Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-13
AT SEA OVER LEADER
G. O. p. Appears to Be Anybody's Race
At Present Time.
II. G, DOughertyl

Washington. Dec. l3-All Washing
ton politically, and there is not mucn
else talked here this week. IS inter-
ested in the booms and boomlet9 which
are developing. at the republican
national committee cessions. which has
thus far record OF bringing out each
day a new candidate for the preSiuen-
tial nomination in 1920.
Just now, or at least when this can
vass was made. Leonard Wood, maj
or general OF the United States army,
against the field Is the situation ac-
CorGing to the view of hundreds OF re-
publican leaders who are here for the
meeting. The army man apparently has
gained flying start and considerable
prestige. he has not, however, touched
the states with the really big deiega-
tons. New York, for instance, will
send an unpledsed delegation to the
ma tional convention. according to State
Chairman George A. Clynn, who IN
the same breath said that the Empire
state was for nobody and against no
body. but that every one this time was
for the republican party instead of be-
ing for any particular candidate.
Massachusetts viii send her delega-
ton for Coolidge; Pennsylvania for
Sproul, her governor; illinpis fqE. Low :
den, also her governor; 0hio for
Harding, and INDIANA for Watson. The
Ohio and Indiana Congressional dele
cations already have endorsed Hard
ing and WATSON respectively
Figuring thus. what is popularity
called the old guard" will have about
| 500 delegates from these states. aside
from what they pick up elsewhere.
The Lowden boomers claim that
| most Of these delegates win be for
! their man. This. OF course, Is true OF
the Illinois delegation. Ex-senator
Murray Crane, OF Massachusetts, Is
said by those close to him to be for
! Lowden. "if it should be shown that
Coolidge can not land the nomination
| On the other hand Senator Lodge is
declared by the Wood men to be fol-
| the general. The relations between
Lodge and Crane have not been as cor
dial lately IS they once were, and some
| interesting developments in the pick.
| ing of delegates from the Bay state
are looked for. In this connection the
most interesting development of the
week was the fact that former Sen.
ator John w. Weeks, OF Massachusetts
who took a presidential boom to the
last convention with him, moved into
the office at the Capitol building o!
Senator Bots Z. Penrose, OF Pennsyl
vania, and seemed very busy during
the days OF the meeting. He is un
derstood to be working for Lowden
though he kept very quiet about 1t
This was taken to mean that MI
Penrose. himself. was not unfriendl.
to say the least to the Lowden can
didacy. II this deduction. made b.
| many astute politicians here, SHOULD
be true. the Louden managers shoulC
have an easy time in rounding VI
enough delegates to put their mai
over on the second or third ballot
whenever the break from the favorit
one shall come.
The Wood people, however, have
most interesting theory, and one which
perhaps will be resented In som
quarters, and for that reason they ar
not willing to stand for quotation o,
1t. This theory is that the "Old Guard
machine does not function any more
but Is broken up into a group Of lttl