarified.
May Try Third Term.
AS for the Democrats, the fact that
none has come out for the candidacy
gave strength to a report here that
President Wilson in spite of all infor-
nation to the contrary has not yet
made up his mind with regard to max
ing third term effort. With the
| treaty out of the way, there is little
doubt that, in view of his illness and
his wsariness of public life. he would
| be willing to step aside and not even
participate actively in the campaign.
But if the treaty is to be the issue.
| the president may deem it his duty
| either to head the ticket which sup
| ports ratification, or take a prominent
part IN naming that leader and fight
ing for his election.
W. G. McAdoo was seen today as. a
bidder for labor support IL he becomes
! a candidate, in view of his telegra m
to Fuel Administrator Garfield, vigor-
| ously supporting the miners wage de-
| mands. and opposing the idea of let
| ting the public pay the increase. But
McAdoo has not avowed his intentions
and the other Democratic possibili-
| ties, including Governor Cox and, A.
Mitchell Palmer. are keeping very
quiet
W. J. Bryan. altho he has said he
has no more political ambitions, is
| frequently brought into the situation
when the Democratic aggregation is
| being looked over.
Inject Stntes Rights.
| There was some talk today of
states rights" figuring as an issue.
This might come about in connection
with enforcement of prohibition.
Rhode Island has not ratified the con-
stitutionaI amendment and, according
| to her representatives here. intends to
| resist enforcement on the ground that