The Alaska daily empire., 1923-06-05
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES.

With it practically conceded that President Hard ing will be renominated by the Republicans political speculation is now chiefly directed toward Democratic probabilities and the prospect of a Third Party
 The leading figures in the preliminary maneuYers for the Democratic nomination are now former sec retary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo and Sen atcr Oscar W. Underwood. In the back ground are Senator Samuel NJ. Ralston former Secretary David F. Houston and former Ambassador John w. DAVIS. Ovelhanging the whole situation. of course, is the Ford for President movement and the generally accepted belief that Henry Ford will not be a can didate for President unless he might get nomina- ton from the Democrats.
 Senator Underwood is backed by the more con servatye element of his party and by thousands of admirers who recall his superb leadership of Congress from 1913 to 1917 and his association with the Underwood Tariff. He is looked upon by many us the representative of the old Cleveland sound money low tamf economical government advocates who Is prominent in public life
 Mir McAdoo is generally urged by the so-called progressive element of his party-the element that nominated and elected Wilson. to which McAdoo con- tributed much through his very able leadership in 1912. However, it was the Underwood support which Wilson at the right time that brought about his nomination. At that time MT. McAdoo was re Parded as a conservative.
 I My Davis is said to be the second choice of the conservative element among the Underwood sup porters with Senator Ralson the third choice
 MT Houston is supported as second choice by of the so-caed progressive element the McAdoo following with Senator Raston third choice.
 of course, Ralston, Davis and Houston have many first choice supporters.
 The feeling that if Harding and Underwood should be the nominees of their respective parties there will probably be formidable Third Party candidate will have its effect in the final results There will prob ably be Third Party candidate in any event, but the supporters of McAdoo (and Ford, eourse) tend that he will not be formidable if the position of the Democratic Party and it's candidate should be sufficiently progressive.
 One of the things that count for uncertainty in Democratic National Conventions is the two-thrds iule-a rule which makes it necessary for candidate e to receive twcthrds of the convention votes before he may become the nominee of his party This rule prevented the nomination of Martin Van Buren in 1S44 and Champ Clark in 1912 The certainty that II probably would be impossible for him to get a two thirds vote in the San Francisco Convention prevented McAdoo from getting majority and caused the nom fnation of Cox the second choice of the majority of the McAdoo
 Senator underwoods opposition prohibition in the Senate, and before he became Senator is being used against him by the Democratic drys and by these who think it would be good politics. to stay with the Eighteenth Amendment or to dodge the aues- ton However, Mir. McAdoo has not a very dry record, and his father-n-law, when President vetoed all the prohibition that were presented c him by Congress.