Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-16
THE LANSING INCIDENT AND
AUTOCRATIC PRESlDENClES
stand-Pat Leaders in Both Parties Likely
to RedoubIe Their Efforts to Nomi-
nate a mSafev Candidate In June


A SIDE from the merits of the contro-
4 versy between the President and Mr.
Lansing, its effects upon the immediate
future deserve more than passing con-
sideration.
The first and most obvious result to be
expected is the disruption of the Demo-
cratic party by factional quarrels.
Mr.. Wilson has had remarkably unani
nous support from his party. When he
took Office he was the one man in it who
had definite and positive policies. He
knew what he wanted. The other leaders
had been devoting themselves for so many
years to destructive criticism of Republi-
can policies that they were not able to
agree on any constructive program. Mr..
Wilson took them by the scruff of the
neck and shook some sense into them,
Then like whipped dogs they followed
where he led. To the surprise of every
one he held them together and forced
them to pass bill after bill to carry out
the program that be had laid down. He
has been the Democratic party for the
last seven years.
But there have been whisperings of
discomfort heard in Washington from
time to time. Now and then the discon-
tent has been shouted aloud in the Sem
ate. But on the whole the Democratic
leaders have subordinated their own
views to those of the President. The re-
luctance with which they have done this
has increased with the ycars. Men
familiar with their temper have for
months been looking for an open revolt
to occur at any time. The President is
entering on his last year of Office. His
power to reward and punish will soon
disappear, and the party leaders are
aching for a pretext for asserting them
selves.
The treatment of Mr.. Lansing. who,
like the party leaders, has subordlnated
his own opinions to those of the Presi-
dent out of considerations of personal
loyalty and high-nlinded patriotism, eX-
hibhs to the others the kind of a reward
they may expect for this kind Of fealty.
So we may expect the Democratic lead
ers in and out of Congress who carry
their brains under their own hats to begin
to say in public what they have long been
saying and thinking in private, and the
Democratic party will cease to consist of
one man. Unless all signs fail the party
will enter the presidential campaign in
as great a state of Generalization as it
entered the campaign of 1896 when Gro
yer Cleveland had disrupted it by his per
sistent determination to have his own
way, regardless of the political conse-
quences.
80 ha n n
affect the Democratic party alone. AS 1t
is the elimination of the conditions which
inevitably accompany the administration
Of a man of dominant personality who
refuses to play the game with proper
regard to the susceptibilities of his asso-
ciates, the disposition Of the leaders. III
both parties toward the nomination for
the presidency next summer of a man
who will regard himself as their associate
rather than as their boss is likely to be
strengthened.
That disposition is already manifest.
The organization Republicans have been
looking with favor on Senator Harding,
of Ohio, and Governor Lowden, of Hi
nois, lust as in earlier days they looked
with favor on William Mckinley. Mark
Hanna nominated Mckinley because it
was known that the candidate would
work harmoniously with the organization
and would not try to set up political
dictatorship in the White House. The
event justified anticipations. The change
in relations between Congress and the
president was just as great when Nc
Kinlev succeeded Veveland as it was
when Van Buren succeeded Jackson.
T1nnnpTatG
as eager as the organization Republi-
cans to bring about the nomination of
"safe" candidate who will play the game
with them. The Lansing incident will
improve the chances of every such aspi-
rant for the nomination from Governor
Cox. of Ohio, to Senator Hitchcock, q
Nebra ska. Champ Clark, with his long
experience in Congress, may even pose
as the Mckinley of 1920. If he had a
l1arl, Hanna to back him he might win
his wear what he lost in 1912-the
democratic nomination. He has already
mt on the market book containing the
story of his life to serve as a campaign
document,
The relation of all this TO the prospect
for the success of the efforts of those
who wish to see Mr.. Hoover nominated is
not far to seek.
Every one Who knows anything about
Mr.. Hoover is aware that if elected to
the presidency he would not be Presi-
dent of the Mckinley or Van Buren, type.
His supreme qualifications lie in his we'll
known habit of going straight for what
he is after and getting it regardless of
poIitical pressure. He would not play
politics as President in the ordinary
sense of the words. That is, he would not
deal and dicker with party leaders for
support. He would appeal to the coun-
trv over the heads of the politicians. His
! friends are confdept that the things he
would seek to do would commend them
selves so completely to the best judg-
ment of the people that the politicians
would have to fall in line or suffer the
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