Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17
M'AD00 REGARDED
ASCERTAIN T0RUN
Supporters to Insist He STAY
in Race at Chicago
Gathering.
DY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The extraordinary maneuver by
which william Gibbs McAdoo has
placed himself in the hands of his
friends and supporters who are to
decide whether he should continue
to be candidate for the democratic
nomination for the presidency will
end In decision to support him.
Mr.. McAdoo was ready, 1t Is said
to withdraw his name from the race
when his advisers insisted that the
question was one for the McAdoo
supporters to decide. And there are
several reasons why they will not
let go Of Mr.. McAdoo even though
there may be convincing arguments
as to the injury done his candidacy
by the recent disclosure that he was
counsel for L. L. Doheny, oil mag
nate, In Mexican matters.
One reason is that the withdrawal
or Mr.. McAdoo would leave up in the
air all the supporters who had be-
come attached to his boom and would
play into the hands of the anti-Mc-
Adoo forces in the democratic party.
The friction inside the party is far
more significant than the personality
or the candidate. 1t IS a difference
on fundamentals and resembles very
much the condition of affairs which
preceded the Baltimore convention
or 1872 when the progressives and
reactionaries were battling for con-
troll or the party.
Faction Wants Control.
Not a few of the anti-McAdoo in
fuences are of the boss ridden kind
VINO fought Woodrow Wilson not
only at Baltimore but later on. The
NC Adoo men are determined that if
theIr leader Is not nominated they
VIII con.r6. tHe domination OF some
one who Is in harmony with the
McAd Wilson wing of the party.
Even II Mr.. McAdoo's candidacy were
unWIse-and most of his friends are not
yet ready to believe that an honest rec
ord Is anything 10 be ashamed of-there
is every likelihood that the momentum
OF the McAdoo boom IS too importan.
to the progressive elements in the dem
ocratic party to let it be dissIpated by
the recent disclosures
On the other hand, II Mr. McAdoo
survives the next few weeks Of political
bomoardment and the oil controversy
taxes on turn more damaging to the
republican administration. there is no
telling what effect the whole affair will
have on the McAdoo boom.
Rumors are, OF course, floating about
10 the effect that the senatorial investi-
eating committee purposeIy avoided an
particularly concerning his practice for
clients before the Treasury Department
soon after he resigned and when the
democratic administration was sti] In
power. The talk is that the republicans
preferred to interrogatc Mr.. NcAdoo
after he had been nominated for the
presidency on the democratic ticket
than to eliminate him from the race at
this stage of the game.
Nothing Illegal in Action.
Although these differences that any
thing is wrong are undoubtedly I'M
just, still politics doesn't split hairs
on matters of that kind and seeks al
ways to put the opposition in an un-
favorable light. There is nothing
illegal or corrupt in practicing before
FEDERAL departments or accepting fees
from corporations as private citi-
zen. but the political mind regards
contact with wealth and large cor
poratfons as susceptible Of discussion
on the stump, and presumably impair
ment of a candidacy, especially for
the highest office in the land.
The McAdoo supporters had been
making remarkable Roadway. In
doubtedly they already had gathered
a majority strength, and were close
to the two thirds requirement. Some
encouragement has been encountered
since the senate committee exposure
that Mr.. McAdoo was a corporation
lawyer. If IL were not for the I'M
fairness Of the attack, many OF his
own friends, who see the damage
done. would abandon his candidacy
Loyalty to him, as we'll as a desire to
keep intact the strength already de-
veloped for the pro-Wilson kind of
democracy. will influence the reteu-
ton of William Gibbs McAdoo In the
nominating race. The meeting in
Chicago. from all present indications,
will turn into a demonstration of 10y
atty and support.
Copyright, 1a24.)