The Colorado statesman., 1924-03-22
DEMOCRATS CAN'T
PICK THEIR MAN
DIVIDED ON NOMINATION OF
CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL,
WET OR DRY CANDIDATE.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

| OF the teapot is not Il SulHclently en-
gaglng occupation to keep the minds
of the Democrats in Washington from
dwelling on the problem of the name
Of the man whom they should noml-
nate for the presidency. A first line or
two of an old household poem seems
just now to fit the case:
(which shall II be?
l looked ut John and John looked
at me-"
Certain 1t is that the Republicans
are having trouble enough just at
present, and naturally therefore they
are not at all lachrymose over diff
culties which beset the Democracy.
Senator Reed of Missouri Is engaged
almost daily in rapping away at VIII
liam G. McAdoo Of California, while
other candidates for the nomination,
or Mt any rate their friends, are say
Ing not altogether pleasant things
about one another.
This Is condition which always
exists in any party prior to a national
convention provided that party has
more than one prominent candidate
seeking first place recognition. The
Democrats say 1t will be nothing but
love feast after the convention. So
far MS the Republicans are concerned,
they seem to feel that even with the
outpourings of some of the brethren
who are not enamoured of the Cool
idge nomination idea, all likewise will
be pleasant within their ranks after
the convention has done its work.
ouandary Of the Democrats.
However. Democratic leadership In
Washington is Interested seemingly
to the worry point in the case of who
Is to be who in the leading place In
the campaign next summer. There are
Oscar w. Underwood, william G.
McAdoo, James NJ Cox, Alfred E.
Smith, Samuel NJ Ralston, John W.
Davis and some others whose per
sonalities, policies and, If you will,
persistencies, enter into the problem.
General appearances are that con
servative Democrats generally would
be satisfied with the nomination of
Mr. Underwood. although, of course,
conservatism looks kindly also on
James NJ. Cox of Ohio. There are
reasons, however why 1t is possible
that fear of policy complications may
make the conservative strength exert
itself elsewhere In the field of candi-
dates, but, of course, this is only more
or less guesswork.
Advocates of the Woodrow Wilson
plan for world peace would like to
see Mr.. Cox nominated provided they
thought he could get united Demo-
cratic support-but can Mr.. Cox get
It? 1t is said for him that he is the
only Democratic candidate for the
nomination who has had the courage
to stand by the guns which he used,
although to little purpose, in the cam
paign of nearly four years ago.
One hears and hears and hears daily
of Samuel NJ. Ralston of Indiana and
his fair chance of success in the New
York convention next June. Probably
the Indianan does not like to he looked
Mt ms merely u dark horse in the race.
AS matter of truth, however, Mr..
Ralston is keeping himself and his
hopes, If he has any, very much in
the dark, that is, in the modest retire
ment of stable of retlcence. Prob
Is that he was not born some six
years later than the cold record
shows to be the case. However.
good many prophets say unflinchingly
that Ralston is the man.
Split on Wet and Dry Issue.
one of the Democracy's chief
troubles is said to be that one-half
the leaders, and this means presum-
ably one-half the followers, want
dry, and the other half of the leaders,
and presumably the other half of the
followers. want n wet. They can't
have both wet and dry, md
compromise between wetness and dry
ness is one of the hardest things in
the world to get. SO far as this mat
ter is concerned Mr.. Underwood's
friends say he is in the best osition
to command support. Smith, they as
sert, Is hopelessly soaked. while the
garments of any one on whom Mr.
Bryan and his followers might look
approvingly must be tinder dry inside
of molsture-proof macintosh
Out of the woods or from the plains
somewhere there may come conven-
tion nominee whose name thus far
has not been so much as mentioned
This has happened before. In 1896
"Silver Dick" Bland would have been
nominated by the Democratic conven-
tion in Chicago If the delegates had
not been frightened away from his
support by a rumor that certain
thing, not at all to Mr.. BANDS dis
credit, might war against the chances
of his election.
Then William Jennings Bryan made
his speech and was given the crown
| which in way proved to be one of
thorns for him, and the rest is history.
Some of the Democrats here in
Washington believe that In way his