Evening star., 1924-02-06
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER

candidates and reforming of party
lines. Mr.. Wilson's death Is expected
to have important bearing on party
policies. and, indeed upon candida
cies, MIR. McAdoo's prospects for secur-
ing the nomination are classed as
having been impaired by his revealed
connection with the oil interests. BE
that as 1t may, the disclosures have
unquestionably served to encourage
his rivals to renewed efforts who
think that now there is a wider field
for all and narrowing one for him.
X X **
Up to little less than a week ago.
the opinion among politicians was
that Mr.. McAdoo stood a more than
fair chance of going into the national
convention with a majority of the
delegates. having then only to make
the grade" up to two-thirds major
ity-a difficult task at that, but a
sprouting chance.
no way damaging to Mr.. McAdoo
professionally. leading democratic
politicians foresaw increasing diff
culties ahead for Mr.. McAdoo. Po-
litically, some of the men who had
been favorable to his nomination ap-
out of the fears of delegates that he
could not be put over" in the cleo
ton and that he would be load to
carry.
Almost overnight there was no
ticeable a change among democratic
politicians. and by this term is meant
leaders who WELD tremendous in
fluence among the rank and file with
the delegate body in every national
convention and who. when they agree
off h.
were getting cold feet on the Nc
AdOo boom.
There was also observable a big
rise in the efforts and confidence of
other candidates who. reading the
signs AS they saw them, felt that the
and they would have a brighter
Supporters Of Gov. Alfred E. Smith
of New York were the first to take
aggressive action based on the sup
position that the McAdoo boom was
slipping" if not already adrift, and
set out to salvage something for the
New York candidate. meeting was
held in New York and plans made to
set up a national organizations to
promote Gov. Smiths candidacy.
Democrats from PENNSYLVANIA, Mas
Illinois and New York were present.
This sounds suspiciously like a re-
capitulation of the wet states," but
that point was not played up. The
gates for Smith on the slogan of "Of
the people-for the people" Gov
Smiths long suit is that he came
from the people and has always
stood for them"
The significance of this new and
stimulated move for Gov. Smith, this
sudden acceleration of effort in his
behalf, is believed to lie more in an
effort to gather in delegates to be
held in leash than sincere belief
that he can be nominated. 1t was ar
gued that there will be many former
supporters OF Mr.. McAdoo at sea. po-
litically. and the men who never
wanted to see Mr.. McAdoo nominated,
anyhow. thought this a good time to
try TO gather in these foaters.
What disposition would be made of
the delegates thus salvaged would be
left, IT Is said. to future consideration
and determination, to conference and
compromise.
who is to corral the league of
nations strength, made fatherless by
the death of Woodrow Wilson,"
That is question on the lips Of all
the national leaders. That Mr.. Will
son had great following no one
disputes. But it was a personal fol-
lowing as well as embracing support
of the league of nations, with the
democrats: while with republican ad-
|vocates of the league, it was ideal
istic and not political. Can it be
possible to gather in these republi-
can pro-leaEuers and hold them to
nf =
presidential candidate who indorses
the league for the leagues sake?
Most of Mr.. Wilson's followers
were of those who would follow him
courage to take up the torch where
his lifeless hand dropped it and carry
on? And will the national conven-
tion go as far in Endorsement of the
league as it might have gone had
These are all questions that are
alive and absorbing democratic poll
ticians at this hour.
Some kind of developments are ex-
pected In the McAdoo campaign this
funeral of Mr. Wilson, will remain to
testify in the oil investigation. He
Will naturally be importuned to make
ia statement on his candidacy and
ms future course as to the nomina-
ton. There was a secret meeting in
New York Monday night of his east
ern managers, who withheld infor-
nation of its results, until the ar
icate that he may go to New York
and have roundup conference.
\ 4 x x
The republican national committee.
following up the comment made by
President Coolidge, in the Teapot
Dome scandal that. "as 1 understand.
men are involved who belong to both
prominence of MIR. Doheny in demo-
cratic national councils The re-
publican national committees cur
rent statement says: There is Ed
oath that he made loan of s1oo, 900
to Mr.. Fall Edward L.
Doheny is a democrat. He and Tag
gart and Brennan and Murphy We're
the the big four" in the San Francisco
of the committee on platform at thar
;convention.
HE was one of those placed in
nomination for Vice President at
that convention. According to re-
ports filed with the clerk of the
House of Representatives Mr.. Dohenv
contributed $4,000 to the democratic
campaign fund in 1916 to elect Mr.
wilson; $4,000 in 1918 to elect a
democratic Congress, and $4,000 in
1920 to elect Mr.. Cox"
X X X X
The democratic national committee
is out in a current statement taking
all the claim for lifting the lid from
Teapot Dome. The statement says,
in part;
although the Teapot Dome naval
| oil leases made by former Secretary
Of the Interior Fall to Doheny and