New-York tribune., 1919-04-26
Progressives Outspokcn i'm
His Behalf and the Con-
servatives Do No, Regard
Him With Dis vor
Is Popular in the West
Leaders Who Have Other
Candidates hook Oh Him
as Logical Second Choice
By Carter Field

No,o York Tribune
NoshiM0to1 Rurons
WASHlNGTON. April % Without
any Org '.ization, without any special
backofs. and without even that most
helpful s;iniulant rea, desire COR
him OF ,he pvt o. the accredited Re
ruh,icas. ,eaGors thc Leonard Wood
rrcsGcntsl boc,o is becoming very
lroHcUnCeJ.
+. the cnnfdeo. Il. op.,aon O. a sur.
l.-i:'ns 'umlsr o. widely known Re
rub!icaas, General WooA is tic 'oricsl
nomineo OF the ras;y nsTo yes,. They
arc Not volunteering tnis information
for publication puryosts, hvt eln.ost
every ccnvcrsation running oNtr The
merits OF the Tarious possibilities
winds UP with tic statement that Gen
oral Wood is The most ;.vai.ahie uiaN.
The Wood boom, as gucn, hes Ell de
volopcd since January. ColcNe! Nocsc-
velt's loyal followers gradually hu,
surely have been drifting to the con-
cluSlon that no otner potential leader
in the Republican party stands for 50
many Roosevelt ideals. This feeling
being 50 general, the question in the
been:
"WN Wood be satisfactory to the
old progressive element in the party ~
Conservatives Not Hostile
This question was answered for
keeps yesterday when the New York
Tribune. containing an interview with
Governor Henry j. Allen. Of Kansas,
arrived in Washington.
"HHNp Won seen What Henry Han
says in the New York Tribune ?" was
buazeG over, not scores, but literally
hundreds of wires in the Capital. Nearly
every one the Tribune CORES pondent
met commented, without being asked,
on the fact that Governor Allen. than
whom there are very few politicians
more definitely and prominently tagged
in the public mind with the progressive
label, had said in public interview
to Leonard Wood than any other can
didate for the Presidency.
There was particular interest also
IN the references of Governor Allen to
other men spoken Of for the nomna-
ton. His words were construed to
mean that he would be satisfied with
either Wood or Hiram Johnson.
General Wood has practically no
enemies III politics. while there are
many. many Republicans who will never
forgive Hiram Johnson for 1916,
whether he was to blame or not They
hold it against him just the same. Also
the more conservative members of the
party would move heaven and earth to
prevent the nomination Of Johnson at
the convention, hut if they found they
could not put over 4 man who has
always been frankly tagged as n con-
servatiVc, they would accept General
Wood with much better grace than
almost any other progressive
Willing to Accept Wood
Almost without exception. even those
leaders Of the party who are generally
considered as "old- line" if not "reac-
tionary," while they do not want Wood
It they can possibly get man moro to
their liking, have no objection to the
general IL they see that they must take
some one who is satisfactory to the
progressive element,
Men just back from their states seem
to be strongly impressed with the
strength Of General Wood as the Re
publican candidate. A prominent Re
publican just returned from Oregon
SAID he thought that state would 20
overwhelmingly for Wood if a Repub-
llcan primary were held tomorrow
Three thousand miles across the
country, in New England there is a
tremendous sentiment for Wood. as re-
ported TO friends here by Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge on his recent visit
to the capital. Senator Lodge is re-
ported to have said that he believed
General Wood the most likely nominee
from present indications.
Governor Allen spoke in The Tribune
TINS morning about one important state
in the Middle West. state that spelled
disaster for Hughes in 1916. Senator
Kenyon, of Iowa. has told friends here
since his return from back home that
the Wood boom viii not down"
Popular Second Choice"
Senator Johnson, though frequently
mentioned as a rival Of General Wood,
thinks the general would be an accept
abIc candidate to the Pacific Coast.
Senator William +. Borah, another man
frequently mentioned in connection
with the nomination. not long ago eX
pressed the opinion that "General
Wood is the logical Republican candi-
oate If the party wants a military
man.
Briefly. the situation is that vcrv
many leaders have d particular favorite
OF tnelr own for the nomination, but in
a surprising number of cases if they
can't get their favorite they will accent
General Wood with great Satisfaction