The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-12-13
SEEK CHECK TO : |
GEN. WOOD !. BOOM.
The Republican Leaders In
Washington Looking to
Senator Harding
MUST NOT ALLOW
MOVE TO GROW
Threaten Party Break-Penrose Has
Governor Sproul in the Background
. For q COMPROMISE

WASHINGTON, Dee. 15.-More sig |
nifcant than the work of the Repubf |
can state chairmen, who discussed party |
plans and prospects here this week,
was the impulse given through the ma
tional committee session this week to-
ward crystalizing q movement in OPP
position 10 the boom Of General Leon
ard Wood for President.
State leaders who have made polit-
zeal trends a lifelong study have
warned the managers Of the favorite
son movements that, given another
month or two to increase its momentum,
the Wood boom would he impossible
10 beat in Chicago next year without
| a recurrence of the party rupture which
| followed the 1912 convention, when
Roosevelt and Taft rent the organiza-
| ton.
Those Old Guard leaders who do not
| believe that Wood is the strongest can
didate FOR the party say that back of
| the general is the same hard fighting
| group which backed Colonel Roosevelt.
| and that these men will not stand for
| the elimination of Wood in secret
| session OF q committee on credentials
nor by q last-hour coalition of the
votes of favorite sons They have told
the anti " God leaders that it will be
necessary to bring inte the field a
| strong candidate supported by an
| abovchoard organization which will
give the Wood people a battle upon IS
snes thoroughly understood by the peo-
pie.
Out of the conferences Of leaders and
the propaganda Of managers for presi.
Dental aspirants the impression cmerg
es that the Old Guard leaders arc de-
termined TO head Off the Wood move
ment, if possible, by concentrating up
!, on Senator Harding OF Ohio. They say
that it il necessary 10 carry Ohio. and
, that, in addition. the situation calls
for man who viii appeal to the bust.
ness world and will not be inimicalsto
labor. Senator Harding is pictured rs
another Mckinley.
Senators Penrose and Snoet are re-
ported to be friendly to Senator Hard
ing. ". Murray Crane of Massaehu
sctts, viewing the situation in the same
way. il urging the party leaders 10 ac-
cept Governor Lowden.
In case Senator Harding does not
develop sufficient strength TO hold back
the increasing Wood Momentum. Scna.
tor Penrose intends to bring forward
Governor Sproul Of Pennsylvania. Mr.
Sproul won great favor at the national
committee meeting by his KEYNOTE
speech, and he is declared bv the grouI
of Old Guard leaders to be the stron eest
contender for the nomination. so far
as ability is concerned Against that
is the fact that lie comes from a GER
tain Republican state, and the party
leaders are looking for a nominee who
will restore doubtful states. This GOV.
ernor Sproul, the leaders say. eanno;
do.
As n compromise Governor Sproul fig.
ures prominently. If the nomination is
made by group Of leaders he NAV an
pear after early balloting as a DART
horse.
Ii Senator Harding and Governor
Lowden and Sproul fail to attract sif
iicient attention from the voters ans
| do not come to the convention with :
real sentiment behind them. it i doubt
full whether the Old Guard leaders :,
be willing to injure their chances o
success by making combnatio,
against Wood and naming a hand
picked candidate, az they did in la1.
Senator Moses of New Hampshire
one Of the original Wood supporters i
congress has issued statement regard
Ing the general s candidacy, savin
that it is now Wood against tn
field, and the field is preparing the US
ual campaign which such situatio
indicates
political history, said Senate
Moses, is repeating itself. In ever
quarter OF the union a forced crop q
favorite sons is appearing, in the val