The Washington times., 1920-06-09


marchers, singing the praises
'The frost Is on the -(politicaD
pumpkin. and the folders In the
shock" The headquarters are man
ned and womaned with workers. You
can have a button for the asking. and
the literary department is abundantly
furnished with printed information.
Likenesses Of statesmen and near
statesmen adorn the walls, the respec-
tive headquarters, and occasionally
overflow into adjoining corridors.
Groups OF the curious move about
through the halls, eager to see the
prominent men OF whom they have
read. but the atmosphere is not
charged with confidence and the visi-
tors are not vocal with expressions Of
loyalty to the party or devotion to
those who have entered the lists.
The reason Is not difficult to find.
The friends of the leading men are
beginning TO realize even IL they do
not admit the hopelessness OF agree
ment upon any OF the men prominent
ly mentioned.
1t is not necessary to scrutinize the
daily reports from the committee or
to speculate upon the seating or un-
seating OF delegates. There are the
usual scandals from the Southern
States. but these have REQUIRED so
regularly as to excite no surprise and
little comment. No candidate comes
near enough to the required number
of votes to make the action of the
national committee or Of the creden-
tials committee a matter OF moment.
Handicap Of Wood.
Consider the leading candidates.
General Wood has the best organ
ized political machine. According to
the evidence presented to the investi-
eating committee he has by far the
largest campaign fund. The primaries
showed that he had national fol-
lowing, that is, friends in every
State. He is not a favorite son can
didate; he went at the business OF Sc
curing the Presidential nomination as
earnestly as he has gone about other
business.
General wood is strong man; he
has his views on public questions and
expresses himself with vigor, but he
has been handicapped from the be-
ginning by the fact that he is pro-
fessional soldier. This objection Is
so strong in the minds of a great
multitude that no personal virtues
can overcome it. The reaction
against militarism is in full swing
and grows stronger day by day. .r
That he recognizes this change in
sentiment Is evident from the fact
that his managers do not stretch uni
versaI military training. He has been
one of the foremost champions of a
compulsory system under which
every young man. would be compelled
10 devote a certain period of time to
military training.
Opposed TO Training.
The policy had ardent supporters
in Congress. The House committee
was about to report a bill when a
Democratic caucus registered a pro
test by vote of l06 to II. 1t be-
came evident that the Democratic
vote with the addition of protesting
Republicans could defeat the meas
ure. and it was abandoned.
Afterward the Military Affairs Com
mittee of the Senate reported com
pulsory training bill which the chair
man assured the Senate would not
require an appropriation Of more than
soc, 200, 900.
A poll of the Senate showed nearly
all the Democrats and many of the
Republicans against the bill. A vol
untary training system was substi
tuted. and this was stricken out OF
the bill in conference. The desire te
have our nation lead the world to-
ward universal peace Is very strong
and IA professional soldier would, in
the opinion of. .many,t misrepresent
the nation before the world.
Probe Hurt Wood.
The Investigations have also en-
barrassed General Wood. Regardless
of any questions affecting the mature
of the expenditures the amount itself
would prove great handicap in the
campaign. The friends of Senator
EJohnsn have spoken very emphaticaIl.
on the subject. and the feeling 1,
shared by all who arc not personally