The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-06
JOHNSON AND WOOD
 ARE REAL RIVALS IN FIELD AT CHICAGO
Rumors of Double Cross. ing" Are Flying Thick About the Wood
 Camp
By CLINTON ". GILBERT

Chicago, June 5.-(Spe- cial. )-The fight in the Wood camp sharpened with Senator Moses issuance of a statement attacking the republican na- tional committee and General Woods repudiation of the Moses statement. The general is brought in open conflict with his southern manager.
 This is the first time the feud between the politicians surrounding Wood and the business angels" back of him has been brought into the open since the dismiss sal of John T. King in similar con flict. Senator Moses not only attacked the national committee fiercey without consulting General Wood or Colonel Procter but he suggested friendship toward the Johnson cause. astonishing the manager of rival candidate.
 This suggestion followed conference between Moses and Johnson. The Moses statement and the repudiation of it the sensation today. People have not yet decided what 1t all means. Rumors fly about that Senator Moses, who is a personal friend of Senator Johnson. is getting ready to desert Wood for the California senator. Rumors also say that Frank II. Hitchcock, being disgustei with the Wood management, is preparing to desert.
 ENOUGH TO START RUMORS The statement put out was evidently enough to start these rumors. It seems to have been put out for the express purpose of bringing the Hitchcock-Proc- ter fight out into the open, and forc~ ing Woods hand by threatening his cause with destruction unles he removes | the trouble. It is impossible to connect l Hitchcock directly with the Moses state ment But the best opinion is that the statement was put out in Hitchcock | interests and perhaps with his cogni- zance.
 l No one else in the Wood camp was eognizant of the Moses intentions. Gen 1 eral Wood was not consulted, neither was Colonel Procter. The Moses state ment was too sensational, too injurious | to Wood not to have been issued with some big purpose in view, The idea that Moses and perhaps Hitchcock had 1 got ready to cast their lot with John son may be dismissed. When men change Advertise their intentions; besides the \ moment for flop from Wood 10 John son has not arrived.
 Such flop would be most effective after the third ballot, The Moses state ment is a vague threat. at best. and threats always contain or imply an Eff The if" in this case probably Is if Hitchcock is not made openly and of ficially head of the w d campaign The Moses statement Is of series of events.
 HITCHCOCK AN TIOUs
 Hitchcock has been aA tious for a long time to supplant & onel Procter. He has not talked, but thA uen who sur round him have. They h.-ve been re- j sponslble for the stories of trouble and the criticism of Procter. The mildest angel" is boob" The shorter and uglier word qualified by particular kind of damn is favorite description.
 On Thursday a story went forth that Hitchcock had supplanted Procter. It IS in possible to trace this story, but every body had it. and it was industrlously circulated. It may have been put forth to force General Woods hand. It was denied by Wood yesterday and de- nounced by him "enemy propaganda
 Wood speaking of it, showed much feel- .ng.
 It's. denial was followed by stories com
 ing from very close to the Wood head quarters that the Wood movement was colapsipg, that an early breakup or the Lowden vote threatened the nomination of Johnson. Some one in or near the Wood camp had the desire to spread the impression that Wood was in bad way.
 Following on these stories came Sem ator Moses sensational attack on the
 (Continued on Page Nine)