Evening star., 1924-07-09
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER

NEW YORK. July 9.-"what effect
Will the proceedings of this conyen-
ton, whoever the nominee, have upon
1 the fortunes of the Democratic party
in the campaign for the election?"
How will Democratic prospects
for victory in November be af.
fected by the entry OF Senator La
Toilette in the presidential contest
as an Independent candidate?"
In lucid intervals-if such there
be-of this madhouse performance
here. thoughtful Democrats discuss
with each other these questions.
There are various and differing an
swers to the propounded questions 1t
must be admitted that at this time
the disposition of Democratic leaders
tends very strongly to be pessimistic.
They do not as rule go about with
Iulness as they view the political
| future. They are rather inclined to
| look down the nose.
That mood may be induced, how
ever, by the depressing effects of the
scenes and incidents of the past ten
days of which they have been OBJ
| servers and in which many have been
active participants. These occur
rences certainly have tended to make
them low in spirits"
\
vention and its works a sort of
dreadful nightmare and ask them
selves could those things really have
!happened?'
| One possible effect upon the country
of these proceedings which is fore
seen by some leaders is to give the
thoughtful man and woman voters of
the land an impression of doubt of
| the Democratic party's ability to gov
ern, leading to concern as to whether
the fortunes of the nation can be
entrusted to such a seemingly ir-
responsible political directorate.
The Democratic party has. indeed
SINCE 1T entered upon the campaign
| Tor the selection of candidate
| shown lack of possession of unhandi
| capped potential candidates for the
| presidential nomination. 1t was not
| question of the ability and char
| acter of the men in the field, it was
| that all Of them were found to have
some drawback. No one questioned
| either the character or ability of
| Oscar Underwood, for instance, but
| he had been classed as a near wet
| by Bryan, who would perish before
| he would see him chosen. No one
| doubted the sterling qualities of Senator
| Ralston. nor challenged Thomas Tag
CARTS insistence that he would as
sure Indiana's electoral vote to the
| Democrats. Mr.. McAdoo had been
| declared ineligible for the role of
nominee by his connection with the
| oil scandals. In that connection,
however, and in Justice to Mr..
| short of majority the convention
had indorsed him. On the other hand,
it must also be pointed out that some
| of that vote was complimentary and
l I, -, ,@1r
was reached threatening his nomina-
| ton.
Gov. Smith on account of his wet
| policy and of his religion, was un-
| der the ban of a section of the con-
vention, potential in numbers. John
W. Davis was in the black list of
another influential group of delegates
on account of his connection with
| corporation interests.
| Sectional. religious or business ques-
| tions impinged upon each candidate in
! the list and age affected another.
The raw truth is. and it is ad-
J mitted by some of the leaders. the
| Democratic party had combed itself
with a finetooth comb and had been
| unable to produce candidate for the
nomination who could stand up free
| and unscratched from objection.
| +
| In contrast with this predicament
of the Democratic party is the situa-
tion of the Republicans They have
a candidate who had been nominated
practically unanimously by his party,
after having received in the pri-
maries and proceedings for the selec-
ton of delegates to the national con-
vention, one of the greatest tributes
ever paid candidate for public
Office.
The Democratic candidate will ap-
pear before the voters as the outcome
of a convention the storniest and
| most faction-torn in the history of
| the party. He will start Handicapped,
Democratic leaders admit.
| AS to the effect of La Follette's in
dependent candidacy for the presi-
dency upon Democratic prospects in
| November. consensus of opinion has
not yet crystallized. The issue has
| been but too recently presented.
While, as these chapters have related
| before. his entrance into the field was
| expected, now that he is really in,
1 leaders In both parties are lot tne
moment perpiexed.
| X X
| One thing all seem to agree upon.
| however, is his main objective will
not be the presidency of the United
States, but the enhancement of the
control of the balance in power to be
exerted in the House and Senate. 1t
| is considered doubtful whether Sem
ator La Toilette, in his most ambi-
| tious dreams. believes that he can
reach the presidency. Such an ac-
| complishment does not seem to be on
| the political cards.
The point is this with Senator La
| Toilette, it may be reasonably as
| sumed-he is intent upon certain re-
| forms that can be attained only
through legislation. There is vast
difference between legislation and ad
ministration. A President of the
/ Iyni m