Evening star., 1920-06-24
MR. M'ADOOGA|NS
in BIG RACE BY
\ nLHEALIHDEN|AL
Former Secretary's Friends
\ Take on New Life at
\ Frisco.
BYDxvID LAWRENCE.

III SAN FRANCISCO. June 24.-Willian
ibbs McAdoo's declaration that he
vas not quitting the presidential race
because of i'll health strengthened his
POSITION with his many friends here
Who had come to the conclusion thai
she advice of a physician had some
nhing to do with his abrupt refusal
fo have his name presented to the
democratic national convention.
h But the statement made no refer
xnce DO the second theory generally
3dvanced here that President Wilson
and bis, former Secretary Of the Treas
nry have concluded that il would be
embarrassing to both to consent TO
3he candidacy OF One- whose dtstin
Rtfished father ir-law- is taking such
Aaprominent part in framing the plat
3orm OF this convention.
e Take ON Renewed Life.
So the McAdoe forces have taken
on renewed life. and have rearranged
4heir linest They sare now convinced
NcAdoo deliberately Withdrew and
Hailed to encourage any movement for
shimself simply because he believed
ahe only way the nomination should
Eome to him. if at ALL would be after
3he convention had spontaneously
Chosen him without regard TO his own
9tShes or any suggestion, direct or M
Airect. from the White House He
position before the country if SO
nominated and would not be obligated
TO either his distinguished father-in-
HSw or any one else and would be
absolutely free from pledges or pre-
convention promises.
With the single question. of lIl-
Aealth removed which, by the way,
fFeubled McAdoo's friends more than
Anything else, for it was the only way
ahey could account for the sudden
mess and nysteriousness of his tactics.
Shere is change from sdeSpondency
20 enthusiasm in the McAdoo camp.
4hay ars now determined to go ahead,
ard the announcement that Dr. Bur-
ais Jenk:cs of Kansas City will place
AcAdop'S name in nomination With
nut his consent has SERVED to- con-
z3ntrate attention upon the nomi-
Mating speech
story WINS Not "Unfriendly.'
e Mr.. .McAdoo. incidentally. in his lat
Feet3 3sfatenae nf., Abpe a 81 to, be 1laborfng
Gnder.t he impression thai the story
about his having serious illness was
inspired by sources unfriendly to him.
for he says. after denying the pub
lished report, that ''itGwould be i'm :
-terize- -such despicable methods.
There was no Anpfr- i1Jure Ne
llAdoo's chances of nomination {. The
;,etory was on the lips OF many a good
,ifriend of McAdoo and waS-theprt
iIpai item of gossip among the McAdoo
supporters. some arguing it was true
and some contending it wasn't
lt Mr.. McAdoo's reference to "despic-
l,able methods" suggests to some OBJ
.servers here that the former Secre-
lltary of the TrfasurY is sensitive
about his candidacy and believes
iIthere is some movement here TO hurt
his chances of a spontaneous nomina-
i.tion. BY clearing the air on the
health question he has helped matters
I'm his own behalf a great DEAL and
This efforts to prevent DR.. Jenkins
,sfrom nominating him are considered
llexcellent tactics. But without better
Organization on the floor. Mr.. Nc
I,Adoo's chances would appear to be
4sIim at this writing.
~ Glass Comes With PIanks.
N With the arrival. however. of Sen
ator Carter Glass. who brought a
iicopy of several planks for the plat
lIform approved by President Wilson,
1.-THE real issue which must be decided
l|before a candidate is chosen is the
lIwet or dry question. If this is Will
lIeon convention, and it will probably
Ilbe proved so in the early sessions,
lithere will be at least a moist plank
lin the platform, for the eeWhite House
ithas wet inclinationS. 1t was pointed
libut to the writer, for instance, with
lEestures of significance. today that
iiPresident Wilson vetoed the Volstead
act and that the latter became a law
i'bver his vote. Moreover. it should
l,be remembered. Mr.. Wilson never sent
messages to state legislatures urging
them to adopt the eighteenth amend
.ment, while he has taken a vital in
.terest in the constitutional amend
iment to grant the franchise to
women.
v Balance of Power in East.
Il; Eastern democracy is. of course. wet
and has enough votes to exercise a
balance of power between the more or
less passive south and the arid west
iWestern democrats. admit they are
;amazed by the overwhelming wet sem
Itiment being waited hither from the
east. Several democratic leaders want
to win so badly that they are con-
isidering the advisability of taking a
leaf out of the republican book at
Chicago and urging plankf that Is
both for and against something, sat
sisnes most everybody, prevents q
quarrel and permits a9candtdate, 10
Interpret the plank as he pleases in
the campaign.
X The league of nations plank OF the
ifepublican national convention may
dnd it's parallel in a compromise plank
iou the liquor question at the deIno-
jcratic convention. What Johnson was
10. the republican efforts at harmony
6xyan will be to the democrats.
ffi Fight Over Cummings,
HINT. Bryan has considered making a
Mint on Homer Cummings, who is to
NJ temporary chairman of the conyen-
MSn. because of the alleged wet lean
HfaKs of the latter. The Wilson forces
Would welcome such tilt. for Homer
WINNINGS would win easily and Mr..
bryan would be weakened for any
Subsequent controversies. The truth
I'D. Mr.. Cummings hasn't said whether
he. is a wet or dry. and II forced to say
He probably would insist that it was
not his affair to dictate to the plat
fHrm committee.
las to that committee. the drys have
b big majoriy. but minority report
condemning the Volstead act will al
most certainly be brought to the floor
lnf the convention. The delegates are
helieved to be about equally divided
and the opportunity for a compromise
may come in San Francisco as II did
In Chicago. Nothing in the famous
Virginia platform which is to be the
model on the league of nations refers
TO the prohibition question. but the
.big delegations from New York, New
Jersey. Indiana. Illinois and MaSsa-
chusetts are inclined to favor a moist
plank. The chances for it's accept
ance as democratic doctrine this yeal
are improving