New-York tribune., 1920-06-29
Leaders Expect Early Bal
lots Will Dispose of
Both and Clear Track
For Former Treasurer
Stage Art Invoked
In Wilson's Behalf
Cummings Applauds Pres
ident and the League
In His Keynote Speech
BY Carter Field


Aided by every mechanical device of
which the steam roller chauffeurs
could conceive, enthusiasm for
Woodrow Wilson swept the ten
thousand-odd Democrats in the Audi
torium to-day at the opening of tho
Democratic National Convention.
The mechanical devices were neces-
sary to put the enthusiasm picture
over, for there was a very evident
holding back on the part of many of
the delegates, alternates and specta-
tors, caused possibly by the fear
hanging over the convention that the
President even now may seek the
nomination for himself.
Perhaps this was the reason why,
even with a tremendous American
flag almost city block long, sud
denly rolled down before the eyes of
the delegates and with a brass band
crashing out Hail to the Chief" as
a large painting of the President, on
which special electrical display
was centered, the enthusiasm still
seemed forced.
Wilson Made Pivot of Fight
From the opening of the hall to the
closing of to-day's ceremonies, the Com
mittee on Arrangements worked device
after device calculated to insure en-
thusiasm among the delegates for the
President. Judging from this, and also
from the long eulogy of the President
which composed the greater part of the
keynote speech of Chairman Homer S.
Cummings, the Democratic leaders are
planning to make the whole fight in this
campaign on the record of President
Wilson and his personality.
No calculation as to what line Of
action the President might desire to
have the convention take at its OPEN
ing could have gone any further along
the line of centering the entire pro-
ceedings about him than the conven-
ton to-day actually went 1t BODIED ill
tor advocates of candidates not enjoy
ing the Presidents approval, and it
tended to break down the morale Of
those who argue that some one not
closely identified with the President
should be named, on the theory that it
would be better if the Democratic
nominee did not have to carry the load
OF defending the Wilson Administra-
ton from its enemies.
The effect of the days keynote
speech and carefully encouraged en-
thusiasm for the President and his ad
very apparently dulled the
that he is sonin-law of the Presi-
dent, and that the terms Grown
Prince" and Wilson dynasty" could be
used against him. The same logic
would have lent aid to Mitchell Palmer
mad 1T been possible for the breath of
lite to have been injected in his can.
didacy.
Palmer Boom Aggressive
1he Palmer movement showed the
most energy, so far as publicity and
properly manufactured enthusiasm he
hlnd 1T were concerned. In we'll selected
spots throughout the hall, from an
acoustic point Of view, bands and cheer
aha !. singers during the hour or so prior
70 the opening and occasionally during
the proceedings would Shrek out the
merits of the Attorney General
But the drift toward William r
NcAdoo, which The Tribune has been
recording every day in it's dispatches.
is gathering impetus, and the Palmer
strength continues so obviously ON the
wane that there is no question in the
mlnds OF unprejudiced observers of
tne movements. 1t still is apparent
mat faimer will have more delegates
Lhan any other candidate on the first
Nh,t1
with McAdoo third. But the Palmer
strength will reach it's crest promptly.
after which the Cox boom will be
given its fling, and then, if one is to
Judge by the words of an astonishing
number Of delegates, McAdoo will be
nominated.
Cox Support Weakening
There is no doubling the fact that
the strength of Governor Cox has
slumped tremendously over Sunday.
At no stage of the pre- convention week
have Cox's possibilities been as rosy
as those of McAdoo, but the difference
between the two is much greater to-
day than it was Saturday Probably
this is because what seems to be
band wagon drift has set in toward
the Presidents law.
Just as an illustration ]. T. Sperrier,
who with Charles c. Carlin, Palmers
manager, represents the sth Virginia
District. told friends to-day that Carlin
wanted him to vote for Palmer. but he
thought he would vote for McAdoo, as
there seemed to be little doubt in the
minds of most of the delegates from
all parts of the country that he would
run better than any one else who could
be named
II feel very friendly to Governor
Cox he added. "But ! am sure thai