Evening star., 1924-07-11
M'ADO0 SILENCE
WORRIES LEADERS
Democrats Would Feel Easier
If He Would Pledge
His Support.
HOPE FOR HELP LATER
Californian Has It in Power to
Give Great Impetus to
Davis Ticket.
HOPE FOR HELP LATER
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

A'o'iih5 perhaps mas caused as mucn
talk since the convention adjourned
as the difference in the way Gov. AL
Smith of New York accepted his loss
of the nomination and the way Will
liam Gibbs McAdoo took to heart the
thwarting of his ambitions.
With a sportsmanship typical of his
whole career, smiling, cherishing no
grievance and harboring no grudge,
the Governor of New York pledged
himself to take off his coat and also
vest" in working for the Davis and
Bryan ticket.
William Gibbs McAdoo weighed
down by the keenest disappointment
man can suffer in political life, sent
simply a message Of congratulations
to John w. Davis. No statement
pledging support was issued, even
though close friends who conferred
with the former Secretary of the
Treasury urged him to do so. He has
remained silent largely because he
cannot say he is glad of the result
and be honest with himself. He may
announce his intention to support the
For the moment the consciousness Of
battle lost that he thinks should
not have been lost is too great to
bring any expression.
Campaign Six Years Old.
For the McAdoo campaign was ILL
fated almost from the start. 1t did
not begin a few months ago: 1t be
gan six years ago, just after the
armiStice was signed and Mr.. McAdoo
resigned as Secretary of the Treas
ury and director general of railroads.
1t was then that worshipers of Nc
Adoo began to talk of his availability
for the presidency. He had favored
railroad labor while in office. He
had built up personal following
among the large number of federal
employees who were under the Treas
ury Department with it's immense bu-
reaus, especially of internal revenue.
For leaving the cabinet Mr.. McAdoo
was criticized by his foes, who said
he did not wish to be entangled in
the political handicaps of the last
two years of the Wilson administra-
ton. When he became counsel for
the movie people he was again as
sailed as trying to keep in the lime
light of publicity. He made his home
in California, for he realized that he
could not get the Endorsement of the
New York state democracy as long
as Tammany Hall was powerful, and
it showed no signs of decay under
Charley Murphy.
san Francisco q Starter.
1t was largely through the infiu-
ence of strong McAdoo men that the
Democratic convention was brought
to San Francisco in 1920. 1t seemed
certain that McAdoo would be can
didate. Something intervened that
has never been explained. Mr.. Nc
Adoo declined to be a candidate. His
friends ignored his declination. They
said he was embarrassed because he
was a son-in-law of President Will
son and that the latter did not want
his former cabinet officer to make
the race. There have been we'll de-
fined reports that Mr.. Wilson cher
ished the idea he might be restored
in health and be given the nomina-
standing candidate. His supporters
locked horns with those of A. Mitch
ell Palmer, whose delegates finally
broke to James NJ. Cox.
Hardly had the campaign of 1920
been completed when the struggle
inside the Democratic national COM
mittee began. Friends of McAdoo
asserted themselves. Only after many
months of effort was a compromise
chairman named to head the Demo-
cratic national ommittee-Cordell
Hull, who has fulfilled expectations
in keeping his hands off the pre-con-
vention fight of 1924.
Fought Oil Charge.
Engaging Judge Rockwell, who had
been ]. M. Cox's manager, was expected
to line up the Cox followers. Daniel c.
Roper of South Carolina, intimate friend
of McAdoo and one of the ableSt political
generals in America, was the logical
choice of the McAdoo men, but he was
disinclined to give up his law practice.
Then came some intensive organization
work. and it cannot be doubted that last
January McAdoo had the nomination
won-he had the delegates and a strong
sentiment behind him. The Teapot Dome
scandal turned the tide. Mr.. McAdoo's
relations with E. L. Doheny were legiti-
mate professionally, but unwiSe political
ly. The former Secretary of the Treas
ury is a fighter. He could not see why
an unjust criticism should take him from
the race. He stuck to it His followers
lean politics. But the oil controversy
created division in the party ranks and
gave other candidates a chance. 1t
looked as if McAdoo was doomed.
ku KIux Issue Raised.
Then came the Georgia primaries
another turning point. Senator Un-
derwood had come out against the
Ku K1ux klan and was encountering
opposition in southern states. Nc
Adoo did not seek Klan support, but
many klansmen tackled themselves on
to his cart and gave him support. 1t
started the whole Klan war in the
northern states. Men like George
Brennan of Illinois and other leaders
vowed they never would support Nc
personal prejudice but simply could
not expect to carry Cook County for
the local ticket with a candidate sus-
pected of accepting Klan support
The management of the McAdoo
campaign has been criticized. There
are some McAdoo men assai1ing it
now, pointing to mistakes and blum
ders. But broadly speaking, it was
efficient. 1t was effective. All the
management in the world, however.
could not get two-thirds of the dele
gates. The McAdoo chieftains had
hopes of majority and thought they
saw an opportunity for two thirds,
but they did not reckon on the CO.
hesion of the anti-McAdoo forces.
Usually the favorite son delegations
dissolve and help the leaders. This
time they were held together by the
promises of the Smith group, who
could not themselves win, but who
were determined to block McAdoo.
TwO-thirds Bugbear.
There will always be discussion of
whether the two-thirds rule is wise.
1t is like the question of a filibuster
In Congress. When the end justifies
the means these things are defended.
The prestige of the two-thirds rule
did not suffer on this occasion, for
majority of the delegates were con-
vinced that the one-third veto power
kept them from making an indiscreet
nomination. AS soon as the two lead
ers were eliminated it took only four
ballots for John w. Davis to be nomi-
mated. He got a majority in less
than an hours time. The band wagon
AS for the McAdoo following it will
go to Davis almost entirely. There
is possibility that Daniel c. Roper
will be prominently associated with