Evening star., 1920-02-12
EXPECT PRESIDENT
TO TAKE FORCEFUL.
PART IN POLITICS
Democrats and Republicans
Sure He viii Resume
Party Direction.
BY n, O. MESSENGER.


statement of Dr. Young. indicating that
President Wilson's physical condition is
rot as serious as public apprehension
had pictured and forccaSting his full
return to health and activity, added
stimulus was given TO talk among poll
ticians at the Capitol of the Presiden,
henceforth taking forceful part III
democratic presidential politics. Among
republicans and democrats the opinion
widely prevails that the President from
now on will exercise directing and ad-
viSOry influence and power in party
councils in constantly increasing degree.
Whether the interjection of his great
personality into the pre-convention cam
paign may result in a demand from his
party for his denomination is beside the
mark for the moment. The first con-
sideraton to democratic politicians in
the old line organization is said to be
belief that it is necessary for the titular
head of the party to function, in order
to preserve party solidarity and to re-
sist attempts to capitalize the party for
individual benefit, and, in fact, to domi-
rate and even change the policies of the
democratic party.
In addition to this prevalent political
opinion is the belief from time to time
heard expressed that the President
will be compelled by force of circum-
stances and conditions to accept re-
nomination, which, in the view of
those who hold to this thought, would
come through the overwhelming de-
mand of the convention. That is quite
another story, however.
Misapprehenxion Dissipated.
That the President will be found
participating more actively in ma
tional politics is the deduction Of the
politicians based in a measure upon
the circumstances attending the an
nouncement which diSSipated current
misapprehensioi concerning the ma
ture and extent of his disability and
held out the hope of his early re-
covery.
1t is not assumed by politicians for
an instant that DR.. Young would have
made his statement of the Presidents s
condition unless he were assured that
1t would not be Objectionable to the
distinguished patient. The layman's
understanding Of professional ethics
would lead to such a natural presump-
ton.
At any rate. it is pointed out, the
White House and the other physicians
in consultation with DR. Grayson have
not intimated resentment over DR..
foung's course. Comm ept of any kind
was withheld and not eFen the i'm
PiCSSioH was conveyed InaI Inere
was displeasure over the Baltimore
specialists diagnosis of present and
prospective conditions. And the
White House has its own effective way
of indicating displeasure or satisfac-
ton.
One thing is certain, whether. the
White House desired that authorita-
tive information should be given out.
or whether the White House was only
passively Indifferent whether it was
disclosed, the effect has been, as poll
ticians construe it, to notify all per-
sons concerned that President Wilson
is not to be left out of political calcu-
lations from this time on.
- To that extent DR.. Young's an
nouncement is declared to have "filled
a long-felt want" since there has
been constant complaint for weeks
over the uncertainty as to the Presi-
dents participation in active politics
of his party at a time when vigorous
leadership was never more acutely de-
manded.
See Paucity Of Timber.
Democratic politicians coming to
consider the actual condition Of their
presidential timber are said to be
aware of its paucity at this time.
After all is said, they point out, who
are the candidates outstanding in the
public view other than Gov. Cox Of
Ohio and Attorney General Palmer?
Somehow, nobody can exactly explain
why, talk Of Mr.. McAdoo has waned
recently until the rank and file are al
most of the mind that he is out Of the
running. Champ Clark is not expect
ed to be a candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination.; Senator Underwood is
recognized as laboring under the Sec
tional handicap-the only objection,
in fact-and the rest Of the field are
still in the class of the "also men,
toned"
Some very prominent democrats are
fearful that organized labor will op-
pose Palmer and hold that as an OBJ
lection to choosing him, although it is
recognized that he is quite acceptable
to the body of the democratic national
organization.
But back of all else is the growing
realization of the menace of William
J. Bryan and the possibility that he. If
unopposed by some one of force. some
one with a great personal following,
say such as President Wilson is
acknowledged to have, may secure a
dominating position in the convention
his own ends, as to character of plat
form and even choice Of candidate.
Gratifying to Democrats.
pass unnoticed that there is wide
spread satisfaction among democratic
politicians at the Capitol over the pos
sibility Of President Wilson being able
to take an active part in the pre-con-
vention proceedings. and they now be-
lieve he intends to do so. In the esti
nation of the leading democrats in
Congress. President Wilson is still the
biggest asset of the democratic party,
and they will be mighty glad to see
him become an aggressive factor in it's
national politics.