New-York tribune., 1920-01-09
Democrats Pick
San Francisco
For Convention
100000 Check Swings
National Committee to
City of Golden Gate;
june 28 Is Opening Date
ALI at Sea on Candidate
Hoover's Politics Is In
Doubt; Bryan and Wilson
Regarded Out of Race
Nesc York TRIBUNE
Woeh{nQton Bureau

.
Nesc York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Jan. S.-The Demo
cratic National Committee, outwardly
confident OF success at the polls next
November. but inwardly seeking COM
1ort Tor hearts more or less faint, to-
day decided to hold the national con-
ventlon of the party in San Francisco
on June %, just twenty days after the
Republicans meet in Chicago. San
francisco got 81 votes on the only bal
lot taken. while Kansas City got II and
Chicago 7. Kansas City, backed by
Chicago and by Cleveland and Indian
apolis, which were among those also
mentioned, made fight for the con.
ventlon, but when San Francisco's rep
resentatives laid down on the table a
certified check for 100000 and prom
ised to add $4,000 to that amount by
April l, the hearts of the committee
men wilted and San Francisco won.
Chicago offered $4,000, but didn't
really want the convention, while Ken
sas City could give only $50,O00
The committee adjourned late to- day
just as much at sea on the question Of
a candidate as it was when it met here
1t has no candidate, and probably will
not have one for many weeks to come.
There was the usual talk to- day when
committeeman met outside the hall
about ". G. McAdoo, Attorney General
A. Mitchell Palmer and Senators and
Governors of various states.
Palmer Holds Center Of Stage
But real leaders in the committee
are not convinced that any of the men
who have been given the most promi-
nence in discussion of candidates are
best from hard headed political view
point. Down under the surface more
Of the committeeman probably are for
W. G. McAdoo than they are for any
one else, but despite the desire of
many to read into MI. McAdoo's letter
to the Jackson Day dinner the at
tributes of party platform no one
among the leaders is certain that he
will be a candidate
Mr.. Palmer has the center OF the
Democratic stage at the present time.
He lines up with the Wilson Admin
istration AS n conspicuous member of
it, and party leaders know they can
not do otherwise than indorse the Ad-
to the last sentence. They
did that thing once again to-day. peace
treaty, legislation and all, in rcsolu-
ton that went through without any
opposition But there are Democrats
who do not look upon the Palmer
candidacy with complacency They
feel that he is too much OF con-
servative in his leanings, and that he
would be much more agreeable from =
Republican viewpoint than from that
of the rank and file Of Democracy
Hoover's Politics in Doubt
SO there were dark horses trotted out
for trial heats today. Notable among
them was Herbert c. Hoover. who has
friends among the Democrats and who
was pointed out by his friends as a
man who could inject new life into the
party, the platform and the campaign.
But Democrats who live by traditions
say Mr.. Hoover isn't Democrat. or,
If he is, nobody knows it, and if there
is anything the old line Democrat dis
likes 1T is some one who isn't Il strictly
j Jeffersonian member of his party.
William Jennings Bryan is not
thought to have chance to win the
support of the Democratic National
Committee next June. He may be a
powerful factor in the convention and
may help write the platform, but his
voice must be raised for some other
man than himself The fact that to-
night he took clear issue with President
wilson about the league Of nations will
force members of the committee to
draw line through his name upon any
list of candidates it might draw up for
its own private perusal.
Wilson Powerful Factor
Nobody here has taken talk of third
term for Mr.. Wilson seriously. His
letter to the jackson Day banquet said
nothing upon. that point, but no one
believes, in view of his physical condi-
ton, he would attempt to undertake q
campaign. The President in his letter
did indicate that he would be concerned
IN the making of the issues of the cam
palgn, and he will be a factor of the
greatest power in the convention. The
man who gets his support probably will
De the nominee; certainly no man can
be named against whom he might throw
his influence.
Between Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Bryan
the Democrats will evolve a platform
and bring forth a candidate. But it is
going to be many day until party
leaders know who San Francisco will
bring forth.
After the committee adopted its
resolutions and chose San Francisco
for the convention city it tabled reso-
luton by Arthur F. Mullen, national
committeeman from Nebraska, which
would have abolished the old rule that
requires two-thirds vote, instead Of
a majority, to nominate a Presidential
candidate. 1t was this rule that de-
feated Champ Clark in 1919 at Balti-
more and started Woodrow Wilson for
the White House. Mr.. Mullen said the
rule should be abolished because it
worked injustice.
Resolution Tabled
Willard Salisbury, national commit
tceman from Delaware, suggested that
the resolution be referred to com
mittee of five to be appointed by the
chair but a motion to table made by
Thomas B. Love, national committee
man from Texas, was adopted, with
only few dissenting votes.
After the committee adjourned
friends Of San Francisco announced
that she intends not only to put up
Sl25,000 for the committee, with the