The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-13
M. Palmer Breaks the ice.

Democratic aspirants for the presi-
Dental nomination have been holding
back, not knowing whether President
Wilson intended to seek q third term.
But Attorney General A. Mitchell Pal
mer, member Of the cabinet, and pre-
sumably acquainted with the presidents
intentions, has authorized the use of his
MAMIE on the Georgia primary ballots.
and this is taken widely as a sign that
the president is out Of the race,
This is the first formal announce
ment by any Democrat of his candidacy
for the nomination" the Washington
Post Qndl points out. "and 1t is ex-
pected to be followed by similar state
ments from Gov. Cox, James w. Gerard
and others who are known TO be recep-
tive aspirants." The Philadelphia IN
quirer (Rep.l says IL is taken to mean
that President Wilson has finally de-
cided not to be\a candidate" and, fur
thermore, has all the earmarks of
having been inspired by the administra-
ton" The Roanoke Times tDem.)
reasons that "as a member OF the pres
ident's cabinet, Mr.. Palmer would hard
ly be apt to enter the race unless he
had assurance that such action on his
part would not conflict with the plans
of his chief" Moreover, the Washing
ton correspondent of the New York
Times Qnd. Dem) gives us this sig
nificant information:
"Mr Mccormick chairman of the
Democratic national committee) very re-
Gently went straight to the White House
and assured himself that the president
was not a candidate, and that Mr.. VIII
son had not the slightest objection to
| Mr., Palmer or Mr.. McAdoo or Mr., Pa
| ker, or any other member of his Off
| cial family entering the campaign. 1t
| was very shortly after that interview
that the, Palmer announcement was
made"
on the basis Of this information. the
Knoxville Sentinel tInd Dem.l con-
| cludes that while Mr.. Palmer will base
his candidacy on the record OF the ad-
ministration, he will not necessarily
or ayowedly have. the presidents spe-
Press Qnd) agrees with this, pointing
| out that for Mr.. Palmer ito acquire the
| Wilson Q. k would Involve an aban-
donment of Son in-law McAdoo."
whereas lin the matter of pledged
| delegates, Mr. Wilson stands, or has
stood. with McAdoo, in saying that the
San Francisco convention should be
free from them"
The Boston Herald CInd. Rep.), how
ever, regards the Palmer candidacy not
''as a sign that President Wilson has
given up all ambition for a third term,
but rather las evidence that members
of his official family have become tired
of waiting for him to make up his
mind" and the Albany Argus Und
Dem.) adds that the public would be
glad of flat statement from the pres
ident on the subject"
The Argus suggests that "Mr. Pal.
mer's entry into the race ought L
have the effect of making him more
energetic than ever in prosecuting the
radicals who infest the country The
better record he makes in this, the NOR.
popular he will become
The Butte Miner (Dem.) thinks tho
attorney generals vigorous opposition
to the red radicalism that has beer
seeking TO disrupt affairs in this ma,
, tion," makes emphatic advocacy o
Amerieanism the chief feature of hi:
campaign" To the Louisville Courier
Journal Dem) he is "a strong MAI
; who will undoubtedly be a strong con
, tender" and the Birmingham Age
: Herald (Dem,) declares that he has
clean record--one that will appeal Il
the simon-pure Democracy of the coun
: try"
The Harrisburg Patriot Und. Dem.
! says: I'm his own state and party, tn
Palmer announcement brings a specia
thrill and satisfaction. His own stat
: and neighbors are proud of him. Tn
severest test of a man is applied b.
those who know him best, In his home
! land he has met that test with graft
flying results. He has not been fount
, wanting. True Democrats do and al
! progressive american citizens can pro
J, claim Palmer as their own"
, But, of course, no candidate cou
= expect to win without opposition. TIL
. Newport News Record Ond) is "un
! able to take Mr. Palmer's candidac
; very seriously. He has proved himsel
u an able assistant, but he is not the stut
: of which presidents are made. The mex
. president must be a man of dominan
personality. a leader, not a follower an
y requirement
y The Toledo Blade (Ind. Repl doubt
( II he is popular even among Democrat;
7 Democrats as well as Republicans,
; it says, are interested in making
a, dollar buy something. Mr.. Palmer's far
;, advertised help in this matter has nc
/, materialized. The attorney general wa
to grease the ways by which our Bol