Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-05
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
RY TEEODGEE TlJLER

COElluS GeOFSld prefer eICS PRIMARY,
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer
has blown off the lid of Democratic
presidential politics and contributed
President Wilson will not seek a
third term.
In telegraphing Secretary Gardner,
of the Georgia state executive COM
mittee, that he was willing to have
his name go on the Georgia ballot
the attorney general has blazed a
path that William c.. McAdoo and
others may follow and the Demo-
cratic contest is fairly under way.
Mr.. Palmer's action was entirely
unexpected at this time, because
Washington had not thought that
either Mr.. Palmer, a member Of the
cabinet. or Mr.. McAdoo, a for er
member and the presidents son-in-
law, could appropriately declare
their respective political ambitions
SO long as the White House remained
silent regarding third term reports.
Now Mr.. Palmers hat is in the ring
and that of Mr.. McAdoo, according
to Washington belief, will quickly
follow. It is not for moment
thought here that Mr.. Palmer would
have sent his telegram to Georgia
without knowledge of what the presi-
dent intends to do.
Third term talk became more per-
sistent after Mr.. Wilson failed to
eliminate himself as candidate in
his letter to the Democrats assem-
bled at the jackson day dinner. The
presidents virtual challenge to the
opposition to throw the treaty into
the campaign caused Democrats gen
ha1ipUn
blity, even a probability. that Mr..
Wilson would run again. Assuming
man as close. to the president as
Mr.. Palmer is would not inject him
self into a situation involving po-
tential en- 0arrassments, the Palmer
telegram seems an indirect note that
Mr.. Wilson is not a candidate and
will leave the field wide open to as
piring Democrats.
Washington had expected a delay
IN the Palmer announcement because
of the uncertainty about the presi-
dents position on the next campaign
and SurmiseS in official and other
quarters that the president because
Of the peace treaty deadlock might
seek a third term. 1t was contended
it would be embarra ssing to either
Mr.. Palmer or the presidents SON.
in-law and former cabinet member,
Mr.. McAdoo, to make an announce
ment just now regarding their own
ambitions.
Attorney General Palmer took the
plunge last night, however. and while
there is nothing official except his
telegram to the Georgia state COM
mittee, it Can hardly be believed here
that Mr.. Palmer entered the race
without knowing something about
President Wilson's plans
To Back Administration
Mr.. Palmer's surprising action de-
scended upon Washington when his
secretary walked into the National
Press club about II o'clock Monday
night and presented for FASTING on
the clubs bulletin board a copy of
the attorney generals telegram to
the Georgia committeeman.
In his telegram to the Georgia
secretary, Mr.. Palmer announced that
he intends to stand squarely on the
administr9 TONS record and that
Georgia Democrats will thus have an
opportunity to pass upon that rec
ord. This lends color to the impress
sion here that Mr.. Palmer is not TAX
ing leap in the dark as he enters
1920 politics, and that the president
is willing to permit Democrats both
in and out of his official family, to
go out on their own merits and on
the record of the administratio and
seek the place Mr.. Wilson now occu-
pies.
Telegram to Gardner
Mr.. Palmer's telegram to Secre-
tary Gardner read as follows:
Il understand that my friends
have entered my name in the pres-
Dental primaries. If the Democrats
of the state of Georgia see fit to
select as their choice, shall
receive the honor with deep appre-
citation. 1 deem it highly important
that the Democrats of Georgia should
have the opportunity to directly pass
upon the record made by the pres
ent administration. The candidacy
of one who supports that record in
every phase presents that opportu-
nifty"
The Georgia primary may develop
the first test of strength among At
torney General Palmer, Herbert
Hoover, Champ Clark, former Secre-
tary McAdoo and possibly Vice Presi-
dent Marshall.
At any rate, the sudden decision OF
Mr.. Palmer to get into the presiden-
tlal race indicates on the surface that
the president is not thinking of a
third term. Attorney General Palmer
is especially close to his chief, and
1t is almost Uncomfortable that he
would get into presidential politics if
there existed any doubt as to the in
tention of President Wilson to retire
one year from next Thursday.
Now Actively IN Race
Within the past few days ,Attor-
ney General Palmer apparently had
waved aside presidential ambitions
He was quoted as saying that in
serving in the cabinet of Woodrow
Wilson he had gratified his final po-
litical desires and that he was not
candidate for higher honors. This
statement, together with Mr.. Palmer's
previous disregard of his incipient
/ boom, and the Discrimination of Mr..
McAdoo to permit his friends to
urge his nomination, had led to the
general belief in Washington that
no man really close to the president
and identified with his administra-
ton would get into the race until
some word came from the White
House.
Therefore, the significance of the
Palmer telegram will be intensified
by the attendant circumstances and
his message to the Georgia Demo-
Gratis is more than a simple acQui-
essence in the program of his
friends to vote for him. If Mr..
Palmer is a candidate in Georgia he