The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-15
DEMOCRATS NOW
GETTING BUSY
Presidents Announcement
Declining Third Term
Loosens Things.

presidential aspirants received well
come news during the past week. As
result there was real activity on
the Democratic side.
The news, semi-ofticial but apparent
~ authoritative. was to the effect that
President Wilson would not be a
candidate for third term. This has
been expected. but until a definite an
nouncement was made, other Demo-
cratic candidates were compelled by
force of circumstances to hold back.
The filing with his consent, of petit
ton for Attorney General A. Mitchell
Palmer in the Georgia primary. elected
the fact that the president had evil
denced to other candidates that he
would not be contestant.
| The result was immediate, Although
William G. MeAdoo had stated that he
would not be an active candidate, his
friends lost no time busying them
selves in his behalf.
Likewise the friends of Herbert G.
Hoover, who, it is generally conceded,
will run as Democrat if he runs
at all, also busted themselves.
While there are number of tenta-
tive candidates for the Democratic
nomination, including the perennial
William J. Bryan, these three are prae-
tically the only ones thus fer whose
friends seem to be making any marked
effort.
However, here in Chicago candida
cy was sprung by enthusiastic Demo-
Gratis Of the "wet" persuasion, which,
although it is likely to be taken as
joke, is nevertheless indicative of one
factor that is bound to have a strong
affect in the conventions and election.
It was the candidacy of Governor Ed
ward Edwards of New Jersey. Petit
tions in his behalf are now being Wig
orously circulated in Chicago by wet"
Democratic organizations.
Edwards Joke.
Nobody believes Governor Edwards
can be nominated for the presidency.
But if the "wets" prevail at the San
Francisco convention, there is a strong
likelihood that he will be given second
place on the ticket, especially if
Hoover or some western man is nonri-
mated for the presidency.
This is likely to force Bryan into
the fight as an ayowed candidate on
the ground that he must be the stan
dard bearer of prohibition within the
Democratic party. No political OBJ
server believes that Bryan has relin-
pushed his ambition to be president.
His many defeats, however, have un-
doubtedly inspired him with more
political discretion. He gives out that
he is not candidate, but if some
great issue should demand--or appear
to demand-that he project himself
into the fight, he would undoubtedly
do so, and would command formid-
able following.
He will unquestionably lead the
fight in the San Francisco convention
for dry plank in the party platform.
He will be vigorously opposed, and
there is chance of party schism on
this question, with Bryan storm
center as he was in 1895 when silver
was the issue.
Bryan is demanding that every
Democrat make clear his position on
the sswet" and "dry" issue. With the
exception of Edwards, they have been
non-committal. Palmer is reckoned a
"dry" but his friends say he is not
irreconciliabIy "dry" and they claim
he would stand for q program of beer
and light wines. McAdoos position
is believed to be similar.
Liquor viii Be Prominent.
From now on, interest in the Demo-
cratic campaign is likely to be almost
as keen as in the Republican, which
hitherto has monopolized the political
spotlight.
The "wet" and "dry" issue has not
yet been raised in the Republican
ranks, but it is bound to be- None of
the Republican candidates has thus
far made reference to it. But the party
will have to take some stand and that
stand will be determined by tn eyiews
of the candidate,
1t now appears quite likely that the
liquor question will share prominence
with foreign relations; the labor ques-
Eoni the cost OF lVlng, ana recon-
struction policies as the campaign is
sues.
It is the belief of competent OBJ
servers here-and Chicago is today the
political storm center of the nation
that the wet and dry issue may take
precedence over all other issues at the
November election.
It is believed not beyond the bounds
of possibility that, in default of OBJ
tanning a elesr-eut pronouneement in
their favor by either one Of both of the
major parties, the prohibitionists may
organize as an independent force, sup
porting a candidate of their own-pos-
sibly Rryan-in order to set at rest
the liquor question.
Or, if both parties adopt dry planks
and stand for vigorous enforcement.
the ''wetsp may take light course.
Just now the wet" and "dry" issue
appears to be more political issue
than ever before, and to engross the
attention Of politicians and political
observers to greater degree than any
other single issue