Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-16
POLITICAL POT
At WASHINGTON
proverbiaI ''Dark Horse"
Seems to Lead Democratic
Nominees for 1924 Race
By GEORGE II. MANNING
Washington Correspondent OF The
Herth AmhOY Evening NeWs.(

Perth Amboy Evening News.)
WASHINGTON, March 16.-With
he revival here, as soon as congress
u the pastime of speculation on the
impending presidential race of 1924,
he proverbial dark horse" seems to
cad the list of potential Democratic
GoIninees, in the judgment of sew
sral of the SoundeSu OF political
.olecasterS.
one of these. a leader in the
Democratic party counsels, recently
ccview the most probable develop
ments at the next Democratic ma
ional convention. DiscardinS all
claims in behalf of the most fire.
Quently mentioned possibilitieS-Mc-
Adee, Underwood, Cox, Smith-he
predicted at the start of the con-
rention, "favorite sons" would hold
he limelight for the first few votes.
With no one able to amass anything
like a two-thirds vote.
Following that, ile seems to be of
the opinion that the general trend
of the convention will be along the
tame line as that taken by the Re
publican convention of 1920, with
The final emergence Of O compara-
lively unknown man.
This man, however, unlike Mr..
harding in 1920, would hardly be of
The coior1ess, conservative type, with
! color1ess platform. Such choice
you'd be absurd, in view Of the al
host certain denomination Of Har~
hing by the Republicans. He would
necessarily be one who would be
tlassed in the liberal type, with an
pfvulnerable record; one who. al
though comparatively unknown at
ttst blush, could be effectively ad-
tertised,
On the other hand, this ideal can
udate would by no means be rad
tal. Such a choice, besides being
Iractically impossible. would be en-
trely too dangerous a concession to
he growing socialistic tendencies or
group of the, people more noisy
han numerous. He would be such
man that the more people knew
lin, the better they would like him.
He need not, however, be a man
lf great outstanding achieVements,
but rather a man Just good enough
10 catch the votes of the millions
who will be determined to vote
, igainst President Harding and the
present administration.
The assumptions Of the Democrat
quoted were of course based on the
probability that President Harding
you'd be renominated for a second
lerm. That, though, is the gen.
trally accepted view. especially in
hew of Senator Watson's assertion
n the senate that there would be no
Sther candidate. If Mr.. Harding is
candidate for denomination, 1t
you'd seem that his party would
have no choice, but to give 1t to
iin1. To do otherwise would be In
he nature of reputation of his
administration, and would merely
ttrengthen the general dtssatisfac-
ion, which is the best bet OF the
Democrats.
6 All ON which leads inevitably to
de conclusion that personalities of
he candidates will play a compare
lively minor role in the next pres1-
lential election. Harding is ad-
hittedly a man Of rather slight per-
Ional attractions; and II McAdoo,
srnith, Bryan and Henry Ford are
10 be eliminated from the Demo-
,ratic choice, it is highly probable
hat the Democratic nominee Will be
man of more or less negative per-
onality.
The one best chance for a Demo-
ratio victory in the next president
II campaign is disapproval OF the
parding administration. In which
gain there is a close parallel to the
600 election. Harding, of course,
till have no such nationwide dis
pproval as Mr.. Wilson was the VIC
i'm OF but if the Democratic party
dominates a man who can be consld-
red as sufficiently liberal to draw
nv large proportion Of the dissat1s-
led progressive Republican vote,
here VIII be a highly encouraging
roenect for a Democratic admins
,-,riOn for the next four years.