Evening star., 1901-04-22
Choice of the Masses of the Ohio
Democracy.
bot CONTEST on FOR GOVERNOR
Hard Fight Against McLean-John-
son Combination.
DARK HORSES IN THE FIELD
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
COLUMBUS, Ohio. April q, 1901.
Col. James Kilbourne of this city. candi-
date for the democratic nomination for
governor. is evidently trying to break the
McLean-Johnson combination In democrat
ic politics, which promises to make short
work of the colonel's gubernatorial as
pirations for the present. He has agents
at work in the state stirring up Kilbourne
enthusiasm. N. d. Cochran Of the Toledo
Bee has been assigned to the northern part
Of the state, Colonel w. A. Taylor to the
central section and J. L. CARRIER, secre-
tary Of the last state campaign committee.
to the southern part of the state.
They report that among the masses Of
the Ohio democrats Colonel Kilbourne is
the first choice for candidate for governor.
II the party's choice of candidate for
governor is left by the party leaders to
the rank and file nothing can defeat him.
Acting upon this information, Colonel Kill
bourne has made the very unusual propo-
sitton that the candidate for governor be
chosen this year by popular vote. His
suggestion Is that the counties vote when
they hold their democratic primary cleo
tions for candidates for governor and that
the candidate receiving the largest vote
be declared the nominee. Colonel XII
bourne argues that it is fitting now. when
trolled by BOSSES" that the democrats
should make a new departure and permit
the rank and file Of their party to decide
who shall be the candidate.
The proposition goes better in theory than
in practice. for the counties do not all
hold their primary elections on the same
day. and 1t would not be practicable for
them to do so. The plan would afford an
excellent opportunity. as the last counties
to vote come In. to purchase the number
OF votes found necessary to secure the
nomination. 1t will probably not be adopt
ed: Though the present state central COM
mittee. which will have power to decide
how and when the nomination shall be
made, is an anti-McLean body-not radi-
cally so-it is altogether improbable that
it will follow Colonel KiIbourne's sugges-
tion.
Two Other Candidates Out.
Two other candidates are actively in the
field for the democratic nomination for
gcN ernor-two other anti-combine candi-
dates. They are John c. Welty of Canton
and John l.. Zimmerman of Springfield.
Welty has sought the honor unsuccessfully
Zimmerman is a wealthy manufacturer,
who, like Gov. Bushnell having amassed
fortune in business longs to try politics.
Between Col. Kilbourne and former Rep
resentative John j. Lentz there Is sharp
rivalry for political honors, which has cul-
minated in considerable animosity. The re-
sui: Of the municipal election here has
placed LentZ in control Of local democratic
affairs. Though he has announced that he
will not be a candidate for the nomination
for governor, and will Loyalty support Col
Kibourne. 1t is the general notion that he
would be glad to see the colonel dropped
even though in that result no special ad-
vantage came to him.
Repeated interviews with Tom l.. Johnson
to his political plans have. elected from
him nothing but statements that he intends
to apply all his ability for the next two
years to the office of mayor of Cleveland
to which he has been elected. In a general
way he denies that he will be candidate
for nomination for governor. He could
hardly be expected to take any other posi-
tiol at this time. 1t will take much more
explicit and positive statements from him
to assure the people Of Ohio that his politi-
cal ambition is not leading him to look to-
ward both Columbus and Washington at
Orce.
Republican State Convention.
A call for a meeting Of the republican
state central committee to fix the time and
place Of the state convention will be issued
in few days. The convention will be held
here about June 20. The democratic state
convention will be month later.
Prominent republicans here are being
urged to write letters to the President re-
questing the appointment Of former Lieut.
civil governor of Porto Rico. Gov. Ken
nedy was appointed a member of the Porto
Rican commission, and 1t Is believed here
that he can land in the position Of governor
of the island II he gets proper support from
this state.