Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-30
JORDAN HINTS
AT COMBINE TO
FIGHT M'ADOO
Says Fading Booms of Others
May Give Birth to Power
full Opposition.
WILSON STILL AT WHEEL
BY DAVID STARR JORDAN,
Republican,.
Copyright, 1920 by International

by DAVID SIAKB JOkDAN,
(RepubIican).
| Copyright, 1920 by International
News Service.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 3o.-As I write
the presidential will controls the dem
ocratic convention, though facing the
| certainty OF some degree of revolt.
| Mr.. Robinsons impassioned address
recalls our early idealism and forestalls
an unqualified Endorsement OF tho ad,
! ministration.
To have won "ths war to end war
and to have inaugurated the league OF
4 nations are, emphasized as browning
achievements.
The signs still point toward the nom
nation Of McAdoo.
! His force, capacity and independence OF
character genuerally are recognized and
| 1t is believed he will draw a large part
of that liberal vote which may deter
| mine the election.
The Cox boom is suhsiding, for the mo-
| ment at least, and the Palmer boom. with
make no progress within or without the
convention.
That Palmer, If nominated, could not
be elected. appears evident.
Indeed, to defend his activities ~ one
OF the hardest tasks which confronts the
Wilson forces
FEW OBJECTIONS
ARE HEARD.
To the nomination of McAdoo l hear
but few direct objections.
Naturally the epithet crown prince"
IL hurled at him by the press, bnt he
appears to have taken no advantage OF
his relationship to Mr.. Wilson.
1t is conceded generally. however, that
he lacks the glad hand" ordinarily
thought democratic asset.
Some OF his rivals complain that he
ought to have made his position clear,
one way or the other.
But the very fact that McAdoo is TAX
ing the lead may cause the others 20
combine against him and the powerful
opposition OF Bryan must be faced by
any administration candidate
Mr. Bryan is. in fact, likely to be in
the center OF three eornered Tight
against the wet group on the one hand
and the Wilson group on the other.
To the former he will doubtless never
yield and for this reason perhaps, the
platform seems to him more Important
than the candidate.
On the surface the convention atmo-
sphere seems wholly placid.
Nobody appears much excited over the
outcome.
The steamroller is well oiled and works
with precision. yet It's operations arouse
scant Indignation.
An unpleasant senator from Missouri
is thrown out, a bit Arbitrarily perhaps
bat protests barely reach the public ears
1t Is part OF the game.
A few warm hearted GeorgisnS. stung
by alleged unfalrness, threaten to vote
for Harding. but when they think over
the matter they will not innict on them
selves snch cruel punishment
The absence % personal bitterness In
American contests Is most hopeful
feature
Our people are good losers.
II we fail to get what we want we try
again next time.
The defeated faction raises no physical
banner Of revolt.
The struggle once over each one goes
bark 10 his business confident that
though a world opportunity may be lost
It viii come back again and no world
calamity meanwhile impends.
CONTRAST 70
EUROPE DRAWN
This mood contrasts happily with the
fierce animosities which so often pervads
the left. the right and even the center
In the parllaments Of the continent.
In these anita gonisms there Is more at
stake than In America with lesE GER
tainty OF either tolerance OF justice.
The majority in each party viii 20 on
voting the regular ticket whatever the
platform or the nominee.
The thick and thin vote Is bromide
and uncritical.
Therein lies the opportunity Of the
party boss--the leader Of the unthink-
ing.
Those who discriminate are indie
pendent largely Of political parties, re-
garding such organizations rs useful
mainly as a means to attain idealistic
ends.
But solid partisan vote also has its
advantages 1t Ia safeguard against
ill-considered action.
II II checks reform Il also blocks ret
repression.
Were the whole body Of the people
quickly responsive, even to each plausi-
blef proposition, the upshot might be
not progress but anarchy.
The fact that no important difference
separates the two historic parties need
not be a reRroach
Both stand, in the main, for the sta
billty OF society.
The distinction largely concerns the
rewards Of office
Clarity and condense the republican
platform and cut cut the perfunctory
denunciation or turn Il about and f.
would serve fairly we'll for the demo
Gratis.
Platforms arc MS a rule--and by neces-
sity--not very distinctive, for real issues
rarely divide on party lines
The same kinds Of people, wet and
dry. rich and poor, bond and free, are
found in both parties, and in much the
same proposition.
That their differences arouse little OK.
element indicates that they are not dan
Rerous
Oar practical unanimity when great
matters are at stake is sign of tho
vitality of democracy.