The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-08

now. Since Mr.. Wilson's retirement
there il no doubt that Mr.. McAdoo
comes nearer to being leader than
any other Democrat. There is no
one leader, but McAdoo's following
includes the most influential ele-
ments In the party.
Governor Cox hopes to run for
governor Of Ohio next summer and
by a sweeping victory to regain the
political strength, lost In his defeat
last November. That defeat. how
ever, was sd unexampled that the
ex-governor certainly cannot come
back" unless he makes some unex.
pected and extraordinary impression
In discussing national issues.
McAdoo's Rail Viewpoint.
Senator Underwood is the one re.
naming outstanding candidate for
the national leadership, but with the
/ Republicans controlled by their con-
servative element II is hard to see
how a Democrat who agrees with
them on nearly every intense issue
can lead against them.
Mr.. Bryan will always retain a
large and devoted following, but his
views on finance and economics are
too untechnical. too impressionistic-
ally moral. for him to lead in, an
era of difficult economic reconstruc-
! ton.
Without going further into detail.
I may say that Mr.. McAdoo takes
| issue sharply on the foundation from
which the railroad problem Is being
approached. The Administration and
the Administration forces in Con-
gress treat the roads as having been
wronged by Federal control-ruined.
as Senator Lodge put 1t the other
day. Mr.. McAdoo holds that on the
contrary they were saved from COM
plete disaster.
The Committee on Interstate Com
merce meets again on Tuesday at the
urgent call OF the railroads to hurry
up the Government help. That COM
mittee on the issue heard all the pro-
railroad testimony, and then before
the opposition could be heard II ad-
journed the hearing until September.
Wants Aid First.
Now It comes together, not to hear
the other side OF the wage dispute,
but to hurry Government help before
the effect of railroad propaganda on
public opinion wears off.
have Just been enjoying reading
the Commerce Monthly, issued by the
National Bank of commerce in New
York. II Ia talking Of the settlement
forced on the British railways by the
Government.
The Government told them to make
a final settlement for about q third Of
their claims or get nothing. The bank
] periodical observes:
| 81 hn IN ~ hnf 0ffar
is embodied in the terms of the new
bill IL is feared that any assumption
of hostility sufficiently active to black
its passage by Parliament would
merely result in protracted period
Of litigation with the Government"
Protect Public. He Says.
That 'it is feared" is delicious. 1T
is hoped, at least, that before our
with the cake now offered to them
they will be forced by Congress to
make a settlement of their claims.
Here Is a chance for the Commit.
tee on Interstate Commerce TO show
some craftsmanship. Let II advocate
the mortgage loan to the roads, IL II
wants to. That loan in itself is
merely a step toward Government
ownership.
But let 1t act for the people at the
same time that II acts for the roads
The roads are the petitioners. They
are begging for help. Before they OBJ
tain 1t they should be stopped from
using the next decade or two to drss
one belated claim after another be
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, before Congress, before the
President, before the courts.
Many Of these claims are against
the spirit of the contract between the
roads and the Government. This Is
the moment to wind them up. After
the roads get all they want out OF
the present Administration bill the
chance for a real settlement will be