Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-30
PALMER LOSES
BY BlUNOERS
Betrayal of Public in Coal
Strike Negotiations
Alienates Voters.
SOP TO MINERS
GETS HIM NOWHERE
Presidency Plays Polities' In Hand
ling Big Questions - Loses Favor
Among Both Labor and Citizens
Who Advocate Coolidge Kind of
Law and Order - MoAdoo Profits
(By q. G. Dougherty.l

Washington. Dec. 30.-From q po-
litical point Of view. Attorney General
A. Mitchell Palmers handling OF the
coal strike situation has been a series
of plumbers. In tho opinion of many
astute democratic politicians here.
They frankly regard them as so disas-
trous in their effect on Mr.. Palmers
candidacy for the democratic nominal
ton for president as to eliminate him
from further serious consideration.
The view of most democrats In
Washington today is that William G.
McAdoo. as result Of Mr.. Palmer's
political errors" has the same stra-
tegic advantage or disadvantage Of be-
ing out in front at the present time as
General Leonard Wood occupies with
regard to the republican nomination.
1t is Wood against the field in the re-
publican camp, and McAdoo against
the field in the democratic wigwam.
Just before the coal strike situation
developed it was the quiet impression
of democratic politicians here that Mr..
Palmer had the advantage over Mr..
hS<huoo. II vi q lOHS ~ iios pVSii
conceded that these two men were
well in the lead. Every democrat go
ing over the available presidential
timber in the party named these two
men first. Palmer sentiment had been
slowly but surely overtaking the Nc
Adoo boom. particularly on account of
the strong friendliness Of the drys
toward Palmer In addition to this
the huge amount Of political patron
age in Mr.. Palmers hands had been
wisely used, politicians agreed, with
the result that there were centers OF
Palmer sentiment all over the country.
Men who made mo concealment of.the
fact that they were for Palmer for
president in many instances were CIV
en- much coveted places, twas said.--
Loses Union Labor Support.
Then came the injunctions against
the labor union leader, granted by the
courts, but applied for at Mr.. Palmer's
direction. This action by Mr.. Palmer,
while most Irritating to union men.
whether coal miners or not. raised Mr..
Palmer considerably in the estimation
OF the sort Of voters who piled up
tremendous majority for Calvin Cool
idge In Massachusetts,. Most politi-
clans were privately OF the opinion
that Palmers defiance of the labor
leaders and union labor generally
would strengthen him more than 1t
would hurt him. But it did hurt him
with the union labor element.
BIunders in Next Move.
Next came, however, the split with
Fuel Administrator Garfield, the fur
Their negotiations with John l.. Lewis,
president Of the miners, and others,
ending in what DR.. Garfield character
lied as a violation of principle. In
stead of standing by the Garfield pro-
pcsal which proposed IA per cent
increase to the miners but no advance
I'M the price OF coal to the consumers,
Mr.. Palmer negotiated an agreement
which gave commission dominated
by the operators and the miners the
right to advance coal prices IN order
to grant wage advances.
Politicians take the view that this
might have been good politics had IT
stood alone, without the Injunction
background. They point out that 1T
was lust what the government had
been doing all thru the war, and
friends of Palmer declare that it could
not be any worse on the public than
the McAdoo advances in wages to the
railroad employees ate ono
from. the public by an advance In
freight rates and passenger fares.
Wound Fails to Heal.
Reports coming in from the country,
however, are to the effect that in this
proposal with the leaders of the mine
workers Mr.. Palmer has not healed the
soreness against him growing out OF
the in1unctions in the slightest degree.
Not even the union miners themselves
are pleased, but are practically as bit
ter against Mr.. Palmer as they were
before the negotiations Of which DR..
Garfield disapproved began. SO that
the politicians regard Mr.. Palmer as
I having lost the union labor support
beyond recapture.
But by hisclater negotiations with
Lewis, the politicians point out, Mr..
Palmer has hopelessly alienated the
so-called flaw and order" element.
They think this effect will be accom-
plished even II coal prices do not adj
vance before election date, but there is
scarcely anyone in Washington who
does not think that coal prices will be
advanced before Nov. 2, 1920.
sS&E ~
IARnR FEELS SIGHTED.