Evening star., 1924-02-06
REVIVAL Of WILSON
POLICIES EXPECTED
Democrats See Wave Of Ap.
probation as Political
~ Asset in Campaign.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

nI fhhDNhlC WILLIAM NlLEs
You cannot move in democratic cir
c'es in Washington without encoun-
terinE the view that, in death, Wood
row Wilson has infused life into the
party Of which he was SO long the
leader. In the remarkable tributes
that accompany Wilson to the tomb
democrats discern inestimable advan-
tage to their cause in 1924. They rec
ognize that eulogies of the war Presi-
dent uttered in the hours Immediately
following his passing are more or less
ephemeral. Yet, like tidal wave
= that suddenly rolls in from the sea-
democrats are convinced that this re-
crudescence of appreciation of "Wn-
sonism" Will soak in. It's effects will
remain. The beneficiary, it is ar
gued, will be the principles and the
party with which Woodrow Wilson
was identified.
IndulEin& in Reflections.
Democratic leaders are indulging
In such reflections in the conscious
ness that their departed captain would
WISH 1t so. In his last public ut
terance-the defiant little speech on
ms own doorstep Oh Armistice day,
lS2S-Wilson foreshadowed a turn in
the tide of opinion toward the things
he stood for. Thus the expressions $
OF men like Coolidge, Hughes, Hoover,
Weeks, Rorah, Lodge and Hiram
Johnson, as well as of other outstand-
ing republicans, are held by demS
Gratis to be something moro than per-
functory.
Each and all of them ACCLAIM, in
varying phraseology, the lofty ideal
sm underlined by President Cool
fdge's proclamation. While no re-
publican plaudits approve outright
the policies which Wilson espoused.
they are bound to go far, democrats
assert, toward counteracting the de-
traction to which he was so bitterly
subjected. A prominent official of the
democratic party puts it bluntly thus:
IN 1870 Woodrow Wilson and all
his works were damned ttp hill and
down dale. Now. in this tragic hour.
When mems hearts incline to speak
the truth, he is raised to the nth
degree of greatness Men and women
VII! ponder over this about face. They
VIII say to themselves: Woodrow
wilson must have been right"
Asset From Another View.
y Inc democrats account Woodrow
Nv iison departure an asset from an
other standpoint, and do so, of course,
an nromoa no Ga,lous an or calculating spirit.
an endless conflict. Republicans and
>Gemocrats alike took part in it. While
~ uFeu. republicans were able to
npute Wilsonian" plans and pro-
the same token, those democrats who
thought wisconsin a Lost cause as
Iar as practical politics is Concerned,
aepiored the sentimental necessity of
having to stand by the old faith. All
those arguments and recriminat;ons
nave now been cut down by the grim
reaper Woodrow Wilson has ceased
70 be an issue His principles endure,
oup WIS nus personality has vanished
When warren G. Harding was
taken the democrats had no more use
FOR the ammunition they were ready
10 I1;,n nre at him. Now that Woodrow
Wi,son mas crossed the bar. the shot
anu shell that republicans might have
H1urled in his direction have lost their
Efficacy.
see Advantage 10 Party,
If merciless political fate DEGREES
that William G. McAdoo's political
hopes should vanish almost simul-
taneously with. the death of Woodrow
W ilson, many democrats will feel that
the party's 1924 prospects have been
advantagfu. too.
Although Mr.. Wilson raised no fin
ger to promote his son-in-law's cam
paign for nomination, Mr. McAdooss
, candidacy would have been piIloried
from the outset as a Grown prince
affair. Had Wilson lived. of course.
the innuendo would have had greater
fore. But even We're McAdoo to be
dominated now, his supporters have
always admitted he would have TO
fight and explain the crown prince"
issue till election day. He might
have been involved in damaging de-
fection from t'Wilsonism' in the eff
fort to ward off "heir-to-the- throne"
attacks.
The hunt for logical heir to the
McAdoo strength is in full progress
stmong those who regard the Cali
fornian's abandonment of the race as
inevitable. McAdoo's campaign was
built upon his status as "a western
progressive. On the qualities that
title describes rested his principal
appeal. IT the magnificent organiza-
tiou built up on his behalf which
extended in the case of big cities like
Chicago into "McAdo for President,
ward clubs. is to be transferred en-
bloc to any candidate. he must meas
ure up to McAdoo standards. He must
be both western and progressive. Find
the democrat who answers those
specifications, plus the right to be
the beneficiary of the Wilson recru-
descence. and McAdoo's pre-conven-
ton successor-if there is to be one
will be discernible. There may be
surprises in that direction before
many days are gone.