Evening star., 1919-03-23
WILSON SHADE HANGS
OVER 1920 ASPIRANTS
Plans of Presidential Candidates Cannot Be
Fashioned Until Present Executive
Breaks Disconcerting Silence.
BY n. o. MESSENGER.

BY n. o. MESSENGER.
A BOUT this time look out for
~ an outcropping of gossip and
~ comment about presidential
candidates. 1t comes with the
spring plowing in the year preced-
ing Il presidential campaign, and will
progress in due process of political
growth until the harvest is reacheo
year from next June. when noml-
nations must be made.
Politicians will tell you that not
since the civil war, with the possible
exceptions of the hard times of '95
and the sound money agitation Oh
'96, has the country been in such a
perturbed condition, in many respects
with the political situation and out
look presenting so many angles OF
perplexify. Government ownership,
socialistic, bolshevistic and anarchis-
tic activities, labor unrest. the violent
swinging of the economic and indus
trial pendulum from war conditions
to peace conditions almost overnight,
upsets, in prices with uncertainty as
to what other changes may come and In
what direction, and, finally, propo-
sition for a profound change in the
foreign policy of the I.ation-aH tend
to befog the politicians, to cause old,
familiar guiding marks. to disappear.
Waash some one may rise to remark,
is but as it should be. since life is but
a splendid adventure, the most fas-
cinating game of chance possible, and
politics the biggest and most uncertain
roulette wheel in the outfit
x y
No one stops very long now to
discuss policies for the next presi-
Dental cam
To1k persona1ities paign - it's
Instead of Policies. which con-
Germ. Policies will shape themselves
according to the vicissitudes and ne
cessities of the day when the conven-
tions meet. Issues which now bid fair
to loom large may. disappear by tnen
and others which now do not show
topmast spar above the edge of the
horizon may be bearing down under
a full head of steam, head on, threat
ening to ram Paramount issues may
be tariff, may be socialism, may be
government ownership, may be Amer
icanism versus internationalism-w
knows? Let it be anything. the
politicians say, except clash be-
tween capital and labor, from which
heaven and the best efforts of employer
and employe alike forfend.
The democrats claim that they have
the most Interesting array of person
alities in their
An Imposing List coliec',on o
Of Possibilities" possibilitiea aa
compared with the showing Of the
republicans. Real live wires" they
declare them to be. President VIII
son. former Secretary McAdoo. Champ
Clark, Gov. Smith of New York and
oh, a whole lot of others!
In conversation with democrats Of
jority belief among them that Presi-
dent Wilson is possibility for re-
nomination-if he wins out in this
league of nations plan. The third
term objection is tottering. just about
ready to crash. they will tell you.
and If he carries through the league
of nations project and 1t is approved
by the country the third-term bogie
will receive the final push to- send it
topping over. They argue that IL
anything so revolutionary as the
league of nations is acceptable. why
gag at a little thing like third
term for the genius who put it
through? They take it for granted
that the country would not indorse
the plan and rerudiate it's protector
because of some old American pofit-
ical tradition which did not even rise
to the dignity of policy.
So, on every side. among thoughtful
democrats, the careful and unbiased
inquirer will find sentiment which
regards President Wilson as a presi-
dential possibility of the first water
provided all goes well with the
league Of nations undertaking.
x
Announcement of Mr.. McAdoo's can
didacy for the democratic presidential
nomination is
Scanning Horizon expected most
for McAdoo Sails. T. W was ,.nort.
ed a short time ago in circles classed
as friendly to him that it would come
early in April. The report even went
SO far as to say that a high official
in the internal revenue bureau would
resign and become his manager. How
the conflicting ambitions of father
in-1aw and son-in-law were to be
composed. supposing there to be any.
the reports failed to point out. That
was something left in the lap of the
future. ConjectTe upon that point
would but add interest to the an
nouncement and zest to its discus
sion.
Republican politicians would regard
Mr.. McAdoo as a mighty formidable
opponent for them to face at the
polls. This statement can be made
advisedly. They say that unquestion-
ably he left public life at the most
opportune time for future participa-
ton in public affairs; that his record
of achievement was enviable and that
his departure from Office precluded
the possibility of it's becoming blem-