Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-01
BELIEVES
M'ADOO FIGHT COST
HIM NOMINATION
Attorney General Calls Story
of His Resignation Abso-
lutte Lie.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch TO The Star.
STROUDSBURG, Pa. July 81 j.
Attorney General Palmer believes
that the persistent candidacy of VIII
liam G. McAdoo for the democratic
presidential nomination at San Fran
cisco cost him the biggest prize in
the democratic convention.
The Attorney General discussed the
situation at the convention very in
formally at his home here today
Il am a game loser" he said. with
out enthusiasm. In fact. a noteworthy
feature of the front porch talk with
Mr.. Palmer was the distinct note of
bitterness which ran through his con
versation- AS he said himself. he is
sore about many things which are
being said about him in the news
papers, particularly about the report
that he is to resign as Attorney Cen
eral. He branded that report as an
absolute lie.
May Attend Notification.
Not only was there bitterness i'm the
Attorney Generals tome which might
or might not be in his soul. but there
was a definite lack of anything like the
pep" which should distinguish a
Fighting Quaker and which did mark
the Palmer of old, when he led the mill
tant forces of the reorganization demo-
Gratis lIllO VICTORIOUS pdlllc WIFI the
Guffey bipartisan machine.
This was indicated, for example, when
Mr.. Palmer was asked if he would at
tend the formal notification to Gov,
Cox.
Il don't know" replied Mr. Palmer
Il may; 1 don't know. When is it? Oh
yes, next week"
A number OF the theories as to the
forces which moved the democratic con-
vention were presented TO Mr.. Palmer
for consideration.
Yes" he said. Many pretty the
cries can be woven"
1t was then suggested to the At
torney General that one theory" was
that he had been in some sort of deal
or understanding with Murphy, Thea
Tammany leader. by which he was toy
stick in the fight at the convention
long enough to freeze out McAdoo SO
that in the end Cox would be the
winner.
Mr.. Palmer took grip on an un-
lighted cigar with his teeth and slow
ly said in reply:
Played Nobody's Game.
II am not playing anybody's game.
1 was a candidate for the nomination
myself. i would not deign to reply
to such insinuations."
The Attorney General made il clear
that he did not want to be "A Presl-
dent maker; he wanted to be Presi-
dent.
TT has been said" it was suggest
ed, that you could have put McAdoo
over; that your candidacy prevented
the Presidents son-in-law from get
ting the nomination"
Mr. Palmer again bit on his smoke
less cigar, looked straight at his
ouestioner and countered with this
Illuminating query:
did il ever occur to you that
could have been nominated il he had
turned in for me-"
This question by Mr.. Palmer and
other comments he made indicated
that he regarded the McAdoo candi-
dacy as the rock on which his own
chances had been wrecked.
Ignores Tammany Talk.
Mr.. Palmer preferred to ignore a
discussion of the so-called Tammany
tactics which finally pushed Cox
across the line. He was told that
Senator Penrose had described Gov.
Cox as the product of the corrupt ele
ments of the party, such as Tammany
Il would rather have the brand pf
Tammany than the brand OF Penrose.
observed the Attorney General
"Wiu Cox VIM Mr.. Palmer was
asked. Without spirit, but as if say
ing what was the accepted thing to
say. he answered:
He will win
30 you expect to take part in the
campaign for him."
'Oh. yes" was the reply. Il expect
I will" After a pause he added.
Make some speeches"