Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-12
Former Presidents Hand
Believed Seen in Resigna-
ton of Justice Clarke From
Supreme Court
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service to The Journal
(Copyright, 1927

Copyright. 1921
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9.-Did
Woodrow Wilson have any connec-
ton with the resignation of Justice
Clarke from the supreme bench to
which he originally nominated him?
Or, to put it another way, did the
influence Of Woodrow Wilson bring
about the retirement Of Mr.. Clarke
at the very moment when the re-
turn of former Governor Cox of
Ohio from Europe revives the lat
ter's presidential boom?
These questions have been various
ly asked and answered by Democrat
ic politicians who can not believe
that Mr.. Clarke's primary reason
for leaving the bench is to read
books but that his real reason is to
take an active part in the advocacy
of American membership in the
League of Nations.
Mr.. Clarke's own letter to Presi-
dent Harding stated that he wished
to serve his neighbors and espouse
public causes. The most important
cause in the mind Of Justice Clarke
is the League of Nations and his
thoughts run so much along the
same lines as those Of Woodrow
Wilson that his entry into the polit-
ical arena as a champion OF the
league would surely be followed by
some expression on the part of the
Democrats Of Ohio in favor OF
Clarke for president.
The Democrats could not object
to a candidate from Ohio since it Is
not unlikely That Mr.. Harding will
be renominated unless he declines
to serve again.
Wilson's Opinion
In any event the biggest fact about
the Democratic situation is that for
some reason or other, Mr.. Wilson
is not overly fond of Jim Cox as
candidate, much as he likes what
Mr.. Cox has done in advocating the
League of Nations as Democratic
issue, Possibly it Is that Mr.. Cox
was so overwhelmingly beaten and
possibly because Mr.. Wilson would
prefer another type of candidate and
possibly it was because the former
Ohio governor was nominated as
result of a combination Of leaders
in the Democratic party who are
in Mr.. Wilson's opinion unfriendly
to him-the truth is that if the for
mer president were asked his ideas
on the subject and he were to give
them frankly he would not urge MIR.
Cox for the presidency.
It was because Mr.. Wilson stead
lastly refused to send a letter or
greeting to the dinner given in
honor Of Mr.. Cox just before his
departure for Europe that Mr.. Will
son and Mr.. Tumulty, his former
secretary, fell out.
Certain circumstances make it ap-
pear that several Of Mr.. Wilson S
friends in Ohio who can interpret
his mind are back of Justice Clarke's
resignation from the bench.
The Question of Baker
One piece Of circumstantial evil
dence is brought forward in Demo
cratic circles thus: For many months
Newton D. Baker, secretary of war
in the Wilson cabinet and the man
who to the last has retained Mr..
Wilson's unbounded confidence, has
been asked to participate actively
in Ohio politics. He refused. Yet
recently when he was asked to &C.
cept the craftsmanship of the Guy
ahoga county committee Of the Dem
ocratic party, he accepted much to
the surprise of those same observ-
ers who now believe that he was
inspired by a desire to help the Will
son cause in Ohio through the in
Perfection Of Justice Clarke into the
situation.
AS a piece of political strategy,
the lining up Of the Ohio delegation
for Clarke instead of Cox would
have an important bearing no doubt
on the action Of a national Demo
cratic convention. Assuming that
Mr.. Clarke is himself not a party