South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-27
PALMER STRENGTH
Is GAINING DAILY
Attorney Generals Chances as
Presidential Champion
Are on Increase.

Special 70 The News Times:
WASHINGTON May 26. - With
the republican precOnvenIon free
for-all well under way attention IS
turning TO the contest for the demo-
cratic presidential nomination. While
the tom toms OF the various repuO-
Iican candidates have been summon
ing their adherents with loud tumult
10 the battle for delegates, the demo-
cratic struggle has been progressing
no less vigorously but with mucn
less noise So far the democrats
rave developed no such open rivalry
as has been shown in the hght BE-
tween Wood and Johnson, and the
democratic campaign has so far
avoided any such charges as
doodle" as has been directed
against the Wood organization.
Turning 20 the so far. rather
neglected democratic situation, poll
tlcians have discovered that while
there has been little noise about the
democratic contest, democratic dele
gates have been elected and are
being elected. and democratic can
didates are at work. They have also
discovered that while there are eight
or ten favorite sons and receptive"
candidates in the field, there is only
a nationwide campaign He IS
Atty Gen. Mitchell Palmer, and his
supporters declare that when the
tumult and the shouting of the pre-
convention campaign die away, their
candidate will be found 10 be In
control OF majority Of the demo-
cratic delegates TO the San Fran
cisco convention. They assert that
the attorney general viii be with
out a really serious competitor for
the nomination. unless conditions
change materially before the con-
VentiOn meets.
Carries Wilson Banner.
Mr.. Palmer entered the pre-con-
ventiOn fight in order 10 carry the
banner OF Pres't wilson's admins
tration in the democratic primary in
Georgia. There the presidents
enemies in the party had proposed
10 run Sen. Jim" Reed OF Missouri
for president. in order 10 carry an
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. delegation TO
San Francisco. Atty. Gen. Palmer
entered the Georgia fght-he an
nOunced TO give Georgia democrats
an opportunity TO show their loyal
"" to the record OF the eight years
Of Wilson rule. When Palmer APP
peared in the race. Reed promptly
cult. and the anti-WilsOn forces
nominated Hoke Smith. senior SEN
stor from Georgia, with a strong or
SANITATION in the state. Palmer, a
Pennsylvania democrat. made his
night against Smith on the latter's
own ground. and defeated him de-
cisively The result in Georgia put
Palmer head and shoulders above
his opponents for the nomination,
and gave a tremendous impetus TO
his campaign.
Lead i Growing.
Since then the Palmer lead has
been daily increasing although the
attorney general personally has been
unable TO devote any time 90 cam
paigning After the recent railroad
strike interrupted his Georgia cam
paign. when he had made just three
speeches. Palmer settled down in
Washington 10 fight the radicals the
profiteers and the trusts at the de-
partment OF Justice. His supporters
have been active. however and they
are confident tina the Will take the
lead in the nomination fight from
the moment the convention meets.
Palmer is making a straight out
fight for the endorsement OF the
record OF the Wilson administ TIA ton
and OF the six years Of democratic
control in congress. This is adding
10 his strength, Tor pOuucal Oh
servers are convinced that there
viii be little opposition at san Fran
cisco % an out and out endorsement
Of the Wilson policies and principles.
Every gathering Of democrats SO far
in the pre-convention campaign has
adopted resolutions endorsing the
Wilson record. and democratic lead
ers are certain that the San Fran
cisco platform Will be written ON the
same basis. making Palmer, the only
candidate openly endorsing the adj
r1inistration's views. the logical
choice Of the convention.