Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-30
HUNTySA
WASHINGTON fs I1TiiiT
LETT ER
BY HARRY B. HUNT
NEA Service Writer

NEW YORK June 30.-NEW
York is having forced home on its
consciousness Of the fact that the
fighing farmers Of the west and
middle west mean business.
Above all the din and clamor of
khan and anti-klan, wet and dry,
league and anti-league factions at
tending the early days of the Dem
ocratic convention, the one clear,
steady, constant call comes from
delegates representing the great az
ricultural states for platform ard
ticket that will win the confidence
and supper of the men who pro-
duce bread and butter that the ma
ton may eat.
While the Smith and McAdoo
forces battle to emphasize or sub
ordinate the khan and prohibition
issues to suit their own situations,
an increasing body of delegates are
wondering how these can be handl-
ed to satisfy the country's demand
for economic relief. And it is on
the outlook for economic assistance,
particularly to agriculture, that the
hope of the Democrats in the com
| ing campaign admittedly rests.
s
In this situation, pending the
breakdown of the McAdoo-Smith
deadlock, delegates are turning
more and more to a considerations
of what candidates can satisfy this
need.
Among the clark horse" possibili-
ties for the top of the ticket, the
quest is for a man who at least IN
derstands and appreciates the prob
lens of the farmer and who might
be expected to give it consideration
at least equal to that given manu-
featuring and merchandising.
Of the three leading figures in
the Clark horse" group-Ralston,
Glass and John W. Davis-Ralston
and Glass find most favor with the
farm contingent.
Both have had direct and init
mate touch with farm life and farm
problems. Davis is not so well
known west of the Alleghenys and
sentiment concerning him is not so
well crystallized: Davis sentiment,
however, has been steadily develop
ing and the West Virginia lawyer
must be taken into serious account
IN any re-shuffling of ballots fol
lowing a deadlock.
The five names with which the
agricultural delegates are chiefly
concerned, however, are:
David F. Houston. former secre-
tary of agriculture
Edwin T. Meredith, also ex-secre-
tary of agriculture.
Carl S. Voorman, farmer ana
former assistant secretary of agri-
culture.
Jonathan M. Davis, "dirt-farmer
governor of Kansas.
Charles Bryan, governor of Ne
braska and brother of William j. B.
Of this group Houston seems
likely to develop greatest strength
as possibility for the presidential
nomination, should a protractod
deadlock develop. He can win a
large following outside the farm
groups. He carries the aura OF
having been one of Woodrow Vii
sons trusted advisers and can hold
much of the Wilson strength Also
he is well known to eastern finan-
cial and business interests ard
would be much more satisfactory to
them than a man who mthey had
had less opportunity to gauge. He
is, of this list, the only one likely
to be seriously considered in the
showdown for the top of the ticket
\
The other four, while being
boosted by small groups as presi-
Dental possibilities, are really be-
ing jockeyed for second position on
the ticket Any one of the quar-
tet, their hackers believe, would be
more appealing TO the sens of the
soil than is Charles G. Dawes, the
Chicago banker running mate OF
President Coolidge.