Evening star., 1924-04-06
Mc4doo Stronger BY Virtue of Defeat Dry in Wisconsin Pma
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments Based on Reports
From The Stars Special Correspondents
and Staff Writer'S

ESPITE Gov. "Al" Smiths
victory over william G.
McAdoo in the Wisconsin
primaries, there are indi-
cations that McAdoo is stronger
rather than weaker as a result
of the weeks Developments. Many
of his friends believe the Wiscon-
sin defeat will prove to be a dis
tinct asset in other states, for it
will serve to emphasize the fact
that McAdoo is making his cam
paign on dry" platform. Wis
consin is one of the few states
where sentiment is distinctly
wet" and as Gov. Smith is known
personally as a wet, though he
has recently taken strong stand
for law enforcement, the interpre-
tation of the Wisconsin result is
bound to be that McAdoo was
slaughtered because of his stand
for prohibition. That will make
him many friends in the south and
west and may result in giving him
delegations which otherwise he
would not get.
While there apparently is no
change in the widespread belief
that McAdoo will be unable to
make the grade of the required
two-thirds vote at New York.
there is growing appreciation of
the fact that he is going to occupy
a commanding position in the con-
Nention, and with increasing fire.
quency the prediction is heard that
he will be able to dictate the
!: X X
If II be true that McAdoo will
be in position to veto the nomi-
nation of any man not acceptable
to him, the field of democratic
possibilities is at once consider
ably narrowed. 1t would mean the
elimination of Gov. Smith and any
other man with wet leanings. If
Senator Underwood escaped the
ban because Of wetness, he would
be in danger of coming under it
because OF his economic views.
There are few vital problems,
either foreign or domestic, upon
which Underwood and McAdoo are
in accord.
If the convention should reach
a stage where McAdoo began to
count "eeny, meeny, miney, mo-"
it might be worth while to put
a bet down on former Gov. James
NJ. Cox, who is going to New York
with the Ohio delegation in his
pocket and no sore spots on ac-
count of contests with other as
pirants. Cox's official record on
prohibition will pass muster, and
his regularity on any party issues
cannot be questioned without
bringing embarrassment to the
questioner. His attitude toward
n
thoroughly dignified and proper
one. Having been so decisively
defeated four years ago il would
have looked presumptuous to have
gone seeking the honor again, but
he holds himself ready to respond
to the call if IL comes again. De-
cidedly Cox will bear watching.
Then, from the neighboring state
of Indiana, comes Senator Raiston,
looming large as a possible heir to
the McAdoo delegate strength. The
only argument so far advanced
against Ralston is his age, and he
has not yet attained to years which
necessarily bar him from consider
alton His attitude. too, is emi-
nently dignified and proper He is
making no campaign for delegates,
but he will have Indiana and is
willing to serve wherever drafted,
even to he supervisor of roads.
No enmities are engendered by
such an attitude.
But what gives Ralston the lime
light just now is the attitude of
Thomas Taggart, the veteran In
diana democratic boss. According
to The stars political correspond
ent at Indianapolis. Taggart has
lined up the state machine for Raj
ston, and has succeeded at least
in making his fellow Hoosiers
think that he believes Ralston has
a chance. The close affiliation of