The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-24
FIGHT IS ON IN OHIO
CLOSE RACE BETWEEN JOHNSON
AND ZIMMERMAN.
ON RESULT OF CONTESTS
DEPENDS THE NOMINATION OF
EITHER FOR GOVERNORsHIP.

contests Involve 145 Delegates.
Johnson Likely to Develop
strength on the Committee on
CredentiaIs-Eric, Clark and De-
dance Delegations May BE Thrown
ont for decentralization
Saws He Can't Make Race on Zim-
norman Platform Zimmerman
saws Same of JOhnsOn's Platform.
columbus, o.. Aug. 23.-The close
contest between Mayor Tom L. john
son of Cleveland and John L. thinner
man of Springfield, for the guberna-
+orlal nomination, has caused more in
terest in the Democratic state con-
vention here this week than for many
years
While both claim majority. the re-
sult depends on the settlement of con-
tests, involving las delegates. These
contests are expected to prevent two
congressional districts at Cincinatti
and one at Cleveland from partici-
mating in the selection Of members of
the committees, SO that the Committee
on Credentials may have only eighteen
members voting on the first contest
that is passed on.
With the custom of taking the con-
tests in alphabetical order, that of
Cuvahoga county would come first and
il would likely be decided in favor OF
Johnson so that there would be nine
fvsr,13 l.
liza. Hamilton and other counties.
Resides the six contested counties,
there are threats of throwing out the
Erie. Clark and Defiance delegations
for irregularities. The delegates will
meet by congressional districts Tues
day afternoon, and the session of the
Committee on Credentials Tuesday
night is awaited with much anxiety.
The preliminary contests extend to all
parts of the convention.
Johnson says he could not make the
race on a Zimmerman platform and
Zimmerman says he could not run on a
Johnson platform, so both are seeking
a majority of the Committee on Reso-
lutions.
There is a close watch on the Com
mittee on Rules and Order of Business,
as Johnson wants John w. Bookwalter
endorsed for United States senator be-
fore the state ticket is named, while
Zimmerman wants the senatorial
Endorsement to come after state nomi-
nations, if such Endorsement is made
al al.
BOoI1VNaIter Not n Candidate.
John w. Bookwalter, recognized as
the Johnson candidate for United
States senator, tonight gave out the
following: Much pleased and graft
fed as 1 am at the mention of my
name in connection with the nominal
ton for United States senator by the
Democratic State Convention this week
ana much as l appreciate the honor
and the compliment which my friends
seek 10 pay me, l feel it but a matter
OF justice to my fellow Democrats of
the state and to myself to say that
I am not a candidate for such nomi-
nation, and my name will not be pre-
scented to the convention for its con-
Sideraton."
Mayor Johnson of Cleveland, and his
manager, Charles P. Salon, Judge w.
T. Durbin, w. F. Finley, Congressman
H S. CARRIER, of Greenville and others
We're in conference to-day with Mr..
Rookwalter. but the latter would not
reconsider his withdrawal
Among those mentioned for senato-
rial Endorsement are Melville E. In
gals, Charles w. Baker and Judson
Harmon of Cincinnati, John H. Clark
and L. A. Russell of Cleveland, Allen
w. Thurman, James w. Kilbourne and
eX-CongresSman John j. Lentz of Co
Iumbus, congressman John A. Nc.
Mahon OF Dayton, ex-Congressman J.
A Norton of Tifin, and ex-Congress.
man A. j. Warner of Marietta.