Americus times-recorder., 1920-05-27
BEVERIDCE MAY
Be DARK HORSE
OF REPUBLICANS
Leaders Seriously Weigh
Strength Of Former
Indiana Senator
BY H. N. RICKEL
N. E. A. Staff Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 27.-
Any list of dark horse" possibilities
for the Republican presidential NOM
ination that does not contain the
name of former Senator Albert J
Beveridge of Indiana, is incomplete
This is not merely my opinion. 1t
Is a suggestion made seriously by
many who know exactly what's what
in inside Republican circles during
these two crucial weeks, prior to the
gathering of the delegates at Chi
cago.
The Beveridge idea : has been
brought to the front by certain of the
party leaders who visualize dead
locked convention.
The next logical step would be to
produce man who could unite the
antagonistic forces and keep them
united during the campaign.
May Be Chairman.
1t is pointed out that if Beveridge
is chosen as permanent chairman OF
the convention by arrangement of
the conservatives and prorgessives,
which now seems fairly likely, he will
be in a much better strategic posi-
ton than any of the other dark
horses"
Beveridge will not be unmindful OF
his great o~nortunity as permanen
chairman and will preside with such
fairness as to make himself agreeable
to all candidates and all factions.
As an orator Beveridge is certain
ly the equal of any man whC will have
the ear of the delegates.
His speech as permanent chairman,
if he is selected, will, no doubt, be
a masterpiece, and will impress the
delegates with his ability and force
fulness. -,
Those in intimate contact with
Reyeridge in recent months, say that
he is at the zenith of his powers,
phvsically and mentally, and that he
NAV be depended upon to strongly
impress his personality upon the con-
yention, if given the chance.
Roosevelt Man.
The fact that Beveridge joined the
Roosevelt bolt in 1912 is in his favor
rather than against him from the
standpoint of availability.
For it is accepted as foregone
conclusion that if the convention is
finally faced with the necessity OF
nominating a compromise candidate,
the progressives led by johnson and
Borah must be placated..
Beveridge was the chairman Oh the
Progressive National Conventlon
which nominated Roosevelt and John-
son in 1911. The record shows that
he was an aggressive and CONSISTENT
supporter of progressive policies ma
tiated by Roosevelt.
His retirement to private life at the
end of his second term in the senate
was due in large measure to the hos
tiIity of certain big business interests
which were far more potent political
lv then than they are today.
Qualities That Help
Beveridge has many qualities
which commend him to the Republic
an managers whose chief interest in
the convention is to bring about the
Comination of a candidate that they
believe can win. He is about the
right ages years. He comes from
The right section of the country and
frop, a pivotal state-Indiana. He is
a splendid campaigner, and his noml-
nation would assure an aggressive
campaign.
His early struggles against poverty
were almost Lincolnesque and furnish
a perfect background for the presi-
Dental picture. He was born on a
farm, in Ohio. of course; probably in
a Iog cabin. At u years he began
to earn his living as farmland. Two
wears later he was railroad laborer,
and at Is he drove logging team.
He worked his way through De
Pauw university at Green Castle,
Ind, and graduated with honors in
Since Beveridge retired from the
Senate he has devoted himself to writ
ing. His "Life of John Marshall, "
recently rec published, is a monumental
work and critics are agreed that it is
one of the great American biogra-
phies.