The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-19
GAN ] D|DATES ALL PLAYING CAUTIOUS
 GAME THIS r ALL
Survey Of Democratic Tim- Der Shows Wise Politicians
 Watching Their Step
By LAWRENCE MARTIN leased Wire to The Age-Herald)

WASHINGTON, Sept 1S-Presiden- tial booms are being kept under class" these days to protect them from early frosts.
 survey of the status of the pre- Hminary campaigns of both repub- lican and democratic aspirants shows they are all playing a cautious game. Only one candidate is out in the open today. He is President Coolidge and it is his position as President, in stead of any statement by him or on his behalf that makes him a candi- date.
 All weather wise politicians know the danger of getting into the fields too soon. The first candidates are always the targets of those who hold back. Many a man has been elimi- mated simply because he announced himseM too soon. This therefore Is 8 period of extreme caution in all the presidential timber camps.
 Here in brief Is how the democratic booms and boomlets shape up. Tomor- row the republican possibilities will be discussed:
 y.ms. M. Cox o2 ShiSo. 6 O.
 Cox, victim of the republican Land slide of 1920. never has taken that defeat as g personal rebuff. He is therefore in receptive mood and his many friends in Ohio will take his name before the democratic conven- ton as Ohio's favorite son and proba- 1 ply with a pledged delegation. Oscar u.aer,yoood 6 0f 21abama.
 Since Underwood announced his willingness to run, his campaign of publicity has been carried on actively by his friends.
 Governor Brandon of Alabama joined by all the living governors" of thA state has broadcast Q great 1R to( Tor T11hliQifV covering Underwood's position on great public questions. The Underwood organiza- tion Is being quietly perfected every way possible and the hunt for national convention delegates is unremitting. Underwood will undoubtedly show great strength in the early balloting wnH.ua G. 1Ic1dSo Of California.
 McAdoo as always is an enigma. His campaign managers are among the most astute politicians In the democratic party. McAdoo has shled away from any statement that would publicly make him a candidate. His campaign thus far has been devoted to lining up delegates. The McAdoo boosters have a plan to swing Henry Ford's delegates to McAooo aI tne proper time In the convention. McAdoo is regarded by all the other democratic aspirants as the man they have to beat.
 O O O
 Al smith Of New York.
 Smith is dewoting himself to win ming a victory for his party in the state, instead of trying to forward whatever presidential aspirations he nav have. He and his friends con- slider 1t of first importance to insure election of a democratic assembly and state ticket in November. If they succeed in that and Smith then puts through an ambitious program of governmental reform for New 4ork he will loom up stronger as a presl- dential possibility. smith Is inclined ea 10 agree with some of those Who think he would be wiser to try Tor the United States senate aiming at the presidency.
 samuel RaIston Of Indiana
 Ralston's defeat of Albert J. Beve- ridge for the senate pushed him at once into the spotlight and he IS ranked among the first three in all democratic discussions of presiden- tiaI possibilities. Tom Taggart, 1n- diana's democratic leader is tenderly nursing the Ralston boon and losing no opportunity to impress on other democratic state leaders the wisdom of combining with Ralston to beat McAdoo and Ford. Ralston himsel1 saws he has his job as senator to look after and he Is not thinking of
 
 Henry Ford of Michigan.
 Here is the dark horse of demo- cratic politics, the man who is better known by name and less known as 10 Dersonality than any of the other democratic parties. There are many '.Ford for President" clubs, unlimited Ford publicity and certainty that Ford will have more than reW oele- gates if he permits his name to go before the convention. He has sald he doesn't want to be President. But the campaign in his behalf has gone sn Var that whoever is the nominee probably will be helped to it by Fora votes, if Ford himself doesn't win. O O O
 Johm w. Davis Of New York.
 The former ambassador to Great sritian is mentioned in connection with the democratic nomination but no campaign for him IS discernible.
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