Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-05
COUNTRY WILL De
DIVIDED Up BY
PALMER M ADOO
And When They Get to 'Fris-
co the WeII-KnoWn Chant
I'VE Want WiIsonV May
Sweep Convention
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
RY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, D. c., March A.
It is possible now to reveal how At
torney General A. Mitchell Palmer
entered the presidential race with
the consent of Woodrow Wilson and
how tn president, waving any third
term ambitions he may have had, has
let down the administration bars to
the green fields of Democratic poll
tics.
Attorney General Palmer did not
get blindly into the presidential race
Monday night. He did not act with
out knowing his entry was satisfac-
tory to the president and that Mr..
Wilson would not lift hand to sin-
terfere with any member of his cab
met, or any former member, or any
one hundred per cent administration
Democrat who wants to seek the
Democratic nomination.
Vance Mccormick, former chair
man Of the Democratic national COM
mittee and campaign manager for
President Wilson three years ago, was
the principal intermediary. between
the attorney general and his chief.
Mr.. Mccormick will probably be cam
L
seeking election if he is nominated.
Democratic politicians in Georgia
played almost if not quite as impor4
tant a role in bringing out Mr.. Pal
mer and in getting the o. K. of the
White House.
Through an emissary in Washing
ton it was represented to the White
House and to the attorney general
hn
gia was such that it Vas necessary
to enter Immediately there one
hundred per cent administration can
| didate, otherwise, it was represented,
the Georgia delegation might fall into
hostile hands. 1t is authoritatively
understood here that the desire of
Mr.. Palmer to get into the race and
the joint representations of Mr.. Nc
Cormick and Georgia political lead
ers finally moved the White House
early this week to give the GO, Go"
signal to the attorney general. With
In few hours Attorney General
Palmer had wired the secretary of
the Georgia executive committee that
he was authorized TO put Palmer's
name on the presidential preference
primary ballot.
vi Gno wilson Record
This announcement from ATTORNEY
General Palmer was practically the
same as a White House statement
that Mr.. Wilson had eliminated him
self as a third term candidate. Mr..
Palmer would never, have lrilou,lce,l
SO long as there was any uncertainty
ABOUT this. He is one of the most
loyal nen in the cabine: and will run
square;y on the Wilson record with
out getting the go-ahead sign from
the president, Mr.. Palmer would no
moro enter the presidential race Than
would Josephus Daniels, secretary of
the navy, or Secretary Of War Ba-
.ker.
IL mas been known for some time
that Mr.. Palmer had further politi
cal ambitions. But like Mr., Nc
Aooo, the presidents son-in-law, and
former cabinet officer, Mr.. Palmer
held back awaiting some Indication
OF the presidents attitude toward a
third term. His sudden action Mon.
DAY is fraught with Significance and
virtually tells the story, even if 9TH
er details were not known.
Inc story, however, goes further
IMAM this. 1t is understood here that
as matters now stand both ATTORNEY
General Palmer and former Secre-
tary McAdoo will be the "fair-haired
poys OF the administration. The
president apparently is willing that
each should go out and corral as
many delegates as possible. They
nave sort Of 'go to it boys" permits
sion and each has the blessing Of
the party chief.
Another
OF the situation is the Shaping Of
a program whereunder Mr.. Palmer
Will contest for delegates in some
states and Mr.. McAdoo in others
Probabilities are now that Mr.. Nc
Adoo will not go into Georgia. al
though it is his native state, because
he took his name off the ballot there
before Mr.. Palmer's name went on.
AT that time, Mr.. McAdoo was hold
ing back, evidently in view of the
silence Of the Waite House. Mr..
McAdoo, it is said, will most likely
get into the Texas contest, while
Mr.. Palmer will be an onlooker. Here
and there Palmer and McAdoo dele
gates will be gathered up, for such
developments as may come at San
Francisco.
No candidates, according to pres
emit indications, will go to San
Francisco in command Of the conf
vention. Uninstructed delegations
doubtless will mold the balance of
power.
May Start to Chant
But with the president out Of con-
sideration it will be a lively and
fair fight. 1t is within possibility, |
of course, that somebody will start |
the chant-accompani by the fami1- |
lar stamping Of feet and the me-
thodical pounding Of hands together
1--WE want Wilson; we want Wilson; !
we want wilson,"
If that should happen and the con-
vention should go off it's feet, it is
easy to surmise to whom the Palmer
and McAdoo delegates would be
thrown. Nevertheless. in view of
developments within the past three
days there is little belief here that
the president is thinking of a third
term. At last lie appears to have
reached a self-eliminatieQ decision,
albeit his letter to the Jackson day
diners, challenging the opposition to
throw the peace treaty into the cam
paign, was construed as making him
a potential candidate.
1t is known that some weeks ago
Vance Mccormick, who has just an