Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-30
McAdoO Candidacy
at Crucial Stage
(By CLINTON W. GILBERT

Continued from PAGE One
ginning to weigh in the minds of the
delegates.
The whole movement was in the con-
dition that organized cheering in con-
ventions often reaches-it does not 60
on of itself. 1t has to be stimulated
by some especial vociferatior. To keep
up the appearance of astonishing vi
tality which the McAdoo candidacy has
shown. something had to be done, so
the women workers were turned loose.
Their energy and enthusiasm may give
oxygen to the McAdoo candidacy and
maintain its high intensity, but it is a
huge task to continue a movement like
this until Saturday when, in all prob
ability, nominations will be made.
Expect Support of Labor
If 1t were not for the conventions be-
lief that Mr. McAdoo is strong with
labor, his candidacy would collapse
quickly. The delegates are balancing
his strength with labor against his
weakness as a member of the Wilson
FAMILY. AS the platform is likely to
give Mr.. Gompers substantially all he
asks for, the convention may decide that
the Democratic party will have the sup
port OF labor and in that case it may not
nave TO take a candidate who raises the
dynasty issue in order to get the vote
tor which Mr.. Gompers speaks.
Ihe supporters of Mr.. McAdoo are
aware of the difficulties which the
crown prince charge raises. One of the
leading members Of the administration
group backing the McAdoo movement
SAID, President Wilson has made it
nearly impossible to nominate McAdoo. y"
The President has done this by his
policy of hanging on to the control of
his party up toJnow. Had the Presi-
dent taken himself out of the race for
the presidency three or four months ago,
with statement that he would under no
conditions accept denomination, party
control would have shifted into other
hands. This would not be a Wilson
dominated convention.
The significance of efforts like those
of Postmaster General Burleson in
behalf of McAdoo would be less, and the
delegates, had they chosen, might have
nominated McAdoo without raising
sharply the crown prince issue. Will
son himself would have disappeared
from the picture sufficiently for that.
But Wilson himself by clinging to
power in his party has kept the anti
Wilson issue alive and with it the
dynasty issue.
The McAdoo promoters would like to
get rid of it. Some of them privately
express the wish that Mr.. Burleson and
Senator Carter Glass had stayed in
Washington or that they would support
some other candidate than Mr.. McAdoo.
They feel that the activity of the mem
bers of the administration in behalf of
their candidate is a liability. Taey also
emphasize the "disinherited son in
law" idea. They do their best to
spread the report that the President
prefers some other candidate than his
son in law and that relations between
the two have been distant for some
time. To impress the delegates they
say that the crown prince argument is
Republican propaganda put out by the
opposition to prevent McAdoo's nom
nation because the Republicans fear
him as a candidate more than any one
else the Democrats could put in the
field.
Cummings Looms Up
With the McAdoo reaction on, the
suggestion that Homer G. Cummings
will be the final choice of the conven-
ton strengthens.
There is no possibility Of exaggerat-
ing the impression Mr.. Cummings
keynote speech made. AS dark horse
he is off to a good start. Mr.. Cum
mings's availability as a compromise
1nko 11 Sc y,
spokesman here. He was chosen by
the President to deliver the keynote
speech because he was the best man to
do it. But more than that, if Mr..
Wilson means to say anything to the
convention he will say it through Mr..
Cummings.
Moreover, the national chairman has
been extremely sympathetic Wv the
desire of the state leaders to d.r,ributc
patronage. He has gone to the bat for
them. When they were discontented
with Postmaster General Bureson's
strict enforcement of the civil service
rules it was Mr.. Cummings who went
to the President and had the Burle-
son practices softened so that the or
ganization obtained more postofice
Jobs. Mr.. Cummings has Travelled all
over the country. He has seen Demo
Gratis everywhere. anu everywhere ne
has lent a sympathetic ear to their
complaints about patronage.
Mr.. Cummings is that rare thing
a highbrow in politics who has the
Imagination to look at the game from
the district leaders point of view. That
capacity of his will be worth many
votes on the convention floor if the
delegates pass by McAdoo and look for
n candidate farther down the line. No
real movement toward Cummings can
he detected. The McAdOo candidacy
Is still on trial. Its fate may not be
settled until after several ballots have
been cast.
Governor Cox is now looked upon
solely as the leading vice presidential
candidate. Even If Mr.. McAdoo should
fail Cox would not profit. McAdoo will
20 only as the result Of some under
standing reached by the administration
forces and the state leaders to unite
upon Cummings or some other\ dark
horse. If the candidate for President
comes from the East Cox is likely to
complete the ticket. The Democrats
would IKE to throw some sop to- the
vets. El