New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30
President Weaker With Own
Party in Massachusetts
Than He Is in Missouri.
Under Reeds Influence
Even Irish Oppose Him
Bigger Majority Than Was
Given Coolidge Is Seen
for Republicans Next Fall
By Carter Field

DOC1ON, AudINn <o.--k k0Si0enC Will
son is probably weaker in his own
party in Massachusetts, than in any
other state in the Union. Not even in
Missouri, where the combined influence
Of Senator Reed and "The Kansas City
star" has battered the peace treaty
and the league of nations for a year
is the Presidents influence at so low
an ebb as here.
The reason is that the Democratic
party in Massachusetts, is almost ex
clusively an Irish-American institution,
and the Irish are vigorously opposed.
treaty attitude.
Senator David I. Walsh, who not only
supported many of the Lodge reserva-
tons to the peace treaty, but some
OF the textual amendments as we'll. and
who finally voted with Lodge to ratify
the treaty after the President had sent
the word to Administration Senators
that he wanted it killed, will control
the Massachusetts delegation to the
San Francisco convention beyond any
question.
There are only five candidates for
the Big Four-four Walsh men and
Joseph F. O'Connell As Mr.. McCon-
nell is brother of Daniel T. O'Connell.
Of the Friends of Irish Freedom, and
is heartily anti-Wilson and anti-league.
there would not be much balm for
the Administration if, by any chance.
he should break the slate.
The four Walsh candidates are the
Senator himself. Richard II. Long, of
birmingham, Democratic nominee for
Governor in the last two elections.
Joseph c. Pelletier. of Boston, and
Daniel F. Doherty. of Springfield.
Humphrey O'Sullivan, of rubber heel
fame had entered as candidate for one
OF the Big Four, but withdrew at the
last minute. Nominations closed on
the night of the 26th, so it is too late
for the Administration to make a fight
even had it desired to do so.
If William Jennings Bryan should
succeed in writing dry" plank in
the Democratic platform at San Fran
Cisco, with the support of Southern
and Western delegates, and if the con-
venton also should indorsc President
Wilson's record on the treaty, both of
which are certainly we'll within the
bounds of possibility, Massachusetts,
will roll up such a Republican majority
as the state never has seen before.
ut will make Governor Coolidge's
majority of $4,000 last fall look like
close election" said one prominent
Democrat
The only hope of putting any zest in
the massachusetts, Democratic campaign
at all is that moist platform. a moist
candidate named, and in addition that
the treaty plank will be so mild as to
be very unsatisfactory to the Presi-
dent
Representative James A. Gallivan. on
a recent visit to Boston, made it quite
clear to party associates that he, for
one, would not support a platform into
which was written prohibition and in
dorsement of the league of nations.
Perhaps the best way to illustrate
the dlsaffection Of the Irish from the
Democratic party is to quote a promi-
nent politicians belief that 10000 Irish
Democrats voted for Coolidge last No
vember as protest against the Will
son Administration.
We are going to follow Senator
Walsh. certainly on the fundamentals"
one prominent Democrat told me-
What do you mean by the funda-
mentals?" l asked him.
prohibition and the peace treaty."
ne replied without any hesitation.
The only strong fight being made for
the Administration in any district is
being made by Joseph B. Ely, former
District Attorney, in the LIST Con-
gressional district. This district in
cludes the Berkshires, at the extreme
western end of the state. In the same
district, David T. Clark, of Williams
town, where President Wilson frequent
~ visited his daughter. Mrs. Sayre,
IS understood to be an Administration
candidate. The Walsh problem here
IS to consolidate the anti-Administra-
.ion strength on two candidates, since
four Walsh men have entered.
Ely is conceded to have large per-
elected, but he is the only Administra-
ton man who is admitted to have any
chance of going to San Francisco from
massachusetts,. In the I'd district
James D. Lynch, of Springfield is re-
garded as an anti Walsh candidate, but |
ne is against both Wilson and the
peace treaty.
;. In the Sd district, Marcus A Coo
lldge. of Fitchburg, is running on
an IN Administration slate with George A.
Moore, of Palmer. Coolidge collected
, ,oi6 for the Wilson campaign in both
is!z and 1916. Coolidge and Palmer are
Spelng opposed by Thomas H. Shea, of |
lrtchburg, and William w. Buckley, of
o., iuse, DOtn w alSn men. In the |
etn district, Michael A. O'Leary. of
cambridge, is anti-Walsh but also anti
Admin stration.
. Just as in the Republican party, the
democrats are running unpledged al
most to nan. There was period
's to carry out their ideas it was
thought wise to indorse Senator Walsh
Tor President. This would have been
zone zone had it been necessary to hold
.heir forces together against opposi-
rron, but no opposition has developed.
r riends of A. Mitchell Palmer have
not no! mad the temerity to enter him in
ms n'I state by attempting to put up
"a na'mer delegates. and there is to be
40 . preferential Presidential primary.
!. senator Walsh himself is strongly
favorable to Vice President Marshall
s Sr the Democratic nomination. The
senator will not only control the
massachusetts, :. delegation, but his in
nuence will be tremendous on the dele
ssuons of other New England states,
with the exception of Con-
me only other Democratic Senator
rom i.t New England, Senator Peter Goe-
.es Gerry, of Rhode Island, voted :
asainst President Wilson on the final
treatY roll call 49,.