Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-18
Democratic Oiiemmas

enough to "go around."N The attempt
of Mr.. Wilson to smother them all
under the blanket of the League COW
enant is a difficult undertaking and
if successful affords no assurance of
ultimate success. One of the lead
ing Democratic newspapers of the
South frankly foresees trouble be-
cause Of this.
1t expresses the opinion that the
trouble will come because, having
taken a definite stand on this matter
before the Democrats meet, the Re-
publicans have forced the party Of
Wilson to declare in favor of the
League as written. 1t regrets that
this matter should be made the par
amount issue in the campaign as it
believes will be. 1t declares there
are many thousands of Democrats
who do not want the fortunes Of their
party wrapped up in the fate Of the
League; at least one prescribed by
DIR. Wilson. They realize that the
Republican party will demonstrate
its readiness to fulfill it's information
al obligations and that in order to
make an issue out Of the question it
will be necessary to insist on the ex-
plicit dictation of Wilson.
In the matter Of candidates the die
tation of the President is also
menace overhanging the San Fran
cisco conclave. There is little doubt
that the heir apparent is son-in-law
McAdoo, with a possibility in the
back ground of father-in-la final
ly deciding to keep the bauble for
himself. McAdoo doubtless expects
to have the support Of the railroad
3rotherhoods that he coddled On the
other hand New York is not looking
on his candidacy with favor. Tam
many is said to have grudges, like
wise a candidate in Governor Smith.
Tom Taggart, the Indiana Tam
manyite. is strenuous in his declar,-
lions for Marshall who also declares
he doesn't want it, but it is notice.
able that the adroit Taggart is ex-
ceedingly frank in saying that the
League should be approved as the
President wants it. A puzzling fea-
ture Of the contest is that now it
looks as though the contest will open
with McAdoo and Palmer fighting
for a lead, and the latter is said to
have Wilson's approval-perhaps
given in the conviction he would kill
himself off, as he appears to be doins.
Since the selection Of Harding the
boom for Cox of Ohio has taken on
fresh strength, on the assumption
that he will be the only Democrat
who may take Ohio away from the
Republican candidate. The New
York Times and others among the
high brow" democracy are advo-
eating the candidacy of John W. Da-
Wis, ambassador to England, gen.
tleman of good attachments but
scarcely a national figure.
The last report showed but 30S del
egates out of the 1892 had been in
structed, and those were scattered AS
follows, and indicate that the pri-
maries have exerted very little influ-
ence on the situation.
A Mitchell Palmer, Pennsylvania,
76; Governor Cox. Ohio. As and Ken
lucky, 26; Governor Edwards. New
Jersey, %; Senator Hitchcock, Ne
braska, 16; Edwin T. Meredith. Sec
rotary of agriculture. Iowa, 26; James
W. Gerard. South Dakota, 10: w. G.
McAdoo, Oregon. 10; Senator Glass,
Virginia, "a; Senator Simmons,
North Carolina, "a; Senator Owen.
Oklahoma, 20.
Under the thirds rule which
obtains in Democratic national con-
ventions 72s delegates will be neces-
sary for a choice. The prospect of
that choice being reached in the early
hours Of the convention is indeed
dim, whereas the likelihood Of a pro-
tracted struggle is seen not only in
the scattering Of favors in the pri-
maries but in the viewpoints which
must be reconciled. Norman Mack
clamors for beer and bonus and Bry-
an for prohibition without mental
reservations; labor as represented by
Gompers win demand much. radical
ism will be licking its chops at the
door and conservatives will be grimly
mindful of the soclalistic, visionary
influences yet working in the depart
ments at Washington under the pro-
lection of the administration. Alto
gether 1t will be a motley army to
rally around the Democratic stand