The Washington times., 1923-08-01
F A|LS
To DECLARE
PROGRAM
Underwood Disappoints Demo-
cratic Leaders by MiIdness of
Attack on Harding Policies.
By III. X. Reynolds.
International NeWA Service.

Now that Senator Oscar w. Under
wood of Alabama, has started the ball
rolling by announcing himself az q
candidate for the Democratic presl-
Dental nomination next year, it was
fully expected here today that other
Democratic leaders who have an eye
on the White House would lose little
time in getting their hats into the
ring.
So much concerned has everyone
in Washington been over the Illness
Of President Harding that politics
has slipped temporarily into the back
ground, and the Underwood an.
nouncement in Montgomery did not
provoke the widespread discission
and comment that would have been
looked for under different circum-
stances. Then, too, the announce
ment did not come wholly as sur
prise, as Senator Underwood has
been regarded for a number of years
by a large number of Democrats as
a presidential possibility, and his
candidacy in 1924 was looked upon
in some quarters as certainty.
Plans Not Stated.
There was considerable interest.
however, in the public expression
Of his views on international and
domestic problems now confront
ing the country, and some Demo-
cratic leaders in the Capital, while
declining to have their feelings
made a matter of record at this
time, were plainly disappointed be-
cause Senator Underwood did not
go more into detail in his criticism
Of the foreign policy OF the Hard
ing Administration or in setting
forth his plans for greater Ameri-
can participation in world affairs.
This was the burden of Under.
woods first public statement after
his return from Europe q few
weeks ago and It was touched on
again in his address to the Ala
bama legislature, but it appears
that he does not want to deal
specifically with questions of in
ternational concern while rapidly
changing events throughout the
world make the formation of def
mite policies almost impossible.
He merely insists the next Demo
cratic national convention should
advocate that we take our place
in international affairs as becomes
the great American nation"
It was probably Senator Under
woods latest views on the prohibi-
ton question that were awaited with
the greatest interest. He has been
generally classified as wet" and
some dry organizations in his home
State have already started a fight
against him on the ground that he
is an opponent Of national prohibit
ton. His statement, however, that
he would stand for the enforcement
Of the law, as enacted through the
decision of the people, regardless of
his personal views. is expected to
quiet some of the opposition Of the
prohibitionists, though there is no
doubt that the issue will be raised
time and time again during his pre-
convention campaign.
McAdOO Announcement Next.
The next Democratic candidate to
take the field in the race for the
1924 nomination is expected to be
William Gibbs McAdoo, of Cali
fornia. former Secretary of the
Treasury and Director-G General Of
Railroads, who was put out Of the
@0AAAAAS All AoSV ny 1OFCLAOA ~OA
Of Ohio. McAdoo has been cam
paigning more or less quietly for
at least a year, but thus far has
declined to reveal his plans. Now
that Underwood has started things
almost year in advance of the
tfonal convention - McAdoo's
friends feel the time is propitious
for his formal announcement, and
there probably will be a number of
'favorite sons" and other booms
within the Democratic party dur
ing the rest Of the summer.
An event OF some political i'm
portance will take place at Atlanta,
Ca, tomorrow when Senator Royal
S. Copeland, democrat, of New
York, will address the Georgia gen
eral assembly. He is expected to
enter into a free discussion Of all
the problems Of agriculture, labor.
transportation, etc, and to lay
down a tentative platform of RENE
dies for Americas domestic Ills, in
addition to expressing his opinions
on the position of the United States
in world affairs.
miniature hOsNital for the PreSi-