New-York tribune., 1920-03-28
Wood Managers
Plan to Ignore
Borah's Charge
sDamn the Torpedoes, Go
Ahead!" Policy To Be An
swer to Accusation of Big
Pre- Convention Expense
Harding Backer Sanguine
President Hibben Indorses
General; Women Plan
Conference This Week

Conference lhlS Week
General Leonard Woods campaign
managers have resolved to answer at
tscks by Senator Borah and Democratic
newspapers, charging the Wood men
With a lavish use of money in the pre-
convention campaign, by a damn the
torpedoes, go ahead!" policy.
Representative Norman j. Gould and
Colonel Thomas w. Miller yesterday
closed their desks for the weekend
trip to their homes with the count of
delegates to date in mind-79 for Wood,
1 for Lowden, none for anybody else
Mr.. Wood said before leaving that the
Wood men did not start the campaign
with the notion that it would be pic
mic, and he said he was thankful
that, with the momentous issues in
yolved, the going has been no rougher.
General Wood is getting the dele
rates. Let the heather imagine vain
things" said the Seneca Falls states
man.
The Eastern campaign managers are
Arm in the conviction that the contest
to date, showing General Wood far in
the lead in the race for delegates, is
about what may be looked for clear up
to the assembling of the Chicago con-
vention on June s, at which time they
count on at least 800 delegates. The
attack of Senator Borah, supporter of
Senator Hiram W. Johnson, practically
charging the Wood men with debauch-
ing the Republican voters by an unwar-
ranted use of money, Jared the sens-
bilities of the Wood managers and
made them all the more determined to
%Ho
sion among the Wood men is general
that Senator Borah greatly weakened
his case by proposing law limiting
campaign expenditures to $4,000.
Explains Cost of Campaign
In this connection Lafayette B. Glea-
son, secretary of the Republican State
Committee, said last night:
Senator Borah could not more than
merely start a statewide campaign in
New York under the present primary
law with $4,000. The desire to avoid
large expenditures in the primaries is
commendable, but the practical Difficult
ties are considerable. Let us take New
York and the Republican party, for ex-
ample. Suppose candidate desired to
mail circular letter announcing his
candidacy and appealing for support to
all of the 100000 Republican voters,
leaving out the Democrats Estimating
the cost of printing, folding, envelop-
ing. stamping and other incidentals, it
would cost not far from cents letter,
or total Of $4,000, for the initial step
In the campaign. If a candidate de-
sired to send to each of the 400 Repub-
lican papers a cut Of himself or a COPY
Of one of his addresses, he would spend
at least another $1,000. Suppose lit
OF bo
ballot to each voter. This would take
another $4,000. Assume, on top of
this, that he desired to card index the
voters, as presumably the Wood man.
ayers have, in many states. He would
need large corps of clerks, stenog-
& raphers and sub-managers. This does
not take into account advertising space
in newspapers, or headquarters rent, or
railway fare. The best way TO-. Sen
ator Borah, or any other statesman
like-minded, to cut down the money
cost Of choosing candidates is to abol-
ish the preferential primary system.
am not now discussing the merits of
the matter. I am merely suggesting
that the only. way to cut down the
heavy cost of primary and general
elections is to abolish the preferential
primary"
haIQluK baCKcT SanRu1no
Harry NJ. Daugherty, of Columbus,
Ohio, campaign manager for Senator
Warren G. Harding, an aspirant for the
Presidency, said yesterday, following a
conference with Chairman Will H.
Hays and others at national committee
headquarters. that Senator Borah's on
penditures did not interest Senator
Harding and his managers, as they
were not spending any money.
u expect to see Senator Harding
nominated at Chicago without the ex-
penditure of any considerable sum"
said Mr.. Daugherty. II still am firmly
Of the opinion that the Chicago con-
vention will turn to Ohio for a candi-
date, and | know that when that time
comes Ohio will be ready with her
tavorite son. Senator Harding, who is
IN every way eminently we'll qualified
Tor the Presidency"
1t is understood that Mr.. Daugherty
conferred yesterday with Republican
leaders who will be at the Chicago con-
vention. The Empire States eighty
man, will go good ways toward nom
mating him. The Wood men are con-
ndent that on the first ballot they will
have about thirty New York delegates
and on the second double that number
pennsylvania is an Unknown guam
nty to the Wood managers. With
sseventysix delegates, the Keystone
State, next to New York, looms as one
OF the great factors. The Pennsyl-
qania Republicans doubtless would like
to see Governor Sproul named as
PRESIDENT, but the Governor is not ac-
lively seeking the nomination. The
Wood managers have not as yet de-
cided to have General Wood do any
Campaigning there. They believe that
General Wood is strong enough to hold
a. ms own against any or his opponents
Endorsements for Wood
The Wood managers yesterday gave
out letters from DR.. John Grier Hib-
zen, president of Princeton University;
David Jayne Hill, formerly Ambassa-
oor to Germany, and Frank M. Taylor,
ei Denver, as proof of their contention
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