The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-01
ZEAL Of FRIENDS
HURTING NJ ADOO,
WRITER ASSERTS
Says Organization and Too
Rapid Growth of Boom
Brings Coalition Similar to
One Which Defeated Wood.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent of The Ne
GcInnifarN


Sclmitar.)
=, SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. July 1.--Any-
thing to beat McAdoo. That's the line
up mere, Back of the movement are
not merely the managers of the Cox
and Palmer candidates., but those who
nave the faint hope that fayorite son
may be nominated-some dark horse
VINO has few votes now, but who may
grow as Harding did at Chicago, II the
ieaders in the race are eliminated
The Democrats may be the last peo-
pie to admit that they would initiate
anything Republican, but the spell Of
republican strategy seems to be upon
some OF the managers here. Just as
tnefe was combination to beat Leon
ard Wood at Chicago there's a coali-
tion afoot to defeat McAdoo. The
states who have dark horses to trot
forth are being urged to hold their
votes intact for dark horses. The
Palmer and Cox managers feel that If
McAdoo does get up to 500 votes or so,
the veto power which they hold of one
third of the votes or the opposition of
the favorite son delegations will be
sufficient to stop the advance of Nc
Adoo.
But coalitions against McAdoo are
not SO easy to sustain here.
The convention is not so closely con-
trolled by leaders who can absolutely
depend on their delegates in pro-
longed series of ballots.
Friends Overzealous.
Perhaps the thing that has hurt Nc
Adoo is the too rapid growth of his
boom before the balloting starts, cou-
by oyerzealous friends. Anything which
gives the impression that McAdoo is
an active candidate, Notwithstanding
his professions to the contrary, gives
an opportunity to opponents TO Nc
Adoo to Keep on questioning his sin
GPTtfV dninODfac inly tn IL,
those. things. They are already saying
McAdoo is party to a game OF super
strategy here, and are attacking him
for 1t.
But William Gibbs McAdoo himself is
doing all in his power to squelch efforts
to make him an active candidate. He
again asked DR.. Burris Jenkins, OF Kan
sas City. not to put his name in nomi-
nation before the convention. He ap-
pealed to other friends to intercede with
I Dr. Jenkins and persuade him not to
make any nominating speech.
Consider the wisdom of the move to
keep DR.. Jenkins from making the
nominating speech There are those
ss0 F essd \ m @9pJa ofala4ItaI Esissd
craftsmanship that the points in Nc
Adoo's record ought to be recalled to
the minds OF delegates, and that it was
the splendid marshaling of facts and
arguments by Gov. Willis in his nomi-
uhtliIB SDtGCu WIIiCH ildu 50 lHuCIl " uO
with the final selection of Senator
Harding at Chicago. But on the other
hand. Mr. McAdoo is in an entirely diff
ferent position.
He has insisted that he doesn't want
the nomination and has telegraphed his
friends here to desist in their activity
for him. Some delegates have taken all
this with grain of salt, for they have
noticed a persistence of campaigning
for McAdoo. But the only formal thing
which is done for candidates in the con-
vention itself is the nominating and
seconding speech. To permit the same
| to be done without protest is to consent
| to being made candidate. Mr.. Nc
Adoo made his protest to DR.. jenkins.
Another thing. Suppose McAdoo does
not win the nomination here. Some of
| his friends believe that if his name is
presented formally along with the other
| candidates he will never be able to
| erase the impression that he sought the
| nomination. Mr. Hoovers sad eXpe-
| rience after he had insisted that he
as a case in point. But back of it all is
the feeling that II this convention wants
McAdoo, 1t knows where he stands and
| it knows he would accept If drafted.
He said in telegram after the Geor-
| gia primaries that no true Democrat
could refuse the presidential nomina-
| tion II rendered to him.
The sting of the son-in law argument
| Is still felt. One of the local news
papers greets the delegates daily with
| headlines about the rise and fall Of the
boom Of "the crown prince" Some of
| the other newspapers insist that the
president is trying to get the nomina
tion for McAdoo.
Mr. Wilson is literally keeping his
hands off, but. as has been demon
strated again and again in the sessions,
| this is a Wilson convention-the dele
gates are by and large supporters of tho
| Wilson policies. They are for Palmer
and McAdoo because each is a Wilson
man. II it were not for Palmer's rec
ord against labor, he would win the
nomination. Similarly because OF Nc
Adoo's record in favor Of labor, he holds
commanding position here. His at-
firmative strength is not measurable.
The size of the veto block of votes,
said to be at least one-thlrd, Is also a
matter OF conjecture.
| But McAdoo's chances had receded
slightly when word came that he had
again upset the plans OF his friends and
asked them not to present his name. II
| is this constant refusal TO take the
crown which seems to add fascination
| to the McAdoo movement. The dele
gates appeard to derive stimulus from
| the unwilllngness OF McAdoo to lift q
| finger to advance his own political in
| terests.