The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-06-28
BOOTING THE BALL IN NEW YORK

EVdHILE the American people see the Republican campaign
Nv already organized and under way on a s%traight-out con-
sentative basis dictated by Calvin Coolidge, the Democratic con-
vention at New York fritters away its time and foregoes it's
opportunities ~squabbing about religion and beer, to the exclu-
sion of everything else. No issue of progressivism. Nothing
but words about clean government. AT least not to effect the Sc
lection of a candidate. For the leading candidates are Smith of
Tammany Hall and McAdoo, former Doheny lawyer And the
only dark horses, who are generally conceded to have a chance,
after McAdoo and Smith have killed each other off, are con
sentative machinemade products of Davis and Underwood type.
The big idea at New York seems to be that with Coolidge
running ali ultra-conservative race and La Toilette taking the
liberal side, as he undoubtedly will if the Democrats continue
to drift the way they are doing, the Democratic party can af-
ford to take middle-of-theroad course. So doing, the lead
ers hope to draw strength from both sides" More likely, they
will lose strength to both sides.
The fact is that through the nomination of Coolidge and
the adoption of the Cleveland platform, the Republicans have
forced the issue in this campaign. They have thrown down the
sguage, and if the Democrats fail to pick it up, La Toilette will
pick it up. Progressive and liberal sentiment in this country,
switch had looked to the Democratic gathering at New York for
something to fight for, is not going to be satisfied with a Nc
.Adoo or an Al Smith or a Davis or an Underwood, however
lnuch it may dislike Coolidge and his cool dsdaIn.
If the Democratic convention is to be allowed to continue
along the even tenor of its present way, with no real disturb
sance in the direction of liberalism, of idealism, or against the
machine method in politics, here is what will happen. The Dem
zocrats, just as much as the Republicans, will lose respect and
the confidence Of liberal and progressive and recently Disguised
citizens, newspapers and public men. They, as well as the Re
pubieans, who at all events are working in the open, will see
AN exodus to the new La Toilette party, the formation of which
now seems practically assured.
With all of this plan before them, and with many of the
delegates in all-dressed-up nd-no-place-to-g frame of mind,
there are at least four men in attendance at Madison Square
Garden today whose names would mean something 10 the voters
this fall, whose personalities and whose principles could not help
but count in the fight. They are Newton Baker, Josephus Dan
ies, Senator Wheeler and Senator Walsh of Montana. Why not
spick one of these?
This newspaper does~not seek to espouse any Democratic
party cause. As a matter of fact, this newspaper knows that
whatever the Democrats do, many of its readers will find what
they want to vote in the La Toilette non partisan candidacy
anyway. Only this newspaper hates to see a safety-frst polite
al machine in control of any party put that party in the position
of losing an election in advance by default.
The Democratic party need not and should not ape the Re
publican by pussy-footing on the Khan and liquor questions
But they are getting nowhere today by combining their deibera-
tions solely to these issues of sentiment and appetite. After all,
the important thing is not the color of the party banner, but the
courage and the character of the man who is to carry it.