South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-30
Montague Says West Virgin
ian May Have TO Quit St.
James Court.
WANTED ON HIS PORCH
Democrats May Call to Ac-
claim Him Their Candidate
for President
by JAMES J. MONTAGUE.
(Nevs-Timcs Correspondent }

SAN FRANCISCO June 29.-It
looks as II John W. Davis was in
danger Of being torn away from a
nice easy job at the court OF St
James and forced 20 spend the sum-
mer sitting on his West Virginia
front porch listening TO people who
come 20 acclaim him as the demo-
cratic candidate for president.
OF course. nothing is sure about
this; nothing Is ever sure in a dem
Ocfatic convention.
But the leaders have discovered
that nobody knows anything IN par
ticular against Mr.. Davis. and that
helps "A lot Furthermore you'd be
astounded 20 see how little the rum
or that the ambassador is kin 10 the
late Jefferson Davis has injured him
with the delegates who come from
south OF Mason and Hamlins line.
= Not PractiCing law Now.
Mr.. Davis. as YOU probably don't
remember was once congressman
and later served his country in the
treasury department He is a quiet
man who practices law when he
isn't holding office. He hasn't had
10 practice law much lately.
over I'm England where Mr.. VIII
son sent him 10 do the ambassing
for the country In "a difficult hour
ne Is as popular as any American
can be IN these days when the fact
that he won the war irritates the
average Britisher beyond articulate
expression.
The Davis mov.e1ent began early
this morning when a lot Of the lead
ers were sitting IN conference and
throwing verbal brickbats at each
others candidates.
How Boom Proceeds.
BY the time the sun in all its state
illumined the eastern skies the
scouts were out finding out VITO had
anything on him. They came back
with the answer-''Nobody"
Nobody wants him particularly.
but nobody doesn't want him, ag
gressiveIy. and the don't wanters are
ra lot moro influential in these pro-
ceedlngs than the wanters.
} II now remains 10 discover
whether he Is wet or dry His posi-
tion on the League Of Nations has
already been determined by the
platform The platform is pro-
league. and Mr.. Davis will have TO
stand on II.
As 20 his witness or drynesS. IL is
Virginia. where the courts accept
Illicit stills as bail for the moon
sinners the revenuers bring in from
the mOuntainR
or course. IL is going to peeve
James w Gerard, who is a perfect
" good ambassador and has written
a book about it If the convention
reaches over his head and seizes an
other ambassador who never wrote
n book in his life
Convention il CallOus
But this convention has shown
thus far. callous difference to the
wishes OF Mr.. Gerard. All the oppo-
nents OF Mr.. Cox. OF Mr. McAdoo.
or Mr. Palmer. or Mr. Bryan can
&c 20 Davis knowing that his nom
ination will blast the ambitions OF
the men they are against
Don't imagine for an instant that
it - all fixed But the process OF
elimination has been going forward
SO rapidly since last midnight that
IL really begins 90 look as If Davis
would be the only man left And
as 90 is the immemoriaI custom Of
q democratic convention TO uomin-
ate somebody every four years the
man who can keep his feet longest
$ the best bet-if YOU ever bet on
a democratic convention. which wise
people never do
(Copyright, 1920