Evening star., 1923-07-06

closer government supervision of the
railroads of the country, and under
such circumstances a friend in the
White House would be an asset to
the railroad workers.
Politically speaking. nucleus Of
railroad men in every division point
In the United States is political
organization in itself. There has al
ways been a good deal of talk about
the labor vote and how helpful it
can be to candidate who is friendly
to labor. but one Is safe in saying
there never has been 4 candidate for
who has been so closely identified
with the interests of a large group
of workingmen as Mr.. McAdoo. His
candidacy would inspire intense ac-
tfvity by these men.
1t Is unlikely, however, that Mr..
McAdoo would confine himself en-
! tirely to railroad questions should he
! become an active candidate. As Sec
rotary of the Treasury he became
familiar with the finances of the gov
ernment and questions of taxation.
He is an authority on this subject
and should he present a radical pro-
gram for the revision of taxation in
the United States. he would be in
an advantage Gus position because he
could speak by the book.
On Side Of Drys.
If prohibition should be an issue Of
tion. Mr.. McAdoo would lead the
dry" side. He is a confirmed dry"
! and would have the support of Will
liam Jennings Bryan as against any
candidate of so-calied liberal views.
Mr.. McAdoo gathered most of his
strength III the last democratic con-
vention from the arid west. Some of
, the eastern states which are wet
would not be for McAdoo, anyhow,
even though he were inclined to think
Mr. McAdoo was Secretary of the
Treasury he incurred the hostility of
the Tammany organization in New
York state and was not in favor with
these political bosses in the demo-
cratic party. Woodrow Wilson had
the antagonism of these same groups
in the democratic party, but won the
nomination despite il In the famous
convention of 1912 at Baltimore.
Summing up Mr. McAdoos quail
ton, transportation and government
hnSncing-all of which are likely to
Gevelop issues in the next campaign
1t would not be surprising. for in
stance. if he worked out plan where
by soldier bonus could be paid with
out disturbing seriously the economic
condition of the country. Certainly
he will come forward before long
with some concrete proposal for han
ding the railroad situation, and as
west, it must not be forgotten that
one of the closest friends and back
ers of William G. McAdoo is Bernard
NJ. Baruch. who Is responsible for
keting groups in the west and who
iS closer to the farm bloc than any
other man in politics today. Taken
all in all. Mr.. McAdoo's candidacy
can easily be made a factor in the
next contest. provided he is willing
to speak out on subjects with which
he is familiar and provided he com
bfnes the idealism of Wilson with the
practical business sense of man who
built the Hudson tunnels. managed
the American railroads during the
war. and handled the finances of the
government. This would entitle him
to use the slogan of "A Business Man
for President" which has become 50
popular In recent years.
Has Some Liabilities.
The liabilities, of course. of the Nc
Adoo candidacy are by no means few.
garded as d second Wilson and would
inherit the prejudices of the cleo
torate, or that he would make the
Wilsonian type Of President. will not
fail to get emphasis at the hands of
his opponents.
Generally speaking, Mr.. McAdoo
starts out with an extreme position
on the prohibition question, which
means that the eastern bloc would
strive to eliminate him in the first
balloting. Since the democratic con-
vention requires a two-thirds vote, it
is always possible for one-third of
the delegates to organize an opposi-
ton that makes it impossible to
nominate a candidate of outspoken
views, The tendency usually is to
get a compromise candidate. Thus
the McAdoo and Palmer factions in
the last democratic convention fought
each other so bitterly that it was
not possible for either one to win
and the selection of James NJ. Cox
became inevitable.