The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-06-26
In BabbIe Of Opinion on Can
didates Reasons Against
Their Selection Prevail.
cox BOOM LACKS "PEP"
As Does Edwards Palmer s
Hold but Weak-Marshall
Has Certain Strength.
(RY MARlEN E, PEW. !

(6Y MARLEN {. PEW.)
San. Francisco. June 26.-Q. N. 81
On the eve of the national democratic
convention painstaking survey of the
arrived delegates. numbering more thar
haif OF the men and women, who will
sit In the auditorium, reveals the un.
mistakable fact that William Gibbs Nc.
Adoo has failed signally to eliminate
himself from this race and that, on the
basis OF *drafting" without respect tC
his personal desires, he Is the preferred
ultimate choice of the majority of dele
gates here,
That Is the outstanding feature of to.
days convention news, but II is hedged
about by many curious circumstances
which tend to qualify il and to create
state OF remarkable uncertainty which
makes prophecy absurd.
NO man knows what action the con-
yention will take regarding candidates
There is no audible sound of a master
voice. The babble of opinion in the ho-
tel corridors is genuinely confused
There are other candidates, to be sure,
but 1t is remarkable that one hears
more against their selection than for
them, and gossip concerning some OF
them Is unpleasant to the polite ear,
family skeletons not being neglected
among other things.
II balloting were to start today with
1ayorite sons compliments paid off
there would be slim chance of ANYTHING
like an approach to a choice on the
basis OF a majority vote. much less a
two-thirds predominance, which is
necessary for selection in democratic
convention, according to the, result of
ternational News Service.
All Talk of McAdoo.
Delegates when approached are found
glowing With local pride and state choice
enthusiasm, but when the interviewer
gets down to, practical politics the in
taryiawar md, hi
OF an interview, and the question is:
what do you hear of McAdoo? He'll
come through If we draft him, won't
ne? He Is sincere, but no man can de-
similar talk.
Very intimate friends of the lanky
war secretary of the treasury reporting
here tell in circumstantial detail of his
disposition to shrink from the presi-
dental spotlight and denounce as ''mean
politics' the story. that his decination
statement was subterfuge intended to
XIII off crown prince" slurs and make
him not only the choice. but the de-
mand. OF this convention. Those gem
tlemen tell us that McAdoo's reasons
as specified by him are actual and that
he is no less sincere in his disinclina-
tion to re-enter public life than is his
wife. the former Eleanor Wilson, for
allWements ana whose desire is for
quiet contentment with her husband
and their two babies
But the gathering vanguard, headed
Dy such men as Senator Carter Glass,
public statements. hut are actually
openly booming his candidacy, and the
medicine is taking nicely" according
to all surface evidences. ss VIII
TO Play Taetful Host. Us
to present pis,is VIII play tie tactfni
host on the firAt ballot 81 giving each
of the names presented 20 the conven-
ton some Of Its votes. After the first
baiotr the delegation Is unpledged and
uninstructed and is friendly" to both
McAdoo and Cox.
Palmer's Boomers Active.
Atty, Gen. A. Mitchell Palmer's forces
are the. most active boomers here.
Palmer Is surrounded. He sweeps
through the corridors of the Palace
hotel, shaking hands with all comers.
and maybe the baby parade. with inev-
liable osculatory consequences, will
commence to form within day or two
Considering the tremendous volume Of
advertising the Palmer boom has en-
toyed, old time reporters seem to feel
that 1t Is not good for much strength
after early ballots
The governors (Cox and Edwards)
enterprises similarly appear to lack
cussed. ohio win nominate Cox" said
former Gov James f. Campbell. chair
man of the Buckeye delegation. 1--WE
VIII stand by the president and the
league, but we are ready to accept con-
structive reservations. We will leave
prohibition alone"
There is a little Gerard talk. James
Meegee. national committeeman from
south Dakota. declares his delegation is
pledged for the former ambassador and
must carry his name through three
ballots at least.
May Be Marshall.
The genial, humorous vice -president
Thomas r, Marshall, who delights to
taik. OF Thomas Jefferson and a return
to old-fashioned democracy, is the CEN
ter of a boom all his own and quite
spontaneous In It's nature. He does not
attempt to conceal his pleasure. Who
'knows-in the deep dark hours of some
night nexf week or m the week there
after with all OF these delegates home-
sick and broke and still searching for
votes fto swell two-thirds majority
and break n deadlock. the name of Mar
shall OF Indiana may be the big flash
over the wires. The folks hack home
may not have thought OF him In that
wise, but 1t is not at all out of the
possible plays.
And then there's Davis. ambassador
here as dark horse. who would find
favor in high international circles. At
present the possibility seems remote
New Yorks' tower OF strength will go
ipi OoNeTHOT Al smith OF that we'll
known state. and Tammany is husy as
can be with his boom. Just as If II were
not the lust due Of an hnnored son.
Tammany. by the way will support a
wet" platform II one is renorted. dele
gates talking about referendum on
the Volstead act" Just which way the
tiger. will tump on second choice is/not
vouchsafed by the experienced dele
gates from New York
II IL declared that u Of Pennsviva-
MAS rs delegates are nledged to Palmer.
Palmer saws SO himself.
South for McAdoo.
The south appears strord for Nc
Adoo. DELEGATES from Tennessee,
North Carolina. Alshawa and Ms.
slsslppl say unouaTHedlv that they
are here for the former secretary
and for no one else. Alahama's un.
Instructed force polied II for Nc.
Adoo. 3 for Cox : for Palmer and
undecided. They all SAID they'd
hack 10 the president Cox was
declared Tennessee's second choice.
North Carolira's enmnilnent uoes
10 Senator Furnifoid N. simmons
"MeAdco sentiment is strong In our
: 1URLEsoN SAYS AL 1
TEXAN SF0R M'ADOO.
San Francisco Tune ga.