The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-01

LOOK OVER
CANDIDATES
RaISton and Copeland Appear
to Be Best Bets Before
Party,
BY HARRY b. HUNT
NEA Service Writer

democrats.
WhereVe. two or more Democrats
foregather. the inevitable first ques-
ton is:
We'll, what's the dope?"
Meaning. always. the deep, inside
political representation as evolved by
the boys with their ears to the ground
and their eyes on the presidency. Here
it is.
Coolidge will be the Republican
nominee. No Democrat disputes that.
The C. 0. P. must win or lose with
the man now in the White House.
To repudiate him would be TO ad-
NIT a mistake in 1920 and concede
failure of the present Administration.
With that settled. the Democratic
dopesters then set about picking the
man to unseat Coolidge. That a
more involved problem.
Underwood? Too conservative.
Lacks magnetism and popular appeal.
Too southern to pull necessary north.
ern vote. Small chance.
Cox? Outdistanced in 1920. A good
campaigner, forceful. magnetic, but
handicapped by his former defeat
Little chance.
McAdOO Is Lamed
McAdoo? A favorite. irreparably
famed as a candidate because of his
oil connections. Personally and polid-
cally the best fighter and most alert
brain in the party, but now too
vulnerable Ills candidacy would tie
the hands of his party in using effec-
lively the chief biudgeon by which
the Democrats may be able to beat
down the c. O. P.-Oil
Ralston? Well-a possibility Not
too well known. No enemies Made
good Governor. Rather old. rather
conservative. but born in Ohio and
residing in Indiana is geographically
well placed. A possibility.
AL Smith of New York? Too bad
He has the sort of personality and pop
ularity that would be invaluable. But
a Tammany could garner few votes
in the debatable middle west and west,
where the battle must be won. Not
available.
Look at Copeland
If none of these. then who? Well
Copeland of New York, progressive,
vigorous, magnetic. A doctor presi-
dent might restore the body polite to
health.
John w. Davis? Um-m-m Not
likely. A charming fellow personally,
but bit up-stage for a popular can
didate. A silk-stoching air Nope!
Josephus Daniels? Well, perhaps.
He headed the Navy Department when
the sailors covered themselves with
glory in the World War. He was the
object of many jlbes, but he defended
the naval oil lands from many assaults
of those who wanted to exploit them.
Cordel Hull? Carter Glass? Homer
Cummings2
Wait "a nit. Homer Cummings.
There's a good politician. Foxy.
Think this over:
Need McAdoO Votes
If McAdoo can't be nominated, the
man who is nominated will need the
votes of. McAdoo supporters. The de-
clsion of McAdoo hackers at Chicago
to keep him in the fight insures his
friends having the veto power in the
New York convention. If they can't
put him across they can say who viii
or will not get across.
And while all other potential Dem
ocratic candidates were sitting back
smugly, smiling to themselves at NC
Adoo's discontinue, figuring how his
seeming elimination had helped their
chances, Homer Cummings was up at
Chicago himself shouting for McAdoo,
proclaiming him the hope of progress
i've democracy-and incidentally max
ing himself solid with the McAdoo
forces as a potential dark horse when
and If it is established McAdoo can
not pull down the nomination.
Well, that's the dope. Unsatisfac-
tory stuff, always creating an appetite
for more. But the supply in Wash
ington is endless.
For these are the dopey days.