The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-06-25
MCAdOO Withdrawal
May Be Grand Stand
Play for Nomination
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE,
fcopyrtght BY The rHtslltg sncsro

SAN FRANCISCO. CaI, June -
William Gibbs MCAdoo'S declaration that
~ was not quitting the presidential race
because Of i'll health StrcnGt thcnCd his
position with his many friends here who
had romc 10 tho conclusion that IN" adj
vice Of Il physician had something To 40
with his Shrupt refusal 10 have his
name presented to the Democratic Ma
tional convention.
Eut the statement made no rctcrence
To the second theory generally advanced
here that President Wilson and his tor
rcr secretary OF the treasury have con-
Guided that 1t would he embarrassing
II both. 10 consent To the candidacy OF
one whose distinguished tdther-in-Iaw
IS taking such "a prominent part IN
framing the platform Of this convention
so tho MCAdoo forces have taken on
renewed life. and have rearrangcd their
lines. They are now convinced Mc.\doo
deliberately withdrew and failed to en-
courage any movement for himself sim
ply because he believed the only way
the nomination should come to him. II
at all. would be after the convention had
spontaneously chosen him without re-
gard IL his own wishes or any sugges-
tion direct or indirect from the White
House. He would be in an infinitely
stronger position before the country II SO
nominated and would not be obligated
either TO his distinguished fathcr-In-law
or anyone else and would be absolutely
free from pledges or pre-conNention
promises.
VIII Go Ahead.
With the single question Of ill-hcalih
removed which. by the way. troubled
MrAdnoS friends more than anything
else. for il WAS tho only way they could
account for the Suddcnuess and myStcr-
icuSnNSs of his tactics, there is change
from deSpondenCy to enthusiasm in the
McNdoo camp. They are now deter
mined 10 go ahead. and the announce
ncnt that Or. RurriS Jenkins. "f Kan
SaS CITY. will place McAdoo's name in
nomination without his consent has
served 10 concentrate attention upon the
nominating speech.
Mr.. MrAdoo. incidentally. in his latest
Stat"mCnl. appears TO be !aoorlnS under
the impression that tho story about hts
having 4 serious Illness was inspired
by sources untriendly to him for he
says after denying the published re-
port. that Iii would BE- impossible for
me 10 publicly rharactcrizc such de-
sp.CAhle methods
There was no effort 10 injurc Nc
Ndoo'S chances OF nomination. The
story was on the lips OF many 4 good
friend OF McAdoo and was the rrincipal
ItCm OF gossip among the McAdoo sup
portcrS. some urging II was true and
some contcndinG Il was not. Mr.. Nc
-Ndoo'S reference To "dcSpicahlc meth
cds" suggests TO some observers hero
that the former secretary Of The treas
urS j. sensitive about his candidacy
and believes there Is some movement
here TO hurt his chances OF spontan-
cous- nomination. BY clearing the air
ON III" health question he has helped
matters IN his own behalf Il great deal
and his efforts to prevent DR.. Jenkins
from nominating him are considered
EXCELLENT tactics Rut without better
organization on the door Mr.. Mchhoos
chances would appear 10 be slim At this
writing.
Wet vs. Dry Issue
Wilh the arrival. however. OF Senator
los N,hn hrn, nF
several planks for the platform APP
proved by President Wilson. the real
issue which must be- decided before 4
candidate is chosen is the wet or dry
question. II this is a Wilson conven-
ton and will probably be proved so III
the EARLY sessions, there will be At
least a moist plank in the platform for
the White House has Wet inclinations
Il was pointed out tn the writer for
instance. with gestures Of significance
today. that President Wilson vetoed the
Nolstcad Act and that the latter became
4 law over his veto. Moreover IL Snould
pc remembered Mr. Wilsoa never sent
messages 10 state legislatures urging
them TO adopt the Eighteenth amend
mcnt. white he has taken vital in
tcreSt In the constitutional amendment
TO grant the franchise to women.
Eastern Democracy is. OF course. wet
and has enough votes to exercise bal
an,.c Of power between the more or less
passive south and the arid West. West
'ru Democrats admit they are amazed
hy tho overwhelming wet sentiment be-
inS waited htthCr from the East. Scv-
sral Democratic leaders want TO win so
badly that they are considering the adj
Instability OF taking n leaf out OF the
Republican book at Chicago and urging
a plank that Is both for and against
somethinEA satisfies most everybody.
prevents &'quarrel and permits a candl-
date 10 interpret tho plank as he pleaseS
m the campaign. The League OF Nations
plank OF the Republican National con-
Vcnt!on may find It's parallel in Il COM
promise plank on the liquor question at
the Democratic convention. What John
son was 10 the Republican efforts at
Gratis.
Cummings and Bryan
Mr.. Bryan has considered making a
night on Homer Cummings. who is is TO
bc temporary chairman OF the convcn-
ton. because OF the alleged wet leanings
~ tho latter The Wilson forces would
welcome such tilt. for Homer Cum
mingS would win easily, and Mr.. Bryan
would BE- weakened for any subsequent
controversies. The truth Is Mr.. Cum
mirgS hasn't said whether nc Is vet or
dry and II forced TO say he probably
would insist that II was not his affair
,u dictate 10 the platform committee.
AZ 10 that committee. the dryS have
4 big ma ajority. but minority report
condemning the Yolstcad Act will al
OF the convention. The delegates are
believed to be about equally divided and
tho opportunity for compromise may
come in San Francisco a. 1t did in Chi
cago. Nothing in the famous Virginia
platform which is TO be tho model on
the league Of nations refers TO the pro-
hibItlon question. but the big deleEa-
tIons from New York. New Jersey. In
diana. Iuinois and Massachusetts Rre
inclined to favor a moist plank. The