The Washington times., 1920-06-30
STEAMROLLER
'WORK|NGWELL
Dakd Starr Jordan Finds White
House Rule Absolute and
Unyielding.
~ DAVID STARR JORDAN.

News ssrvies'J
so'Dyrisht 1870; s.19toi By International News
SAN FRANCISCO, June 3o.-As
write, the Presidential will controls
the Democratic convention. though
facing the certainty OF some degree
Of revolt. Mr.. Robinson's impas-
stoned address recalls our early IDEAL
ism, and forestalls an unqualified in
dorsement OF the Administration. To
have won "the war to end war" and
to have inaugurated the league OF ma
tions are emphasized as crownlng
achievements.
The signs still point toward the
nomination OF McAdoo. His force, ca
pacity and independence of character
are generally recognized, and il In
believed that he will draw a large
part of that liberal vote which may
determine the election.
The Cox boom Is subsiding, for the
moment. at least and the Palmer
boom, with its noisy claque OF rooteis,
seems to- make no progress within or
without the conventin. That Palmer,
II nominated, could not be elected ep-
pears evident. Indeed. to defend his
activities is one OF the hardest tasks
which confronts the Wilson forces.
FEW OBJECT TO McADOO.
To the nomination of McAdoo. I
hear but few direct objections.
Naturally. the epithet Grown prince
Is hurled at him by the press, but he
appears to have taken no advantage
of his relationship to Mr.. Wilson. IT
10 generally conceded, however, that
he lacks the "glad hand" ordinarily
thought a Democratic asset. Somc
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
taking the lead may cause the others
to combine against him and the pow
erful opposition of Bryan must he
faced by any Administration candi-
date. Mr.. Bryan is, in fact. likely to
be In the center of three-corncred
night 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 can
didate.
ATMOsPHERE IS PLACID.
On the surface the convention at
mosphere seems wholly placid. No
body appears much excited over the
outcome. The steam-roller is well
oiled and working with precision. yet
its operations arouse scant indigna-
tion. An unpleasant Senator from
Missouri Is thrown out, a bit arbi-
trarily perhaps, but protests barely
reach the public ear. It Is part Of
the game. A few warm-hearted
Georgians, stung by alleged unfair
ness, threaten to vote for Harding.
but when they think the matter over
they will not iniict on themselves
M noI nj oh pf
The absence of personal bitterness
in American contests is a most hope
full 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 back to his business, confident
that though a world-opportunity may
be lost, 1t will come back again. and
no world calamity meanwhile i'm
pends.
This mood contrasts happily with
the fierce animosities which so often
pervade the left, the right and even
the center in the parliaments OF the
continent. In these antagonisms
there is more at stake than In Amer
lea with less certainty of either toll
erance or justice.
The majority in each party will
go on voting the regular ticket, what
ever the platform or the nominee.
The thick -and-th vote is bromidice
and uncritical Therein lies the op-
portunity of the party boss-the
leader of the unthinking. Those who
discriminate are largely Independent
of political parties. regarding such
examinations as useful mainly as a
means to attain idealistic ends.
REWARDS OF OFFICE.
But q solid partisan vote has also
: It's advantage; 1t is a safeguard
against ill-considered action. II it
checks reform, 1t also blocks retro
gression. Were the whole body Of the
people quickly responsive, even to
each plausible proposition, the upshot
might be not progress, but anarchy.
S~-e fact that no important diff
ference separates the two historic
parties need not be a reproach. Both
stand, in the main, for the stability
of society. The distinction largely
concern the rewards of office. Clari-
fy and condense the Republican plat
form and cut out the perfunctory
denunciation or turn 1t about, and It
would serve fairly we'll for the Demo-
Gratis Platforms are as a rule-and
nv necessity-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 proportion. That their
differences arouse little excitement
!. Indicates that they are not dangerous.
bur practical unanimity when great
matters are at stake Is a sign of the
vitality of democracy.