The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-24
Editorial
of the Day
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE

The question of who will be the
nominee of the democratic party, now
that Mr.. McAdoo has made it plain
that he was not camouflaging when
he reiterated repeatedly that he was
not candidate, is one that one man
can answer as well as another, so
long as the would-be prophet keeps
within the circle of a dozen or more
democrats, any one of whom would
make a more acceptable candidate than
the gentleman who has been named
by the republicans. For if ever there
was a fancy-free convention on the
matter of candidates, the democratic
gathering at San Francisco will be
such convention. No single candidate
is likely to come within hailing dis
tance of a majority on the first bal
lot, and it requires a two.thirds vote
TO nominate in the democratic party.
Certain candidates, like Governor Cox,
and Attorney General Palmer, are
likely to poll their greatest strength
early in the balloting, and the candi-
date who is finally named may be
man who has not figured in the pre-
convention speculation at all.
This much, however, can be said
we think: The league of nations will
be the touchstone. 1t seems a foregone
conclusion that candidates who have
based their chief claim TO distinction
upon the wet issue will not get any
where in this convention, nor is any
man likely to have much Of a chance
who has not been known conspicu-
ously for his defense of the treaty.
Indeed the convention itself might
develop the man in connection with
this issue, for there ought TO be OPP
portunity for a real keynote speech
from the floor like Mr.. Bryan's csoss
of gold" utterance in 1896. But when
one tries TO suggest who this man
might be il Is found TO be task
utterly lacking in elements of any de-
gree of certainty. Senator Carter Glass
Of Virginia, to be sure, will have an
admirable opportunity as chairman or
fight is made on the treaty plank.
And he has the elements to make
strong candidate and an able president.
But it would be hardy prophet who
would venture to predict the nomi-
nation of Senator Glass under such
circumstances. Then there is Homer
S. Cummings, the chairman of the ma.
tional committee, whose speeches dur.
ing the past year have caused many
a democrat TO ask why we should
seek further for a candidate. He will,
be temporary chairman of the con.
vention, and while it is whispered that
he is little damp, even that might
be overcome if situation developed
which presented the opportunity for
the exercise Of his powers of lead
ership. Bainbridge Colby would be
man who would bear watching in
connection with a stampeding speech
were it not for the fact that his very
recent conversion TO the democratic
party might stand in the way. Bu,
he is regular rabble-rouser on the
league of nations and his very POSI-
tion as secretary of state would be
an asset TO him should the occasion
arise. However, in addition to his
other handicaps, Mr. Colby also is wet
in his point of view and this probably
would put him out of the running
even If all other things were equal.
Who else might do it? Frankly, we
do not know. One can hardly think
of Senator Hitchcock stampeding the
delegates, and 1t is a notable fact that
the treaty debate in the senate de-
veloped no outstanding leader. Indeed,
this has been one of the greatest han
dicaps under which the president has
been laboring, that nobody in the SEN
ate forged to the front to share
leadership with him. But Senator
Hitchcock did his work well and in
the parliamentary battle which he
waged he displayed more than ordinary
ability in defense Of the treaty. But
he, too, is a wet, and especially op-
posed to Mr.. Bryan.
John Davis of West Virginia, the
American ambassador to Great Britain
will not be at San Francisco, OF
course, and consequently must be
omitted from such speculation. But
condition might arise that would make
him a very formidable contender for
the nomination. and certainly II he
were nominated he would be an ex.
ceptionally strong man. He could be
depended upon to bring to the cam.
paign note of authority that would
place Senator Harding on the defensive
from the first. The chief argument
that can be made against him is that |
he is very little known to the country
as a whole. But man like Mr.. Davis
can do a lot of campaigning in four
months.
Mr. Bryan, Mr.. Gerard, Governor
Edwards, Governor Smith, Champ
Clark, and half dozen others need
not be considered. There Is practically
no likelihood that any one of them
will stand a chance at the nomination
But even these we have mentioned and
a few others of the same caliber ut
the present writing are not much more
certain to stand a chance.
Anything might be done in such a
situation. AS a matter OF fact the con-
'vention might find 1t necessary to
draft Mr.. McAdoo as the most avail
able and most logical man after ex.
hausting every effort to find another.
In spite of his insistence that he will