Evening star., 1923-03-28
DEMOCRATIC RACE
MAY GO TO ''MR. X"
Dark Horse Believed Likely
to Win Nomination for
Presidency.
SHES AT PREDICTION
Cummings Says None Can Proph-
ecy 0utcome-Sees Underwood
and McAdoo in Deadlock.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Mr.. X' is at this writing the
strongest democratic presidential
probability for 1924. The unknown
quantity has the inside track and Is
likely to have 1t when the national
convention begins balloting for a
nominee. That is the judgment of
one of the shrewdest observers in
the democratic party-Homer s. Cum
mings of Connecticut, "keynoter" and
temporary chairman of the 1920 con-
vention at San Francisco. Cummings,
able Mr.. ""
The former democratic national
chairman has just passed through
Washington en- route to a golfing
holiday at Pinehurst. He discussed
freely with this writer the chaotic
picture which the democratic presi-
dential situation presents at this early
stage of the game.
Sees Little Chance for Leaders.
mo man." said Cummings. was
ever gifted with a sufficient sense of
prophecy to predict with anything ap-
preaching certainty who will be the
democratic candidate in 1924. Ad-
hitting the undoubted strength, at
the start at least, of aspirants like
McAdoo, Underwood, Smith, Ralston
and Davis-to name only those most
mentioned nowadays cannot figure
out how any of them is going to
capture the 726 VoteS-two-t thirds
necessary to nominate in our conven-
tion. If | were required to bet on the
identity of the nominee today, |
wouldn't back anybody but Mr.. y. He
looks to me at the moment the only
sure thing in our stable. The man
we choose may be sitting in the con-
vention among the delegates. He may
be a politician whose name is hardly
known or thought of at this time. He
may be a senator or a governor des
tined to make national reputation
between now and June, 1924. He may
be an even humber democrat who
will electrfy the convention at a
psychological moment with great
speech. Never were the possibilities
more incalculable."
Says Ford Hooverfzes.
Mr.. Cummings was asked if Henry
Ford doesn't measure up to Mr.. y"
dimensions.
The trouble with Ford" he replied.
"is that he is 'Hooverizing.' By thaO
| mean he Is no more out in the open
as to his party alignment than Her
bert Hoover was in the winter of
1919-1920. Nobody knows definitely
whether Ford is a real democrat or
entering the primaries of both par
ties. Out where the west begins. men
and women are talking Ford no
matter what kind of d ticket he runs
on. Democrats aren't accustomed to
give presidential nominations to non
descripts.'
Ryan Backs Underwood.
This correspondent is informed in
well posted democratic quarters that
-nda
convention campaign, while not yet
actually launched has a defact0 exist
ence. 1t is understood to be in su-
preme charge of Forney Johnston, a
Washington lawyer who is general
counsel of the Seaboard Air Line. He
is a son of former United States Sena-
tor Johnston of Alabama. Charles Z.
Carlin of Virginia, Mitchell Palmers
1920 manager, is an Underwood man,
as Palmer himself is said to have be-
come.
Filling the same important role in
the Underwood scheme as Bernard
NJ. Baruch plays III the McAdoo or
ganization Is ThounsE Fortune Ryan
Of Virginia and New io-k. The prin-
Ctpal Slncws of war for the Alabama
senator $ candidacy are said t" be in
prospect from Ryan. Underwoods s
strength Is seen at this time Us d for
midatle ph;tIanx of democratic "bil,
interests and wet sentiment Nc
Adoo typftieS tho extra-dry wing OF
the democratic party and is the man
deemed capable Of making the strong
est appeal to labor. AS Undervoos
incarnateS general conservatism and
'liberaliam" with regard to Volstead-
ism, MCAdoo stands for progressivism
ana strict enforcement OF the existing
liquor laws
van Of democratic aspirants In The
sDrlnS Of 1923. Quietly, but none
the less systematically their respcc-
tive fences are being put in order
everywhere. McAdoo's friends claim
everything west OF the Mississippi
for him. End"rw"od's supporters
believe that practically tho solid
south and cast viii be for him, after
the AZ Smith candidacy has shot
it's bolt.
Coz Chances Belittled.
hut neither McAdoo nor rndar-
vwo"d partisans thus early is claim
strength in the convention Boil,
concede tha: Ralston or Davis might
easily win out as q deadlock breaker
or, II not one Of them. Il present-hour
outsider, but one of immense :.ttrac-
tfveneSS, like Senator Joe" Robin
son of Arkansas, the new democratic
leader in the Senate. 4 brand
new boom is that which heralds
Judge Cordell Hull of Tennes-
SEQ. national chairman, as the
democrats white hope" Senator
Copeland of New York, Gov. Silzer
OF New Jersey, former Justice Clark
Cf Ohio, Senator owen Of Oklahoma
and Bainbridge Colby Of New York.