The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-19
PALMER SEEMS
TO Be in LEAD
Attorney Generals Speech at
Jackson Day Dinner Made
Profound Impression
MAY SUCCEED WILSON
No Democratic Candidates Are
Announcing Themselves I'm
til President Retires.
(By George Manning.)


Washington, Jan. 1S.-A Mitchell
Palmer Of Pennsylvania, attorney gem
eral of the United States, as a sterling
exponent of ''law and order is the
leading candidate in the field today
for the democratic nomination for
president, conceding that Woodrow
Wilson will not be in the running.
With the smoke of the Jackson Day
gathering of democrats here clearing
slowly away Mr.. Palmer, by his ad-
dress and his bearing, seems to have
made more profound impression on
the minds Of the democrats than any
of the other ten or eleven men who
came and made addresses in the hope
that the presidential lightning would
strike them.
In the republican field the impress
sion is gaining ground in Washington
that General Pershing is steadily forg-
ing to the front and will follow the
footsteps of General George Wash
ington. General Jackson and General
Grant who stepped from the command
of American armies into the White
House.
Palmer made what was generally
considered the best and soundest
speech His keynote - Law and
Order" met with general approval.
Many democrats expressed the con-
viction following the banquet that
the Pennsylvanian made himself as
logical" a candidate for the nomina-
tion as did Woodrow Wilson eight
years ago in consequence of his Jack
son Day speech. No democrats are an
nouncing their candidacy while Presi-
dent Wilson appears to be still in the
field, of course, but it is generally "a
greed that Palmer has already laid a
solid foundation for his condidacy
when the opportune moment arrives
for announcing.
An undercurrent of sentiment IS well
under way among democrats here not
to permit the president to run a third
time even if he should insist with
his friends that he cannot withdraw
with the treaty in its present situa-
ton.
The failure of the president to send
word to the democrats that he would
not be again candidate was a deep
disappointment to most of those at
tending the Jackson dinner, and a Sc
we're shock to half a dozen of the pros
pective candidates who had hoped the
president would step aside and make
the way clear for their booms.
Because of the presidents failure to
give even an intimation of his inten-
tion towards a third term all the can
didates must hold their booms in leash.
They are hoping a compromise viii be
reached on the treaty that will per-
NIT its ratification so that il can be
put out Of he way. They realize that
so long as it is not ratified it must be
the party issue at the polls next fall.
If it is the issue President Wilson is
the logical candidate to stand on that
issue because he helped draft it, signed
it, asked its ratification and is still
standing by it.
The platform upon which Mr.. Wilson
stood in 1912 declared for a single term
in the White House. But neither in
his speech accepting the nomination
nor in any speech made during the
campaign did he subscribe to the dec
laration. He left the matter to time
and time decided in favor of a second
term for him. He was renominated
by reclamation. 1t appears to be his
purpose now to leave the matter of
third nomination to time,-to the
coming six months.
Many democrats about the capitol
believe William Jennings Bryan viii
/ be a candidate, either as the regular
party nominee or as the leader of a
new party he may form in a way sim
| liar TO the Progressive party Colonel
Roosevelt headed so disastrously in
1912.
The boom for General Pershing has
gained much favor in Washington
during the past three weeks and espec-
( tally since it was ascertained that he
will accept the presidential nomination
| if it is rendered him by the republi-
cans. The commander of the A. z. T.
is not an avowed candidate, and likely
will not be before the holding OF the
convention. But assurance has been
obtained from authoritative sources
that the general will not sidestep a
nomination.
/ The boom for General Pershing was
brought 10 Washington several days
ago by Mark w. Woods of Lincoln
Neb.. manager OF the Nebraska for
Pershing' movement, who discussed it
with several senators and congressman
and other politicians. Woods assured
the men with whom he talked that the
Pershing boom is gaining strength, and
that if drafted Pershing will accept
unqualifiedly.
The Pershing boom has outgrown the
place of its birth, and is spreading
from the campus of the University OF
Nebraska into other states, where
alumni of that college are organizing
Pershing clubs Political organizations
of other kinds are also being formed.
Men not particularly favorable to
the McAdoo boom suggest that he re-
ceived a ''tip" from the president, his
father law, that Mr.. Wilson was
/ going TO be the party's candidate this
fall and that il would avail the former
secretary of the treasury nothing TO
attend and try TO get his boom started