The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-01
McAdoO Appears Most Likely
Democratic Candidate Though
Many Things Might Happen
DARK HORSE IS PROBABLE
Anti Administration Forces Are
Striving Desperately To Name
Anybody Against McAdoo
BY H. N. RIcKEY.


San Francisco. June 3O.-Twenty-
four hours before Harding was de-
clared the nominee of the Chicago con-
lvention there probably were not half
dozen people in the United States
who thought he had a chance to be
nominated.
Eight years ago at Baltimore. after
Champ Clark had secured a majority
vote, ii was generally thou ght that II
was only question OF p short time un-
til he would have the necessar" two
thirds aid be nominated.
Wilson's coup was a. surprising as
it was Unprecedented. It upset all
temperate tradition and precedent
From Andrew Jackson's day the two
third rue was obtained al democratic
conventions. but until 1912 no candi-
date who had succeeded in getting a
majority had failed t0 get the twg-
thirds. Twenty four years ago ut Chi
cago t..C person who, would nave pre-
dicted Bryau's nomination. twenty
four hours before the event. would have
been considered TOO crazy 20 be at
large.
There are the three exceptions dur
ing tho last quartz" century To tho
rule that botn parties nominate the
expected candidate. 1t is about "A IS %
les proposition. rs for the expected and
rs for the unexpected.
The expected at this convention
within forty-eight hours of the ballot
ing is McAdoo. And yet he would be
IA bold man who would say that the
possibilities for the unexpected do not
exist.
II does not require q very great
strain On the imagination to visualize
ia democratic ticket this year so dif-
ferent from any thai has been consid-
Iered within the possibilities, that even
Harding's nomination will not hazs
oeen more surprising.
The ntt-tdministratinn leaders and
the managers of the candidates other
than McAdoo are striving desperately
to pIedge more than a third of the
delegates to vote for anybody but Nc
Adoo first. last and all the time.
The are claiming success. state
ment from one headquarters putting
the last ditch opposition to McAdoo
az 450 votes. or nearly a hundred more
than necessary.
The strength of the McAdo0 posi-
zion is thai up TO row the opposition
has not been able 20 get beyond the
negative stage.
Without a doubt there are a 10. OF
delegates who are not keen 10 have
NcAdoo nominated. There may he con-
siderab BILE more than a .hird Of tho
total in this class, but after all is said
and done The convention must nomi-
nate somebody and you can't defeat
somebody with nobody.
Tho McA'ioo people are basing their
hopes very largely upon the inability
of the opposition to agree upon and
stick TO a candidate.
Assuming that because Of Palmer's
admitted weakness as . candidate and
Coxs unfortunate situation because Of
the hostility Of the drys neither OF
them can hold the line against Nc
Adoo. the only other answer is a dark
horse. and when you speak Of dark
horses. the McAdOo people laugh rig..t
merrily and say that there ism. one
in the lot who has any chance again g
thei5 hero.
"HO. about Davis. OF West Viz i
ginia." you suggest.
Nobody knows him" they answered.
We'll. Marshall. then ?" You persist.
He is a humorist." they say. Not
Garter Glass and owen are eiimi-
mated bscause they are from the south
and Meredith is put in the unknown
class along with Davis.
And yet you cannot help thinking Of
ad Chicago Wilson and Bal
timore. Bryan and Chicago. And also
you cannot help pondering whether
these McAdoo people. are really as
cocksure as they claim TO be.
Several months ago. writing from
said that the SON law
objection seemed 10 be the only thing
that stood between McAdoo and the
and that when the final
stage was reached at San Francisco
the question as to whether o. not 70
nominate McAdOo would turn uD en-
this issue.
That prediction IS now being ful-
filled. Nobody would be in the running
gainst McAdoo II he had not marTsel
the presidents daughter.
The fact that even with his hIndi-
zap he is in the leading position proves
this.
There are many delegates who per-
sonally favor McAdoo. who will vote
gainst him simply because they be
ieve that the crown prince charge viii
insure his defeat at the election.
II McAdoo is not nominated that VIII
be the reason. His opponents are
using Ii against him for all they are
worth. whether or not they are using
[ with sufficient effect remains 10 be-
Ieen.