Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-14
1924 PRESIDENTIAL
Campaign IS GIVEN
START BY ELECTION
BY ROBERT T.. SMALL
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal
Copyright, 1929

NCOpyEIShIS 1oAE'J
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.-How-
ever "spotty'' the election of last
Tuesday may have been, it has had
at least one national result. 1t has
started the presidential campaign
in both parties.
The Democrats, hesitant to start
anything in the face Of that dis
couraging seven millions in 1920,
have suddenly been galvanized into
new life. and with the belief that the
people still may be in a mood for
change in 1924, there is sure to be
lively scramble for the nominal
ton.
Despite the denial by Attorney
General Daugherty, the belief per-
sists in Republican circles that Pres
ident Harding will decline a second
nomination. If this proves to be
true, the scramble for the Republi-
can nomination will be as fierce as
that for the Democratic gonfalon.
But even if President Harding
should not decline the nomination,
there is reason to believe that he will
not lack opposition at the Republican
convention. Senator Hiram w.
Johnson, of California, who on Tues
day received an Overwhelming vote
for reelection, is coming back to
Washington in a militant mood.
Hiram Johnson is not man who
easily forgets. He still smarts under
some of the stings Of the Chicago
convention in 1920, when some of the
delegates instructed for him, bolted
his cause and went over to the
Harding standard.
Primaries Give johnson Choice
The presidential preference pri-
maries make it more difficult now
adays than it was few years. ago
for a president, and the adminiStra-
ton machine, to dictate the delegates
to a national convention. The pri-
maries offer the opportunity for
other candidates legitimately to en-
ter the lists against a president and
Hiram Johnson has the independence
to make such a move. The showing
he made in the various states where
he conducted a campaign in 1920
, was a great personal tribute to the
man. With the stimulus of his Tues
day triumph strong in him, and with
many influential hackers, Senator
Johnson may seek in 1924 to make
good his failure to win the nominal
ton two years ago.
From present indications there
will be but one man to contest the
progressive leadership Of Senator
johnson in the nation. That man is
Clifford Pinchot, goVernorelect Of
Pennsylvania, with a majority Of
100000 behind him. The Roosevelt
ProgressiVes are claiming that Pin
chot was far closer to the colonel
anC in greater sympathy with all
his policies than was Johnson, al
though the latter ran with the col
onel on the Progressive ticket in
1912. Alre ly in Pennsylvania they
are talking of Pinchot for president,
just as in California and some other
sections the boom for Hiram John
son has been launched with much
fuss and feathers.
This about exhausts the list of
present day possibilities in the Re-
publican party with the exception Of
Secretary Hughes. If President
Harding definitely decides not to ruin
again, Mr.. Hughes would be a for
midable aspirant for the nomination
and would have the strong backing
Of the conservative elements of the
party. If both Johnson and Pinchot
should enter the lists the Progressive
strength would be divided and fall,
leaving the field virtually clear for
Mr.. Hughes.
Naturally Mr.. Hughes would not
contest the nomination with Mr..
nd will
ity only if the latter carries out a
previously expressed desire to step
aside.
On the Democratic side it begins
to look even at this early date as
if the contest for the nomination
may narrow down at convention
time to another fight between Will
liam Gibbs McAdoo, of California,
and James M. Cox, of Ohio. There
was a great deal of bitterness en-
gendered by this fight in 1920, but
there seems to be no chance to head
off a renewal Of it, for the friends
Of Governor Cox say he is entitled
to another nomination because of the
brunt he bore in 1920, while the
friends Of Mr.. McAdoo say he de-
serves the nomination because he
has no defeat to overcome.
Grand Demonstration for McAdOO
No sooner had the purport of the
Tuesday returns reached Los An
geles than a grand demonstration
was started in favor of McAdoo for
president in 1924. Reports say that
some $500 men and women cheered
the former secretary of the treasury
as the next president of the United
States, vowing that he would carry
the state of California even against
that other "favorite son." Hiram
Johnson.
There is no question but Mr.. Nc
Adoo moved to California with the
idea that he could never win the
Democratic nomination as a resident
Of New York state. But New York
state still is in a position to make
trouble for Mr.. McAdoo. The election
of Al Smith as governor, by an I'M
precedented majority, has placed
Governor Smith at the head of the
party in the Empire State. He is
far bigger man in the party than
Charley Murphy. And AL Smith is
unalterably opposed 10 the nomina-
ton of McAdoo. He will head the
New York delegation to the next
convention. He will be doomed for
the presidency himself, but he has
no illusions on that subject. Mr..
Smith realizes that the time has
not yet come probably when either
one of the two older parties will
nominate a Roman Catholic for
president because of the danger that
latent prejudices among some Sec
lions of the people might convert the
ensuing campaign into more or less