Evening star., 1920-06-23
PRESIDENT HELD
UP AS SPECTER
OF CONVENTION
Many Democrats View Third
Term Possibility With
Trepidation and Fear.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calf. June 23-If
President Wilson, whether he has or not
In the back of his mind contemplat ed
the possibility of having to accept re-
nomination, could realize the trepidation
and fear with which that possibility is
viewed by many democrats here, he
would be amused. Could his astral self
be projected into this scene and realize
the state of feeling here his physical self
would enjoy many hearty chuckle.
Is it a haunting fear which possesses
them? Why. Georgia cornfield hand
never passed a haunted cabin in the
clearing with more terror than shakes
the souls of worthy democrats who see
that wilson Specter constantly following
them. They speak confidently of this or
that prospective candidacy up to GER
over their shoulder and whisper. But
II wilson. 1t is like raising the cry of
might doctor" in certain parts of our
town. Everybody beats it.
The louder the disclaimers from Car
ter Glass and Shouse and all the rest
the more tremulous the doubters be-
come. They won't have their fears
abated until the President has spoken
himself There are two classes of demo-
Gratis who share these alarms-first, the
lTlenuS Oh tne cdnQ1QdCeS IN Inc nelQ,
who will see their boomS collapse like a
toy balloon: and, second, those demo-
Gratis who fear the President could not
be reelected.
Hitch Chariot to Star.
The Palmer boomers have hitched
their chariot to the Wilson star and are
soaring high with it's ascendancy As
the case stands today, Palmer is claimed
as the administration candidate -
Charlie Carlin of Alexandria and Wash
ington. his manager on the spot, mod
estly admits that the Attorney General
is the only candidate in the field who
can claim to be 100 per cent of and for
bandwagon, boys, she's about to start
is the eXhortation of the Palmer sub
lieutenantS.
With the collapse of the McAdoo
boom, assuming that his declination
was ION the level" the administra-
tion forces. which were supposed to
be rallying under the McAdoo ban
ner. are besought to come over to
Palmer. All democrats who profess
to fear that the President could not
be reelected are also invited to join
Palmer. the argument being that they
will still be with the administration
and fighting the Presidents oppo-
nentS.
Palmer Called Administration Choice.
The Palmer managers insist that
their candidates position is not
analogous to that of Gen. Wood al
Chicago. who had the most votes at
the outset and finally lost out. They
claim the principal difference to be
that Mr.. Palmer has not made enemies
by invading the states of other fa-
vorite sons and that he is the Logical
second choice of the several favorite
son delegations.
ic al cd mt NV puI IYv,a
boomers that the so-called anti-ad-
ministration forces are not united
upon one man, while the administra-
tion sympathiZers can find<in Palmer
a genuine upholder of the adminiStra-
ton about whom to rally. They cite
the case of Cox of Ohio. who is being
supported by elements avoWedly hos
tile to the President and yet who
must have the administration strength
to win. Other nti-adminiStration
forces are recognized as behind this
or that candidate and their strength
is alleged to be dissipated thereby.
while Palmer is a center of concen-
tration.
Seventeen on First Ballot.
The strategy of the hour of the Pal
mer men is to make friends among
the favorite son delegations. There
will be some seventeen candidates
voted for on the nrSt ballot IN most
cases a complimentary ballot pure and
simple. Latent Palmer strength in
these delegations will vote with the
delegation on the first ballot and pos
sibly ballot or two thereafter, and
then break forever. The Palmer
boosters are working might and main
to pledge these men to come over to
Palmer when the macedonian cry for
help is raised.
The most important development in
undercurrent movements of the past
twenty four hours is the passing
around of the word among uninstruct-
ed leaders on the scene mot to COM
nit yourself to any one for awhile
The source of this admonition is al
legged to be Washington. and consid-
cradle speculation has been aroused
in consequence.
Within the last day telegraphic re-
quests have come from several promi-
merit officials in Washington asking
for eleventh hour reservations in the
hotels. Assistant Secretary of the In
terror Vogelsang and Interstate Com
merce Commissioner WoolIey are
among the applicants. 1t is expected
here that official Washington will be
represented.