The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-09-18
TAGGART NURSES
RALSTON BOOM
FOR PRESIDENCY
While Keeping Under Cover
Democratic ASpirantS Lay
Plans for 1924 Race.
By LAWRENCE MARTIN

Copyright, 1873, by united HFeSS
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18.-Presiden-
tial booms are being kept under
glass" these days, to protect them
from early frosts.
A survey OF the status of the pre-
liminary campaigns Of both Republic
an and Democratic aspirants shows
they are all playing a cautious game.
Only one candidate Is out in the open
today. He is President Coolidge ana
it is his position as President, instead
Of any statement by him or on his
behalf that makes him a candidate.
Here in brief is how all the Demo
cratic booms and boomlets shape up.
Tomorrow the Republican possibilities
will be discussed:
James NJ Cox Of Ohio-Cox, victim
Of the Republican landslide of 1920.
never has taken that defeat as pers-
onal rebuff He Is therefore in a re-
oeptive mood and his many friends
in Ohio will take his name before the
Democratic convention as Ohio's IA
vorite son. Cox Will hold Ohio's votes
in early balloting. Cox still has
friends among the leading Democrats
in many states.
Oscar Underwood Of Alabama
Since Underwood announced his will
ingness to run, his campaign of pub
licity has been carried on actively by
his friends. Governor Brand Of Ala
bama Joined by all the living COVER
nors Of the state, has broadcast a great
deal OF Informative publicity covering
Underwoods position on great public
questions. The Underwood Organi-
zation is being quietly perfected every
where
William q. McAdoo Of California
McAdoo. as always is an enigma. His
managers are the most astute
politicians in the Democratic party.
McAdoo has SHE'D away from any
statement that would publicly make
him a candidate. His campaign thus
far has been devoted to lining up
delegates. McAdoo Is regarded by all
the other Democratic aspirants as the
man they have to deal with
Governor Al Smith OF New York
Smith is devoting himself to winning
victory for his party in the State,
instead of trying to forward presi-
Dental aspirations he may have. He
and his friends consider 1t Of first Inn
portance TO insure election OF Demo
cratic assembly and State ticket In
November. AIf they succeed in that.
and Smith then puts through an am
bilious program Of governmental re-
form for New York, he Will loom up
stronger as presidential possibility.
Samuel NJ Ralston Of Indiana
Ralston's defeat OF Albert J. Beveridge
for the Senate pushed him at once
into the spotlight and he is ranked
among the first three in all Democratic
discussions Of presidential possibilities
Tom Taggart, Indiana, Democratic
leader, is tenderly nursing the Ralston
boom and losing no opportunity to i'm
press on other Democratic State
leaders the wisdom of combining with
Ralston TO beat McAdoo and Ford.
Ralston himself says he has his job
as Senator to look after and that he
is not thinking Of the presidency.
Henry Ford Of Michigan-Here is
the dark horse of Democratic politics,
the man who is better known by name
and less known as to personality than
any of the other Democratic posi-
bilities. There are many Ford-for-
President clubs, unlimited Ford pub
lefty and n certainty Ford will have
more than & few delegates IL he per-
mits his name to go before the conven-
ton. He has said he doesn't want to
be President. But the campaign in
his behalf has gone so far. who ever
Is the nominee probably will be helped
into 1t by Ford votes, If Ford himself
doesn't win.