Evening star., 1923-07-04
Politics at Large
BIZ n. o. MESSENGER.

east that IL the national convention
were to be held today William G. Nc
Adoo would be the democratic nomi-
nee for President. Mr.. McAdoo's cam
paign managers have been insistentiy
claiming that he is in possession of
larger sum of political assets at
this time than any other potential
candidate. Mr.. Lewis is convinced
that Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New
York cannot be nominated and that,
indeed, no eastern man is likely to be
chosen. A westerner. he says, will be
selected to offset the prospective re-
nomination Of President Harding.
Senator Underwood has returned
from his European trip and announce
ment of his candidacy for the demo-
cratic presidential nomination will
follow in due time, though not at
once, his friends say. Work in his
behalf, however, is being pushed
actively by his friends, and organiza-
tions are being set up in every state.
There is no question among politicians
that Senator Underwood, despite the
handicap Of his southern nativity and
environment, is going into the con-
vention with block Of delegates con-
stituting strength which will have to
be reckoned by the contestants for the
nomination.
Henry Fords prospects are being
enhanced by the denunciatiops which
are being poured upon him, in the
opinion of some neutral observers.
His managers are said to realize the
psychology of this and are disposed
to encourage 1t. His strength is
classed as being the support of the
masses, the laymen, not skilled in
politics, but who have an underlying
conviction he would make good
President, according to their ideas of
a business President. The more Mr..
Ford is berated, 1t is said, the more
stubborn will they become in standing
by him.
Former Senator Lewis reports that
he found in the west sentiment for
Ford and Hearst as candidates for
President and Vice President of a
third party. That would make a
pretty stiff combination, it is held, so
far as publicity Is concerned, the pub
Usher with his coast-to-coast string
Of newspapers and the manufacturer
with his own line Of supporters.
Mr.. Hearst's candidacy would at
tract. 1t is said. the support of a radi-
IN L.
some of the farmer-labor votes in the
middle west which otherwise would
be lost in the shuttle.
The democratic national committee
foresees trouble for the republican
party whichever way the senatorial
election goes in Minnesota July 16.
The committees view, expressed in a
current statement, is that whether
the republican candidate wins or
loses the senatorial battle in Mime
sofa, the result is sure to increase the
difficulties Of the Harding admins
tration in the next Congress. The
contest will end, these politicians pre-
dict, in an aggravation Of the bit
terness which has existed between the
regulars and the radicals since the
election OF Senator Shipstead last
autumn.
pilots and partisans of the Harding
administration-and the radicals OF
the complexion of Senator La Fol-
lette and Senator Brookhart, realize
that the forthcoming election in Min;
nesota is to be a test Of strength and
turning point in the career Of radi-
cal progressiveism. The fight is GER
tain to be waged without quarter and
to leave deep and painful scars.
Coming, as it will. shortly after
two practical defeats in the recent
congressional elections in Iowa and
Michigan, the senatorial contest in
sois,f nds the republieans sd
are preparing to send money and
speakers and bales OF literature into
the state to stem the tide of radical
ism They don't ,Ra want nIatinn the Tesurns to to
President Hard.Ag and his admins
tration. All the Establishments and
bludgeons of the administration will
be put at the disposal Of the repub:..
Senator La Follette,' says the
committee. "is to have a large share
in directing the campaign of Magnus
John9on, radical opponent of Gov.
Preus, the hope OF FardirG and the
standpatters. 1t Is hinteo that Sem
ator La Follette's speeches will stir
the voters to revolt against the
Harding Administration and urge
Johnson's election as necessary ac-
cession to the agrarian bloc in Con-
gress. Senator Shipstead also is ex-
pected to charge the national admin
istration with responsibility for ex-
cessive freight rates, low prices of
agricultural products and the failure
Of legislation to stabilize" wheat
"If the radicals triumph, Senator
La Follette's bloc will either dictate
the legislative program of the next
Congress or prevent any real achieve.
republican regime. On the other
hand, if victory goes to the "regu-
lars" the standpatters VIII take this
as proof that the tide OF progressive
been vindicated.. All the forces Of
the administration in the several
states where radicalism has gained
or threatened control of the repnb-
heartened by the overthrow OF john
son in Minnesota"
Is the old specter of conservation,
the bugaboo of the republican party
in 1912. to stalk forth as a. result of
President Harding's stand on that
subject as announced in his Spokane
speech? Unquestionably his remarks
will be approved by, the western
people who are in sympathy with his
position, but. how will they strike the
ultra ra-conservationists in the east