Evening star., 1923-09-02
M'ADO0, COOLIDGE
MONTANA CHOICES
Lead Democratic and COP.
Fields by Wide Margin.
Ford Stands High.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

HELENA. Mont, September l.
Montana instructs her delegates to ma
tional conventions at a presidential
primary. at which the delegates them
selves are elected. This primary is
held in the April preceding the presi-
dental election. The delegates under
the law must present to the conven-
tion the man the people choose, but
are required to stay by him only SO
long as in the opinion of the delega-
ton, he has a chance to be nominated
In other words, the delegation need
not vote for the popular choice on
more than the first ballot. keeping
TINS In mind here is the political sit
uatlon in Montana, as this Is written:
w. q. McAdoo adherents are first in
the field: j. A. Davis of Berkeley,
tahf., who is said TO represent Nc
Sdoo managers, arrived here the mid
dIc or August and set to work or
ganizing McAdoo men for the primary
OF April. 1924. AT a statewide din
ne ner OF democrats here on August 10.
senator Il. j. Walsh of Montana for
maliy launched the McAdoo boom,
winch Is said to have found wide favor
among party leaders present.
H. Is. Wheeler of Butte. the other
senator. has always been a McAdoo
man. II is said. Representative John
NJ. Evans of Missoula, representing the
lirst district, Is understood to be for
Mr.. McAdoo also. Judge J. r.. Erick-
son of kalispell. the democratic state
chairman, is classed with the McAdoo
men. AS Montana supported MIR. Nc
Adoo In the convention of 1920, II Is
presumed, therefore, that he is rather
sure OF the delegation I'm 1924. Mr..
lhderwood has many friends among
professional democratic politicians Of
hItf b.
or not, as wet, which eliminates him
The voters of Montana are uneuuiyo-
cally dry. Party managers in both or
CARNATIONS are well aware of this. AL
smith Is we'll liked out this way, by
many democrats, but his wet affilia-
tions make his case hopeless, SO far
as Montana is concerned.
Ford Not Considered.
As TO Ford. he Is not taken seriously
as a democratic candidate. can find
nobody who thinks Ford could carry
the primary against McAdoo. l can
nnd only "a few who think he might
swing the republican primary, but
| can find a host who think that IL
he ran on third ticket, of any old
sort. he would. If the election were to-
morrow: carry the state. Every one
admits the race would be close
Montana. on presidential polls. is
normally republican. But she loyalty
supported Mr.. Wilson in 1915. He re-
mains easily the most powerful factor
IN politics in the state. II Mr.. Wilson,
i'll as he is, were to be nominated in
IVA, he would unquestionably sweep
montana from border to border. II
Mr, McAdoo sweeps it, he may at
tribute his victory very largely to the
ne represents his famous father-in-
law. This sentiment is peculiar. 1t is
not political. Ii is not confined to any
class; Montana does not stand, the
eiection of 1920 made plain, with the
Nllsonlan policies. l do not think she
1avors the league. or ever did. But for
woodrow Wilson, the man-Woodrow
wilson who took US up on the heights,
in those terrible days OF 1918, and
showed us God-the love and yenera-
ton in Montana are truly touching.
Not Roosevelt. In the height of his
popularity, had such a hold on the af-
fections of the people of this state.
They spoke of Roosevelt, whom they
deeply loved and admired with EN-
thuslasm: mention of the stricken gen
tleman of $ street in Washington. is
made with the hushed tones in which
men speak of a saint.
Sentiment for Coolidge.
Scarcely less unusual than this senti-
ment is the wide sentiment for MIR.
Coolidge, which sprang up overnight
on his accession. Montana voted for
Mr.. Johnson in the primary of 1890.
There is little likelihood of any one
defeatlng Mr.. Coolidge in the primary.
OF 1929. The new President just hits
the right spot, in the view Of almost
every republican to whom I have
spoken. Even Johnson men seem TO
feel that the way out of IL is to nomi-
nate the President and fight IT out on
the lines as they now are laid If the
primary were tomorrow, therefore. Nc
Adoo and Coolidge would have a walk
over.
Mr.. Ford remains. He could easily
run independent, in the presidential
primary. or on third ticket. The re-
quired signatures could be secured in
an hour. His support would come,
first. from labor; second. from the
women; third, from that uneasy mass
which wants a change and knows not
how to get it.
Mr.. Ford is really but a nebulous
figure out here.
LOUIS NJ. THAYER.