Evening star., 1920-02-22
Intense With the Near Approach of Early Primaries
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments, Based on
Reports From The Stars Special Core
spondents and Staff Writer'S.

that Wood will capture the Indiana
delegation. In Indiana during the
week the McAdoo boom also came to
life. the understanding being that
the democratic state orsanizat tion
headed by Thomas Taggart is dis
posed to get behind the former Sec
retary of the Treasury.
!: x X X
During the coming week Iowa is
going to be the center of democratic
political interest. The state convcn-
ton is to be held, and John E. Mere
dith, the new Secretary of Agricul-
ture. is to attend. Iowa democrats
are waiting in the eager belief that
Mr.. Meredith may bring from the
White House some indication as to
what President Wilson wants in the
way of platform declarations and can
didate Endorsements. There is some
suggestion that Mr.. Meredith himself
may be put forward as a presidential
candidate. but SO far there is not in
Iowa anything like a Meredith boom.
A feature of the democratic Situa-
ton in Iowa somewhat puzzlinS to
an outsider is the result of Il big
newspaper poll of the state now be
ing conducted. For the democratic
preference Gov. Edwards of New
jersey, an avowed wet leads Her
bert Hoover, his nearest competitor.
by nearly three to one The other
candidates in order of their support
are McAdoo. Bryan. Cox. Gerard and
Palmer. For second-choice prefer
ence Hoover has the lead
From Richmond comes word that
the Virginia democratic state con-
vention to be held at Roanoke is
likely to put Senator Carter Glass
forward as a candidate for the presi-
dency. Friends of the former Secre-
tary of the Treasury count on his
winning support from the business
interests
Petitions are being circulated in
Nebras ska to place Bryan's name on
the preferential primary ticket. and
an effort is to be made to elect Bryan
delegates to San Francisco.
Herbert Hoover has been asked by
the democratic state committee of
Georgia to declare whether he is a
democrat. On Mr.. Hoover's answer
will depend whether his name goes
on the preferential primary ticket.
Apparently there has been some
thing of a let-down in Hoover talk
in the east and south. but in the far
west it is still going strong. In
Oregon petitions are being circulated
to have Hoover'S name placed on the
democratic primary ticket, and A
straw vote conducted by Portland
aper shows Hoover far in the lead of
other democratic candidates. The
contest in Oregon between Wood and
Lowden for control of the republi-
can delegation is exceedingly warm,
with Wood apparently having an ad-
vantage in the greater effectiveness
of his organization.
In Washington state Hoover talk
is reported strong in both parties.
but with the active workers in
both parties still cold toward the
former food administrator. The
republican delegation is to be in
structed for Poindexter, but there
is said to be a strong undercur-
rent of sentiment favorable to
Wood. Washington democrats are
ing for something to turn up"
In Colorado the democratic or
sanization is reported to be hard
at work fighting two distinct ten
denotes toward independent move
ments. The one they most fear is
a trend toward Hoover, regardless
of his party affiliations. but in the
background they see the menace
of democratic bolt. headed b.
William Jennings Bryan.
4 y X X
Political interest in Washington
this week turned somewhat to the
question Of control of the next
Congress. The republicans claim
they are confident of increa sing to
at least ninety their present ma
jority Of forty-seven in the House.
The democrats content themselves
with the claim that the election
will give them control Of the House
by a margin Of five or six votes.
AS to the Senate. where the re-
publicans control by a margin of
only two votes, one mans guess
is as good as another. Thirty
three senators are to be elected in
November, one in each of thirty
one states. and two in Virginia. OF
the contested seats, eighteen now
are filled by democrats and fifteen
by republicans. Nine of the demo-
cratic senators whose successors
are to be elected are from southern
states, so that there is no question
but that democrats will be elected
to succeed them. Six of the fif-
teen republican senators whose
terms are to expire are from safely
republican states, leaving nine re-
publican seats the succession to
which may be regarded as doubt
full. Thus with contests in eight
cen states. now equally divided be-
tween republicans and democrats.
and with democratic gain Of
one. all that is necessary to wipe
out the present republican margin,
the senatorial situation certainly
isn't a field to invite a prophet to
risk his reputation.
Copyright, 1920. by The Washington Star. }