El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-06-24
PALMER L0WDEN
Of DEMOCRATS
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from page L.

presented to the Democratic conven-
That ends the cataIog Of facts and
circumstances but something hap
pened when McAdoo went eastward
The writer knows that Mr.. McAQoo
didn't go to Washington and didn {
consult with Wilson. Nor was he in
the white house before he issued his
statement Only two conclusions
would seem plausible therefore.
Either Mr. McAdoo consulted his
physician. who absolutely forbade
him entering a campaign, or else he
found a personal note sent him by
president Wilson telling him the
most obvious thing in the world.
namely. that in view Of their rela-
tonship. II would be embarrassing 70
have Mr.. McAdoo permit his name or
his candidacy to be presented TO the
Democratic convention
Is ShreFd Politician.
On the same day Mr.. Wilson reiter-
ates in the public press what he told
Mr.. Cummings three weeks before
that he would not dictate 10 the
Democratic party on the choice Of a
nominee Woodrow Wilson is a
shreWder politician than most people
credit him with being. He knows
that the Republicans would say he
obtained the nomination for his SON
inlaw or that the latter won the
nomination through the influence Of
the Wilson administration and he
realized that the only thing 70 do was
TO keep hands off Then II the
Democrats saw fit to nominate Nc
AdOO il would be the free and I'M
trammeled choice Of the convention.
So thoroughly has the hands-off
policy been carried cut that when
some leaders here appealel by tele-
graph today to Daniel O. Roper, for
mer commissioner nf internal reve-
nue. and the recognized manager OF
the McAdoO boom. 10 come 20 san
Francisco and act as advisor to the
party irrespective Of the McAdoo sit
uation, an answer came back prompt
" from Roper saying that he feared
his coming to san Francisco might
be construed as reflection on the
sincerity Of Mr.. McAdoo's public
statements declining to be a candi-
So the AlcAdoo forces here are lit
orally up in the air. Many delegates
and leaders insist they are going
through with the plan 20 draft Nc
Adoo for the nomination. They win
find it difficult to do so, es already
the McAdoO strength is disintegrat-
ing because Of his public statement
IN the absence Of his recognized
spokesman. Something happened in
the last week. for it was fully ex-
pected that Roper and his lieutenants
would be on the job. That something
was either the advice Of a physician
or a member Of the McAdoo family
or both.
Meanwhile, governor Cox gains
ground and attorney general Palmer
wins some original 1IcAdoo men. But
Palmer Is the Lowden OF the con-
yenti0n- He is popular with the
Democratic national committee and
regular organization, but his poll
ctes in the department OF Justice
have been such that many delegates
fear he could not be elected.
Bryan is the Johnson Of the hour
he VIII probably be given everything
but the nomination
McAdoo is the Hoover OF the sit
uation- There is a pronounced senti-
ment for him but thus far no orEaui-
ration OF influential leaders is man
aging his interests
Edward T Meredith. OF Iowa. sec
rotary OF agriculture, is the only
in the race. He is one OF
the dark horses who happens to have
the Endorsement Of Bryan, the friend
snip Of McAdoo. a cabinet portfolio
from wilson, q wide acquaintance
among the farmers. the respect OF
business men, and he is q successful
editor and publisher-in short, he
possesses all the qualifications ex-
cept tWo-thirds Of the deleeates.
most Of whom know nothing about
him anyway Meredith is being
quietly doomed for vice president,
which Is a good way 20 start.
The talk Of McAdoo and Meredith,
In fact, proceeds from the faithful
who still think the former director
general Of railroads will be declared
FOR by the party in convention as
sembled- So II the miracle Of a spon-
taneous nomination for NcAdoo
doesn't happen it may be because
Meredith OF Iowa finds himself the
lavorite Of some lIcAdoo. delegates.
He is a dry and Of course hts
chances would 90 a-glimmering II
the vets" gained control.
Cox would be the logical nominee
on moist platform and McAdoo or
Meredith would appear to be in the
lead on an arid platform. A Mitchell
Palmer is a dry" but not strong
enough TO &c the necessary two
thirds.-Copyright, 1920, by David
Lawrence.