Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-05-25
Political Checker Board
A Democratic Standpoint.
Special to The Leader.

Special to The Leader.
Columbus, o., May ga good story
is tol. on x-Congressman John J.
Lentz, who in his desperation to get
some glory out of the Democratic state
convention, sent Director Philbrick to
confer with King Lewie Bernard on
the occasion of his recent visit to this
city, to see how Lewie would take the
suggestion of Lentz for temporary
chairman of the convention.
Philbrick went to the Great South.
ern hotel in search of Bernard. but the
latter was not there and did not return
for more than an hour. Philbrick
waited patiently and finally Bernard
came in. They adjourned to Schencks
where refreshments were served at
Philbrick's expense. He was unaware
that Bernard was fresh from confer
ence with Colonel Kilbourne at his
home on East Town street. and that
the two had signed up the political
death warrant of the Johnson-Lentz
combine. In ignorance that such
compact had been entered into between
Kilbourne and Bernard, meaning
Lentz's political undoing, Philbrick fin.
ally broached the subject of Lentz's
ambition to preside temporarily over
the convention. There was grim hui
NOR in the situation to Bernard. He
was not quite ready to show his hand
and had to conceal the mirth which he
felt He put Philbrick off with prom
Use to take the matter up and Phil left
greatly encouraged. The story was so
good that Bernard told it to one or
| two friends before taking a late train
| that night for his home in Cincinnati.
BAKER FOR CHAIRMAN.
1t is understood now that Hon. Chas.
w. Baker, of Cincinnati, is to be the
temporary chairman of the convention.
He makes such a splendid presiding of
ficer that ne will likely be continued
as permanent chairman. Tom Cogan,
who had been agreed upon at the Park
hctel conference for temporary chair
man of the convention, is an expert
mathematician. whose eXpeTtness has
been shown in one or two Democratic
state conventions, and he will probably
be selected for that post of honor, in
case the shift is made from Cogan to
Baker on the other position. The Nc
| I in OH ,f
| the Democratic state committee. and
the convention officers will be whom
soever Mclean may suggest. Johnson
and Lentz will not cut much of a fig
ure in the convention, since Mclean
and Kilbourne have reached an under
standing to work along harmonious
lines, not only with regard to the plat
form, but the ticket as we'll
WHAT COMPACT MEANS.
The compact entered into by Nc
Lean and Kilbourne sounds the death
| lnell of Bryanlsm, Johnsonism and
Lentzism in Ohio Democratic politics
for the next two years at least. John
son, Lentz and Monnett will all be
doomed to bitter disappointment
Johnson wanted his ideas of munich
pal ownership, lower fares and a re-
vision Of the taxation laws incorporat-
ed into the platform. His hopes will
not be realized. Mclean and Kill
bourne are opposed to the incorpora-
| nf CT ip lieti
into the platform. They want the
platform to have the Democratic ring
of the fathers. Neither will there be
a plank indorsing Lentz's candidacy
for the senatorship. Monnett will not
be nominated for attorney general 1t
| is the generally accepted theory that
Mclean and KilbOurne will control the
convention easily. This means Kill
! bourne's nomination for governor, and
great interest now centers in the make
up OF the balance of the ticket. There
is well authenticated rumor that
these controlling powers will dictate the
entire state ticket, and that it will in
clude Negley d. Cochran, of Toledo,
for lieutenant governor H. A. My
krantz, of Ashland, for attorney gen
eral, and General e. B. Finley, of
Crawford, for judge of the supreme
court. Tne other places on the ticket
are left open for the present.
DIFFERENCES SETTLED.
A story is now told to the effect that
Mclean and Kilbourne have had a
tacit understanding regarding Ohio
political matters since last fall when
they met at the Waldorf Astoria hotel
in New York. Their grievances
against each other were gone over at
that time, settled and wiped off the
slate. Mclean, Kilbourne and John
son had been called to New York by
those in charge of the New York
branch of the National Demacrtic COM
! mittna who wantad tp cOnfar xy;tb