Evening star., 1924-03-09
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

tion 10 the selection of candidate
for President Admittedly, they are
''all at sea- over this important Sc
lection. With the democratic ma
tional convention abuot three and a
half months away. leaders high in the
party councils say frankly they do
not know who the nominee will be.
and that should they name him it
would be only a chance guess.
This does not mean there are not
candidates for the nomination. Their
name is legion. But the democratic
nomination undeniably is worth many
times what it was four years ago.
Democratic leaders see victory almost
within their grasp-the republicans
by no means admit this-and they
are desirous of choosing a standard
bearer who will aid the party's
chances.
Hit "Bfg interests"
The democrats feel that they must
wage campaign against the control
of government by big business-by
big interests. They have been work.
ing like Trojans to show the country
that the republican administration
beginning with the democratic as
sault on the Fordney- -McCumber
tariff act and eliminating in the reve-
lations growing out of the senatorial
inquiry into the naval oil reserve
leases.
That being the case. the democratic
candidate must be innocent of any
connection with big business. they
say. At the same time he must be
say. At the same time, he must be
progressive enough to please the mid
die west and the west, and not too
radical to suit New York, Illinois and
other states with big ELECTORAL votes
and with money to contribute to cam
paign funds. He must not be so
wet as to offend the great dry
territory of the country. He must
not have the ku Klux lIan down on
him on the one hand, or the Catholics
and the Jews down on him on the
other.
Seek Available Candidate.
Such a paragon is difficult to find
But the democrats are looking for the
most available" candidate from these
various points OF view. In fact, a
great deal of emphasis is being laid
on availability. 1t would be a sad
commentary on conditions in this
country, however, if u great party
like the democratic party should lose
sight of ability ii scramble to
find the most available candidate.
A short month ago the name of
William G.. McAdoo. once of New
York. but now of. California, led all
the rest as the PROBABLE selection Of
the democratic national convention
for the presidential nominee. 1t was
admitted he would have opposition;
but it was also admitted he would
have the largest number of instructed
delegates. that he was popular with
labor and that he stood the best show
of any so far mentioned for the nomi-
nation.
But the oil Investigation has
brought Mr.. McAdoos name to the
fore as a former employe-in fact,
very recent employe-of L. L. Do
heny, and it has been charged that
he represented clients before the
Treasury Department, of which he
was formerly Secretary, in claims for
tax reductions. And the consensus
of opinion OF the democratic leaders
in Washington is that Mr.. McAdoo
under the circumstances is mot avail
able"
Underwood and Davis.
Two democrats whose ability is un-
challenged, whose honesty and integ-
rity OF purpose have never been
questioned. are Senator Oscar Under
wood "a Alabama and John W. Davis
OF West Virginia. But, say many of
ths party leaders, they are not
available" Senator Underwood, it is
pointed out halls from the south and
that you'd rnilitate against his chances
OF success. The election OF a southerner
to the presidency would, however wipe
out the last vestge of feeling between
the two sections of the country.
1t has been urged, too, that he is
"too conservative" To this Mr.. GJn-
derwood has replied that his record
has been the record of the democratic
party for the last quarter of a CEN
tury. He has been the democratic
leader of the House and of the
Senate. He has been a constructive
- Legislator. AS member Of the
American delegation to the Washing
ton conference on. the limitation Of
naval armaments he threw aside all
partisanshIp and played the part of
an American. much to the advantage
of his country. Then Mr.. Underwood
has stated his Opposition to the Ku
Klux Khan in distinct terms, and this
chances. But any candidate for the
presidency probably will have to take
his stand on the Klan issue sooner or
later.
Objections to Davis.
Mr.. Davis was member of the
House, solicitor general of the United
States and later United States am
bassador to Great Britain. He is rec
oEnized as an able lawyer. But he,
TOO, has been labeled mot available" !"
because, it is said, he has been the
legal representative of big interests,
among them J. p. Morgan G. Co. and
the sugar trust. Further the Irish
Americans might object to him on
the ground that he was ambassador
10 Britain.
Former Gov. Cox of Ohio is being
sroomed in some quarters for the
race, but 1t is urged that he was the
candidate last time and was defeated;
that he made his campaign as pro-
league of nations man and that the
; league \ Of nations is not popular.
Senator James A. Reed Of Missouri,
as aati-league as Gov. Cox was pro-