Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-20
Suggestion May Not Be Set
Down as Impossibility,
Leaders Believe.
SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE
IN WET-DRY STRUGGLE
Palmer Is Now Holding Strongest
Position, But That Does Not
Assure His Success.
BY N. O. MESSENGER


SAN FRANCISCO. June 19.-Re-
necting the judgment of cautious
minded democratic leaders here. the
statement is warranted that while
the nomination of President Wilson
for another term is not at this time
regarded as a probability. it should
not be set down as an impossibility.
Conditions may arise in the course
of the contest between Cox and Pal
mer which may render the Presidents
nomination inevitable. as the
logical thing to do. or as the most
expedient for the party.
1t may turn out to be the logical
course because of the main issue, the
league of nations, of which he is the
chief exponent and natural standard
bearer. It may prove the most. ex-
pedient alternative in case the 'wets"
threaten to drive the democratic
party into one extreme position, or
the "drys'' to force the party into
another extreme attitude.
Pronounced Physically Fit.
As the situation stands. the way
is open for the party to turn to
the President to be relieved from
either horn of dilemma or from the
hoofs of a radical faction. He has
never committed himself against an
other term He is pronounced to be
fit physically to stand the strain.
The whole point is this: That. while
it is not now contemplated that he
La n ho Heh in 10 fa h.
in the range of possibilities that he
may be called upon to do so, or. re-
quired by exigencies which may de-
velop. to be willing to do So.
1t is said here that McAdoo's an
nouncement Of retirement was CO.
incidental with the. Presidents SEN
sational interview, and was not part
Of plan. He was acting on his own
initiative. it is thought.
McAdoo Has Eased situation.
McAdoo's retirement has eased the
situation here considerably. For one
thing it stops the threatened forma-
ton of the Western States League.
being formed by Gavin 'McNab to
head of McAdoo. It eyaporates the
'.McAdoo sentiment" which was ''in
the air." and which may fall in gem
tie rain upon the fast-growing Pal
mer and Cox gardens, both in need
Of moisture. Out here, you know.
everything depends upon irrigation
Always keeping in mind the con-
tingency that events may require
President Wilson's renomination-and
I don't want to have to keep on re-
peating this admoniion, SO stick a pin
there-the situation today shows that
Palmer is the strongest man in the
field because he has the larger num-
ber Of actual delegates in hand. But
that does not spell success.
1t will be recalled that at Chicago
Cen. Wood had the greater number Of
delegates in sight. and yet at no time
did the far-seeing politicians. whose
views were expressed in The Stars
dispatches, vision Gen. Wood as the
prospective.
1t will also be recalled that at Balti-
more Champ Clark had majority,
which. before it could be resolved into
the necessary two-thirds to nominate,
was dispelled by circumstances
So it is with Palmer. He is running
far ahead of his next competitor,
Gov. Cox Of Ohio, but these demo-
Gratis are here to nominate a winner
in November, and allowance must be
made for possibilities Of swift and
dramatic changes in situations.
The wet" and "dry" issue promises
to be the most troublesome problem
for the convention. It will not take
definite form until the arrival of the
Cox boomers and of Bryan next week.