Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-09
WOOD SUPPORTERS
OUT IN THE OPEN
SEEKING VOTES
No "WatchfuI Waiting"
Among His Republican
Boomers for Nomination.
BY n. O. MESSENGER.


BY n. O. MESSENGER.
You can't beat somebody with
nobody an old political aphorism
much quoted by practical politicians,
is said by some of the incoming re-
publicans attending the meeting of
the national committee to have been
followed by the supporters of Cen
Leonard Wood as candidate for the
republican presidential nomination
1t is declared that while other pro-
spective candidates have been backing
and filling and lowering in the offing
Gen. Woods managers started out
early in the proceedings with def
mite candidate for a specific office
and have been working systematically
to one end-the nomination of their
man.
Practical results. it is said. of this
plan of campaigning with recog-
niZed somebody" were shown in the
procurement of the South Dakota
tum will have to be ratified at the
primaries but it is conceded that Gen.
Wood has a mighty good running
start in South Dakota, and his friends
think he is so many laps ahead OF
other competitors that they will finish
in his dust.
Managers Busy for Months.
Gen. Woods political managers
have been busy for months with
we'll perfected organization of train
ed political workers propagatlng
sentiment in the country at large
favorable to Gen. Woods candidacy
They have gone over the heads of the
recognized party leaders in many
states and appealed directly to the
lesser lights in the party. the county
and district leaders, and to the voters
through the country press There
were no "ifs' and lands" about their
propositions; Gen. Wood was candi-
date for the presidential nomination
and he wanted their support.
The Wood managers paid no atten-
ton to the sentimental rights of
"favorite sons" and did not hesitate
to go into a state and seek TO take
the favorite sons candy away from
him if they could. The favorite son
got about the same treatment as the
new boy with a starched white collar
in the public school Of a rough-n meek
ward. unless he was able to fight for
his own.
Instances of "Wntchful WaitinE."s
In contrast with this aggressive
policy in favor of definite some
body" the politicians comment upon
what they term the "watchful, waiting
other men who have been talked about
for the nomination. A case in point
is Senator Watson of Indiana. who
last week wrote.a letter to his con-
stituents announcing that he Is
candidate for reelection to the SEN
lieve that he is fairly aching to get
into the presidential race, Last night
ten of the thirteen members of the
Indiana delegation in the House held
4 meeting and urged the senator to
come out definitely for the presi-
gestions of fish, cut bait or go
ashore" but the senator is still a can
didate for the Senate.
Senator Harding of Ohio. the poll
ticians said today, has been back
ward in coming forward" as to his
letter to his constituents, casting
an anchor to windward for the presi-
Dental nomination while holding fast
to his senatorial mornings. A big
delegation of Ohio politicians will be
here today to put in some real work
for him.
Friends State Senator'S Position.
The senator's position. his friends
understand. is that the meeting of
the national committee is not the oc-
casion for pushing questions of can
didacies, and they expect him to come
out next week with the statement
that he is candidate FOR the presi-
Dental nomination. if the convention
sees fit to. nominate him. Senator
Harding's friends say that when he
does enter the race it will be in Hard
ing's behalf and not as a stop-gap for
any faction or in behalf of any dark
horse of future selection.
that the Wood people had gone into
Senator Hardings own state for a
manager for their campaign. select
ing Mr.. Proctor of Cincinnati. In
siders say that Mr.: Proctor has had
a personal feud against Senator Hard
ing since the last election. and that
he takes up the Wood campaign,
therefore. with redoubled zest.
Gov. LOwden's Supporters Restive.
Some of Gov. Lowdens friends in
Congress have been FESTIVE for sew
eral weeks past over the apparent
Numbering and swinging into ac-
ton. Efforts have been made from
time to time to get the Illinois dele
CATION in Congress to declare for
although it has been in the nature
of personal work by important men
in the republican leadership Of the
big states, rather than along the lines
followed by the Wood people. Gov.
Lowden, it is declared in competent
quarters, has many supporters among
the prominent republicans of the
country.
Louis l.. Emerson. secretary of
state of Illinois. and David f. Shana-
who have been in charge of the ILL
nois campaign of Gov. Lowden. ar
rived here this morning with a large
delegation of Lowden supporters to
urge his claims. All the Illinois peo-
nile met this afternoon with the con-
Lowden for President and Chicago for
the convention.
A delegation of West Virginians
arrived this afternoon to suggest to
assembled republicans the candidacy
of Senator Howard Sutherland of that
state for the presidential nomination.
Urges Early June Convention.
Chairman Will Hays of the national
committee today expressed the desire
that the convention be called early in
June and early in the week, to avoid
Sunday session. The convention
will probably meet on the second
Tuesday in June, and all indications
today continued to point to the Sc
lection of Chicago. National Commit
teeman Hert of Kentucky is slated
for chairman of the committee on ar
rangements.
National Committeeman BabIer of
Missouri heading the st. Louis dele
CATION. played safety" by engaging
quarters in Chicago hotel for the
convention.
strike up the band. here comes a
sailor; cash in his hand. fresh from
Chicago" whistled a sportive gink
this morning. as Fred w. Upham
breezed into the New Willard at the
head of about seventy-five Chicagoans
just ahead Of the blizzard expected
tomorrow. Mr.. Upham is treasurer
of the national committee-the ready