The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-26
BACKED BY
WILSON 5
FOES
Walsh, Shields, and Hardwick
Forces Already Behind Him.
Revenge an Element.
By GEORGE n. HOLMES,
international News Service.

1MuOEAAADeAlAo4A
Senator James A. Reed Of
Missouri, whose bitter enmity
and opposition to Woodrow VIII
son has provided one Of the most
spectacular political feuds in re-
cent years, will formally declare
himself candidate for the
Democratic nomination ct New
York within a few days, accord
ing to his friends in Washing
ton.
Reed is holding a series Of
conferences in Missouri today to
weigh the chances Of his secur-
ing the thrity-six delegates from
his home State as a nucleus for
his campaign. Prior to leaving
the Capital he told friends he
would have, an important an
nouncement to make before
February /.
Reasons for This Move.
The Missourian's determination to
get into the fight is understood to
be based on two main considera-
tons:
/. The belief held not only by
Reed but by many other Democrats
that anything may happen" in
New York next June, particularly
If the reputed coalition Of anti-Mc.
Adoo strength is successful in block.
Ing the nomination Of the ex-Treas-
ury head, and
3. A determination on the part of
the anti Wilson faction in the party
to wage bitter fight against the
dOnvention's endorsing the interna-
tional policies of Mr.. Wilson, par
ticularly the League Of Nations.
Has Not Forgotten.
There is also a personal angle to
the matter where Reed himself IL
concerned. He has never forgotten
that he was denied a seat in the
convention four years ago because
friends Of the ex-President were in
control Of the committee on contests.
The spectacle Of a Democratic
Senator being Inundated and kept
outside the breastworks at San
Francisco, denied even a seat In his
own State delegation, was one OF
the outstanding features of the 1920
convention. At that time Reed
vowed vengeance. =.
He was partially compensated two
years ago when he triumphed in
his campaign for re-ela4son to the
Senate after Mr.. Wilson had writ
ten letters to Missouri, exhorting
his friends to repudiate Reed and
nominate Breckenridge Long.
Winning Strong Support.
He plans to complete his revenge
by making himself the rallying
point for the anti-Wilson forces in
the 1924 convention at New York.
Reed viii not be without support
In his fight. Mr.. Wilson's trench
ant pen has been used to excoriate
other Democratic Senators who op-
posed his policies, notably Senator
Walsh of Massachusetts, and Sena-
tor Shields of Tennessee and friends
of both these men are friendly also
to the present Reed movement.
Both Walsh and Shields are
candidates for reelection this year.
Reed can also count on the Hard
wick faction in Georgia, Mr. VIII
sons pen having been used freely
in accomplishing the retirement Of
former Senator Hardwick from the
Senate.
Promised Other Support.
Senator Reed also has assur'
ances, according to his friends,
that the reputed coalition Of anti
McAdoo forces in the convention,
notably the Murphy-Brennan.r Tag
gart organizations from New York,
Illinois and Indiana, will Took
with favor upon his candidacy.
Regardless of his own fortunes,
however, it is known that the vola-
tile Missourian plans to wage un-
ceasing warfare against the in
clusion in the Democratic platform
of any plank that commits his
party to Americas entrance into
the league.
To this end he will offer him.
self as a rallying post for all the
anti Wilson and anti-league forces
In the party.
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