The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-08-07
kstute Political Observer Ger
tain Attorney General Has
Won Commanding Number oil
/ Democratic Delegates.
PRE-coNvEaTIoA ESTIMATES
Believes Hoover is a Negligible Factor
Because il Is Ineoneeivabie That the
Democracy at San Francisco WIN
Vote for the cast-oH Candidate Of
Tho Republican Convention.

washir gtOn.--tYgures are beginning
% talk in the pre.conventlon campaign
Of the candidates for the presidential
nomination Of both parties, and, while
their first words carry. the wabbly lisp
OF the baby tongue, they appeal to the
hearts of the papa and mamma politi-
clans whose hopes and ambitions are
Inseparably linked with the words OF
truth that will drop from the mouth Of
the prodigy who has never yet bee ?
known to lie and whose growth viii be
70 that Of q giants strength by the
tina the conventions are called to or
der.
A pencil and pad OF paper In the
hands Of an astute political observer
can work wonders Of prognostlcation
and especially if that observer is broad
minded and clear-visioned enough to
calculate not what he would like to
have happen, but what is likely to hap
pen When the count Of noses on tie
/ floor OF the convention is completed
The head political writer of the
Philadelphia Evening Ledger, one of
the publications Of Cyrus II. X. Curtis
and hog-tied with its owners grave
yard campaign for Herbert Hoover,
asked for some figures a few days ago
from man whom he describes as "a
member Of the Democratic Organiza-
ton who should know as much about
the prospects as any one does" and he
got them. And, to his credit be 1t said.
he published them. This is what he
said:
HE figures after a careful study
that Attorney General Palmer will lead
In the 8fst ballot with $50 votes, Nc
Adoo win be second with 100 votes and
Hoover third with 90 votes For pur-
poses OK jockeying until some one an
swers the great question whether the
party can win with either Palmer or
McAdoe MS candidate the rest Of the
votes Will be scattered around in Il
highly complimentary fashion among
lot Of men who will feel battered to
have their names among the others
voted for"
Mr.. Hoover'S recent action In declar-
@g himself to he a Republican and Il
@eeptive candidate for the nomination
81 the hands of the Republican Ma
HonSl Convention, of course, elimi-
mates him from consideration at tho
hands of the Democracy. IT is not rea-
sonable to suppose that any Democrat
ic delegates would be willing to vote
for the cast-of candidate of the Re-
publican' Convention Tt Is therefore
probable that Mr.. Palmer will get his
share Of the 90 votes which the politi-
cal expert quoted assigns to Hoover
The figures given above allOt to
Palmer not only more votes than any
other candidate for the Democratic
nomination, hut more than can con.
scientiouSly he claimed for any candi-
date on the Republican ticket from the
present outlook. Any ore Of the sew.
eral Republican candiiates who could
figure block of $50 delegates to vote
for him on e. first ballot in the Chi.
cage convention would consider him
self rich indeed IN chances for The
nomination.
Every day that passes brings new
bitterness into the Republican pre-
convention campaign and opens new
wounds that will be difficult in The
healing Breaches are being opened in
state delegations that defy bridging by
the most earnest efforts Of accom-
plished leaders. and not delegation
has been selected to the Chicago con-
vention from what might be termed
real fighting ground for the several ,
candidates which is not torn by bitter
fcudS and hupeleSSly split upon the
candidate to whom Ii shall throw its
suppow
Lavish use of money, as charged
against the managers of two of the
candidates the leading candidates.
for The nomination has developed into
a national scandal and has been made
the subject for denunciatiOn by such
leaders of tlte progressive wing of the
party as Senators Hiram Johnson an
avowed candidate on his own behalf,
and Borah, who is supporting the cam
did0cy Of johnson and is by no means
eliminated as a dark horse in the race
should Johnson fail OF the nomination.
These men and the great force
which they represent within the party
tho true progressiveS and followers
OF Theodore RooseveIt-who fail TO
see in the free expenditure of money
on behalf Of General Leonard Wood
any traits of the residgaFy legRtees of
their dead leader are xQlciHg their
protest over what they charge TO be
sn attempt to override the party
through the use of money, and quick
action viii follow their protests if
they find that through the use of large
sums of money The action of the Chi
cage convention has been influenced in
advance. If there IS to be a third par
~ in the field it will he born OF the
Republican party ia protest against
the pre-conventien methods of the can.
IldateS.
-~~e