Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-03
NJ ADD STILL IS
HOLDING WHIP HAND
At SAN FRANCISCO
Strength Of Former Treas
ury Head Grows as Rival
Factions Jockey to Dis
place Him
By DAVID LAWRENCE


SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, July O.
The old political adage, "You can't
beat somebody with nobody applies
directly TO the situation in which
the forces opposed to the nomination
Of McAdoo find themselves as the
hour of balloting draws near.
We've stopped 'em," comes the
whispered assurance from the Palmer
scouts, who are out in the Hobbies
keeping up the enthusia SIN of their
supporters. Somewhat the same
thought proceeds from Cox people,
who talk vaguely about a combina-
ton of New York, Illinois, Indiana
and Massachusetts,, which will
surely stop McAdoo's nomination y
But on the inside, where the Lead
ers of all the booms foregather,
another situation really exists. The
McAdoo people have a few politicians
and strategists in their ranks, and
rather definite word was sent to
the Cox headquarters that if the del
egates are coerced into a combina-
ton to beat McAdoo, there never
will be any support given Cox If
the convention stays deadlocked, for
q week.
The same kind of threat was sent
to the Palmer managers, and natur-
ally the men who are eager to nomi-
nate Palmer or Cox don't want to
sntagonize so large block of votes
as are held by the McAdoo men. To
get votes, Affirmative and not mega
tive combinations must be made.
Tammany Can't Fight McAdoo
Tammany couldn't afford to enter
into any combination against Nc
Adoo.
There are at least twenty votes for
McAdoo in the New York delegation,
and If it became apparent that New
York was trying to deadlock the
nomination of McAdoo, Tammany's
chances of getting the Wilson sup
porters to vote the state ticket
next fall would be imperiled. Sim
ilarly Tom Taggart, who wants to
.un for Senator next fall, isn't TAX
Ing any risks by mourning the I'M
= necessary hostility of McAdoo men
n Indiana, and George Brennan, who
is trying to inherit Roger Sulli-
ANS leadership in Illinois, is tread
ng cautiously, too.
The talked-of anti-McAdoo combi-
,ation becomes less and less tangible
imply because those who started it
aad dark horses of their own to
nj q
stop the McAdoo nomination. as he
seemed to be the leader in the race.
The effort came too early.
Both the supporters of Palmer and
Cox are not thinking of dark horses.
They are thinking of their respec-
tive chieftans. Each group believes
victory is possible and is pursuing
conciliatory course toward the
.ival camp. That's better politics
than negative combinations. 1t looks
now as if the McAdoo strength on
The first ballot will be larger than
vas anticipated. Having withstood
he drive in last forty-eight hours
against their candidates, the McAdoo
delegates sit tight, determined to
ike crusaders who know what they
want. That's their strength, in fact
1t is the big factor in any conven-
ton. -
McAdoo strongest Democrat .
An affirmative minority that
knows what it wants has much
better chance of acquiring delegates
that negative minority that sim
ply Is out to beat somebody and can
not offer substitute.
The talk Of dark horses also came
soon enough to help McAdoo, fol
the merits and dement's Of every
Democrat of prominence have beer
talked over by the delegates. Vice
President Marshall, Champ Clarl
and Homer Cummings are the darl
horse trio. The first two would no
be satisfactory to the Wilson forces
who control this convention. Thu
vice president is said to be opposed
to the presidents stand on tn,
League of Nations. The forme
speaker is held in high esteem, bu
most Of the delegates think he il
& too advanced in years, though hi
4 friends point to Clemenceau as al
example of political vigor in tn
sixties.
Homer Cummings perhaps Is tn
most popular with the convention
personnel, but the delegates to thi
gathering are aware that they mus
have a candidate who is popula
with the masses, too, if they dom
want the contest again Harding t.
be default. Cummings is an abb
lawyer and a splendid orator, blu
he has never been elected to high Of
flee. He ran for United States sena
tor In Connecticut once and wa
'>--->~A
..'-0G the other hand McAdoo neve
was elected to a public post. Mover
theless he has had two big jobs
& secretary of the treasury and direc
tor general of railroads-and tn
delegates who are for him are con
Tpced that whether or not it is SUI
I5oient to win there is a decide
sentiment for McAdoo among tn
rank and file Of the Democrat
throughout the nation, and that '
McAdoo can't win next autumn n
other Democrat can.
~ 81 ~S