Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-12
By FREDERICK
j. S

that the democratic standard bearer
for 1924 will emerge from the cleo
tons next month. Somewhere, in one
of the important fights for a governor
ship or for a seat in the senate, a man
will loom up, they say, who personifies
the leadership of which the party is
so sadly in need at present.
There are big men in the democratic
party. but none of them is such an out
standing figure that he must be ac-
cepted as the party leader. Not even
former President Wilson is to be ac-
corded hat distinction. Cox, McAdoo.
Palmer. Marshall and Underwood are
conspicuous by reason of their prom
inence in past presidential fights and
William Jennings Bryan is still very
much alive and in evidence, but it can
not be said that the democratic donkey
stops, looks and listens when any one
of these raises his voice in an effort
to make the welkin ring. Nor will any
one of them have an opportunity this
year to demonstrate that he is a vote
getter.
Democrats Who May Loom Up
However, there are some democrats
who have splendid chances to show
their form. Senator Pomerene in
Ohio may be said TO have an excep-
tional opportunity. He is a candidate
for a third election to the senate in a
state that is pivotal at all times and
that is of unusual Importance now be-
cause it is the home of President
Harding. Should he win, it would be
a difficult matter TO convince him and
his friends that he is not the logical
candidate for the democrats to put up
for the presidency in 1874.
Former Governor Raston of Indiana
is another TO be reckoned with. tie is
running for the senate against the re-
doubtable Albert jeremiah Beveridge.
ANY democrat who can get himself
elected to the senate from the Hoosier
state, and particularly one who can
defeat Beverage. necessarily looms mp
as of presidential size. OF course
Ralston has not accomplished either Of
those things as yet, but he has his
chance.
hen there is Jim Reed of Mis-
sonri the stormy petrol of democracy,
who won himself a senatorial renomina-
tion in the face of all the opposition
that the Wilson element in his state
could rally against him. If he is re-
elected he will be one of the big fac
tors in his party for many years to
come. He may not be able to carry
off the presidential prize himself, but
he will have something to say as to
who does get it.
There is perhaps less likelihood of
the development of republican candl-
dates for the presidency as a result of
this years campaign. AS matters stand
now it is generally assumed that Presi-
dent Harding will be a candidate to
succeed himself and that he will be re-
nominated. 1t would be extremely I'M
usual if that did not happen.
However. traditions and precedents
have had a way of getting upset in re
rent years and not even the wisest Of
the wise would undertake to say that
the unexpected would not happen.
Harding may decide that Il term is
all he wants. or politics may take such
that his denomination is not to be
conceded.
In either of such contingencies the
likeliest candidates for the honor would
be those republicans who make the
strongest showing this year. Beverage
in Indiana. who surprised many peo-
pie by defeating Senator Harry 5.
New for the senatorial nomination,
may well be one of these. Pinchot,
who upset the republican organiza-
tons apple cart in Pennsylvania, may
be another.
Still another possibility is Senator
Lac Toilette. who won a notable victory
in the Wisconsin primary and who is
not likely to stand on tradition or
precedent if he concludes that 1924 is
4 good year for him to make another
bid for presidential honors. Senator
Hiram Johnson of California likewise
is one of those who are running this
year in what might prove to be a pre-
liminary canter for the next big race.