Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-17
The President and the Candidate

W/lLL President Wilson proceed one step
w further i'll the exercise of his leader
ship of the Democratic party and dictate
the nomination of Il favorite heir-apparent
for the presidency? This question has
arisen in many minds following the Presi-
dents announcement upon the Versailles
treaty, addressed TO the Democrats of Ore
eon. There is not the slightest doubt that
Mr. Wilson proposes to write the cardinal
planks i'll the party platform if the privi-
lege is vouchsafcd him. Already he has laid
down peace proposition which the party
cannot well ignore or escape.
This issue. as he defines it, may not taste
well to all Democrats. In fact, it will prove
very distasteful TO those Democratic Sena-
tors who voted for the Lodge reservations
But that will not prevent Mr. Wilson from
carrying through, il he can, his program
OF policy-making. program which Will
follow the lines Of the present administra-
ton not alone in domestic matters, but in
foreign affairs rs well. The logical thing
for the President to do in that direction
or at least to undertake, would be to select
a candidate who, in his judgment repre-
Sents the things he himself stands for and
give that candidate the benefit OF his sup
port That he could throw n great deal of
the administration influence behind such
a candidate, goes without saying
The President does not ALWAYS do the
logical or the expected thing, and in the
present contest the chances are that he
VIII not make choice between personals
ties in so far as the nomination is con-
cerned He is far more apt to fix n series
of specifications by which he will measure
all those who aspire to receive his mantle
II is the feeling Of many of his political
associates that he will say to the country
at the proper time that he recognizes the
ability and party loyalty OF many of the
men who are running before the conven-
ton, and that all those who conform to
his idea Of policy are equally to be com
mended.
Many times it has been intimated that
the President. in his heart, would prefer
to see the nomination of Mr.. McAdoo, not
because OF the family relationship between
them, but in spite Of It, Certainly the for
mcr secretary stands for the Wilson pro-
gram unilinchingly. Moreover he was
faithful and able instrument in the hands
OF tho President during the six years that
he sat in the Cabinet. But the President
doubtless realizes that his support OF MIR.
McAdoo would be liability as well as an
asset. and 1t would be far better to allow
the New Yorker to make his fight unaided
by the White House.
Then there is the Acknowledgement who
Is an active candidate and who, at the same
time, is loyal administration man. 1t
would not be easy for the President to sup
port one Of these men as against the other
when both have supported him with an in
tense zeal and with IA faith in him that
never has been shaken. Also there is Gov
crnor Cox. Of Ohio. who is not an admins
tration product. but nevertheless, has stood
unwaverinEly behind the President upon
every important issue that he has raised.
To the total outsider, therefore, 1t seems
that the more consistent course for the
PRESIDENT to pursue in connection with tho
convention is to insist upon the indorse-
ment of his program Of policies without
making choice between candidates equally
faithful TO those policies