Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-31
Palmer Lays Defeat
! to M'Ad0O Candidacy

CONTINUED from rngo One
slowly. "the convention is over; no
post -inortems.'
At another point the attorney general
was reminded that the Cox candidacy
had been hailed as Tammany victory.
How can you say 1t was Tammany
victory?'' asked Mr.. Palmer. "Yes.
New York voted for him; 40 did Iowa
and so did Pennsylvania finally. But
II was not an Iowa victory nor was ii
my victory nor the victory won by
Pennsylvania. 1t was the free work OF
q Democratic convention, as 1t should
have been. The convention was not
dictated to and was not bossed. The
President himself did not say anything
during the convention in the way of die
tating the nomination. 1t was Demo
cratic nomination and We oil acquiescc
In the result"
Mr.. Palmer preferred to ignore
discussion Of the o-called Tammany
tactics which finally pushed Cox across
the line. He was told that Senator
Penrosc had described Governor Cox
as the product Of the corrupt elements
of the party. such as Tammany.
II would rather have the brand Of
Tammany," observed the attorney gen.
Gral. ''thau the brand of Ppnrosc.'
.Nyill Cox win - Mr.. Palmer was
eeked. Without spirit. but as il saying
What was the accepted thing to say, he
answered.
S''He will win"
Will Make Speeches
DO you expect to take part in the
campaign for him.
"oh, yes" was the reply, II expect
I will"
After a pause he added: Make some
speeches"
4 In the course of TIE chat. Mr.. Pal
mer was asked IL the President had ever
encouraged his candidacy for the prcsi-
dency. 1t was pointed out to him that
He became an active candidate long be-
torc there was any defnitness to the
FEELING that the President would not
Seek third term.
: The attorney general avoided the
question implied by ENCOURAGEMENT" "
and contented himself by rcmarking as
10 the President:
well, he wasn't candidate
More than once he said that the
the choice of the Democratic conven-
ton. Concluding his very informal dis
cussion of the convention. the attorney
general said he was willing to take a
ncking in sportsmanlike fashion"
@Referring to the report from Wash
tngton that he was about to resign and |,
that his department was being dis
naantled,' now that the contest for the |
nomination was over, Mr.. Palmer was
particularly bitter.
Cut of Whole Cloth
ut Is lie, he said, with ten times |
the emphasis he put on other matters. |
vt is lie mcdc out of the whole cloth. |
Not the least truth in it. That sort of
thing makes me sore. 1t is only done
to hurt me. And I resent the insinua.
tion that ] organized the department to
promote my candidacy
He referred to his anger over this re-
port more thnn once. On one occasion |
he said "Of course. may quit.
may quit and may not"
1t was suggested that the way he
phrased his thoughts encouraged the
idea that he was to resign.
To clear up his meaning he explained
that he would have seid the same thing
the day he was appointed. He was most
vigorous in repudiating the suggestion
Of q resignation so far as he was con.
cerned, and wanted to know why news
papers did not wait until things hap
pened before they printed reports.
AZ for designations of assistants. the ,
attorney general said that the depart
ment had a considerable staff. some six
or seven assistant attorneys general,
and that any changes would only bc in .
the natural order of events and in the
course of business. He said he had no
plan in mind for rcorganizing the de-
partment.
Attacks Newspaper
Mr.. Palmer was also wrathy over a
story to the effect that he was to be
pushed into the background in Penn
sylvania Democracy and that the real |
leader from now on would be Bruce
Sterling, the Democratic state chair |
man.
This story also set forth that Sterling. |
TO hold the Pennsylvania delegation !
solidly for Palmer at the convention, !
had made deals with such old guard
won't print my answer" said the at
torney general. Asked what it was,
he dictated the following:
"The Philadelphia Record never
prints the truth about Democratic poll
ties in Pennsylvania. 1t is typical
Record story
The attorney general said he intended
To continue his interest in the Pennsyl-
vania organization and that Sterling
had been backed by him for state chair
man and that he was Sterlng's friend.
~ II tnut muheS MIN tHe Phutr, SHlu
Mr. Palmer, well and good. I'm sat
isfed. The fact is that seventy three
OF Pennsylvania = seventy six delegates
were elected on a Palmer tickct--slate.
IL you willard they were elected as
such In contest. No deals were nee
essnry,
.'The same so. called authority for
that story wired to Georgia during the
campaign preceding the convention,
saying that my candidacy was a joke
IN Pennsylvania. A joke-seventy three
out Of seventy six delegates, and they
stood by me to the end.
AAgaiu referring to the report of the
resignation, Mr., Palmer said:
EssJust because | am spending a few
dhys with my family does not mean any
fhing in that connection"
TIE attorney generals cigar was still
unlishtcd when the front porch talk
was over. Na'