Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-02
PARTY LEADERS
ARE WAITING
ON Mr.. WILSON
ny DAVID nAwRENcE

Copyright, 1919, for The Atlanta Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. S1.-Presi-
dent Wilson is being urged. to say
publicly that he will not be cam
didate for reelection, but just when
he will do so is something which he
alone can decide. He has. arrived at
no decision as yet.
Publication locally of a story to
the effect that Mr.. Wilson would
make such a pronouncement at the
Jackson day dinner of the Democrats
on January drew no direct denial
at the White House, except that Of
ficials there gabe the impression that
if such an announcement were made
it would hardly be at the Jackson
day dinner.
There were sundry remarks made,
too, about the improvement in the
presidents health to the general eff
feet that Woodrow Wilson was by
no means unable to make the race
for a third term if he cared to do
so. This, however, is unquestionab1y
reflex on certain sentiment that
has held sway in executive quar-
ters to the effect that it would be
unWise for the president to make any
statement about the matter of a
third term because of the disintegra-
ton of his influence that might fol-
low.
Until the treaty and League of
Nations are disposed of by the sem
ate for instance, it is reckoned wiser
for Mr.. Wilson to maintain silence
about the future.
And at that, no matter how much
the various aspirants may be clam
oring for a statement from him that
would be the release signal, so to
speak, for their presidential booms.
Statement of Principle Expected
On the other hand, several of the
Democratic aspirants to the presl-
dency are going ahead, regardless
of any statement from the White
House In fact, it is so widely ac-,
cepted among the Democrats that
Mr.. Wilson will not run for third
term that the only thing that Is
awaited with tense interest is what
Mr.. Wilson may choose 20 say about
the type of man who should be CIV
en- the standard of the Democratic
party in the next campaign. 1t IS
confidently expected that Mr.. Wilson
will blaze the way with statement
Of principles which he himself con-
siders fundamental in this day and
age
On the other hand, it is very likely
that the president will not take any
part himself in the nomination con-
lest. The fact that William G. Nc
Adoo, his own son-in-law, is being
pushed forward as candidate by
many Wilson Democrats, is one en-
barrassment and the fact that the
~ M hA1i1Vn
the Democratic party should be die
tated to on the subject that Mr.. Will
son will be found indorsing the
choice of the convention and even
siding in the campaign.
Far from Seing out Of politics,
Mr.. Wilson is an active factor to be
reckontd with in the next campaign
and practically everyone of The
candidates who is now being doomed
would no. object to Mr.. Wilson'S
he!r If he could get 1t.
Never Intended to Fun
Z So far as the third term is con-
cerned, it is an open secret that Mr..
Wilson never intended to run for re-
election, there are enough individuals,
friends and political committeeman,
who have known positively of his in
tention for a long time.
Indeed, it is a fact that when Mr..
Wilson was in Paris, he was so much
upset by the reports spread by OPP
ponents in the United States OF the
effect that he was planning the
League of Nations so as to preside
over it, or he wanted to use it as
a vehicle for third term that he
planned to issue a statement at that
time renouncing all third-term am
billions and declaring his intention
to return to private life at the end
of his present term. Political adj
visors on this side of the Atlantic
feared it would have bad effect on
the treaty fight if Mr.. Wilson made
such statement as they believed it
was necessary to keep the Demo-
cratic party solidly behind the treaty
and also to dangle before the Repub-
licans the possibility that the pres
ident himself might appeal to the
people in 1920, if the league were
made party issue.
That Mr. Wilson has long intended
to retire at the end of his present
term is unquestionably true, but
when he does make known his in
tentions, he will, on the other hand,
use the occasion, not merely to start
off a presidential race, as would be
the case if he made a statement
to the Jackson day dinner, but to
forward the cause of liberalism,
which he holds is paramount in an
age that is full of hysteria of re-
action that always follows a war.