Evening star., 1924-08-11
FACTIONS UNITED
BEHIND ]. ". DAVIS
Democrats Forget Bitter
Convention Fight in Enthu-
siasm for Nominee.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Shades of Madison Square Garden!
For they are here, all the leaders
from Tammany mingling again with
the delegations from the South and
West in one grand reunion of the
historic convention which after
hundred ballots compromised unani-
mously on John w. Davis.
It's far different scene from the
convention hall, to be sure, but it
needed only the raucous voice of the
Governor of Alabama to below forth
"24 votes for oscar w. Underwood"
TO start memories which will not soon
be shaken from the nervous system
of the Democratic party.
AS the national committeeman and
committeewomen and the delegations
from the several States assembled to
| notify Mr.. Davis formally of his nom-
lnation it was apparent that the most
remarkable case of political healing
had taken place in the month that
had elapsed
All Ardent for Davis.
Champions of the cause of Al Smith
We'd with ardent followers of William
Gibbs McAdoo in demonstrating their
enthusiasm for Davis and announcing
their Willingness to take off both
shirt and vest" for the nominee. Oc-
ment about the McAdoo- Smith dead
lock which would revise unpleasant
thoughts, but fundamentally there is
surprising number of original
Davis men," many of whom can tell
you, in detail, of the psychological
impetus they gave the Davis boom
at the critical moment of its tri-
umph.
1t would be stretching the truth to
say that an air of confidence prevails
among the visitors here today over
the outcome of the election. The
outlook is SO full of possibilities that
anything from a landslide to a freak
ish result is contemplated as likely
to happen. One outstanding reason
for this is the concern being shown
over the growth of the La Toilette
movement, and there is no little fear
, that the three-cornered fight may be
thrown into the House of Representa-
tiveS for decision.
While there is no confidence of vic
tory insrained as yet-though there
is still time for that-it is equally
true that the men from the West do
not share the unbounded confidence
of the East that ii is all over but the
shouting. and that Coolidge Will win.
WeSterners Offer Figures.
The WcSterners talk of La Toilette
with series of mathematical deduc
tions which. if collected here and
there, would seem to indicate that the
race west of the Mississippi is be-
tween Davis and La Toilette. Not Il
few of these Westerners insist that
most of the radicals went into the
Republican party when the Nom
Partisan League began to function
and that Minnesota and North Dakota
are concrete examples of where the
radical voters really affiliated.
There are some exceptions. like
Montana and Colorado. where La Fol-
lette may pull many more Democratic
than Republican votes il is suggested
by Western leaders here. but by
and large they talk of La Toilette
grabbing anywhere from 80 to 80 per
cent of the Republican strength, in
which case a plurality for Davis is, of
course. not impossible.
Politicians need only straw to
give them courage. The real value
of this notification ceremony is that
the Democrats are putting heart into
leach other Already there is talk
even from the Eastern crowd of
great Democratic day in Maine and
hopes are not by any means sup
pressed with respect ITO New York
State, where Tom Spelacy, Eastern
manager, is to try the job Of driving
democracy into militant force for
Davis.
The Democrats have lost much val
uable time in getting organized
that's one viewpoint freely expressed
but to offset it is the opinion that the
lines of the campaign cannot be laid
anyhow till the Country has read and
digested the speeches of acceptance of
the leading candidates.
But whatever the politicians think,
the people Of Clarksburg. who are
Intensely proud of their fellow towns
man would not be surprised if John
w Davis were elected. They think
him man Of destiny, they have no
formula to prove that he will win,
they have only d hunch that a man
of his great ability and capacity to
lead will yet live in the White House.
The tributes here to Davis are not
mere respect or affection for Il neigh
Dor. but deep-Seated admira ton for
his intellectual attainments and clear
ness of vision.
1t was stroke of good De mocratic
politics for the ceremony of notifica-
ton to be held here. The visiting
leaders, who will do most of the or
ganizing in the campaign, are catch
ing some of the enthusiasm for Da
Wis at the very source of its str. myth.
Madison Square Garden seems years
ago now. And the Democrats. amaz-
ing as IL may seem. are unit in
cheering for their new leader. 1t
means he will start with normal Dem
ocratic strength in many important
States and that his campaign appeal,
beginning tonight. will be directed to-
ward the great mass of independent
votes which will decide this election.