Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-22
POLITICIANS EYES
| ON Mr.. PENROSE
Senator's Ideas on G. o. P.
Race Wanted-Party
Leaders Confer.
ny \. o. MESSENGER.

Z If "a penny for your thoughts" is
common standard of value, republican
politicians In Washington would give
8 bale Of yellowbacks for the thoughts
of certain political leader as to pres
idential candidates, the Same being
Senator Boies Penrose OF PENNSYLVANIA.
There are two things they would
like to know. FIRST, has he made up
his own mind upon choice among
the several aspirants now In the field
and who is the man: Second, s. his
,nind dwelling upon a possible dark
horse?
Opinions are divided as to whether
he has made up his mind. Some think
he has and some think ne has not.
Ae is known to have felt very friendly
toward Senator Watson Of Indiana
and Senator Harding Of Ohio. He has
helped play the game of Senator john
son and the irreconcils.hi-s q: 10
treaty.
But where does he stand now: Or
is he still undetermined. waiting for
developments of the primaries and the
situation that will be presented when
the convention meets? If the political
dopesters only knew, they could begin
to lay out some forms
Pennsylvania Delegates.
Why so much stress upon Senator
Penrose?" is asked. Well for one
thing. Pennsylvania Will have sew
enty-six delegates in the convention
and SeEenty-SiN votes may be very i'm
portant in the close contest that now
seems to impend. Moreover, Senator
Penrose ls very influential and per-
suaSive parsonage in republican coun-
ellis. aside from the seventy-six votes
of his delegation.
He would be 4 tower of strength to
any candidate and "a bad man TO have
agin ye," as they say out west.
within the past week there have
been some important republican con-
ferences in this city. They have been
entirely informal, partaking of an ex-
change of views-a meeting of minds
and opinions. For the most part they
have been held in the home of promi-
nent men in the northwest. and there
fore hedged in by the sanctity of con-
versations held around gentlemen's
tables.
But the object being well under
stood. the expressions have been in
measured terms. carrying weight and
giving food for thought and future
consideration. The object was to dis
close the attitude of some OF the can
didates toward questions which the
republicans will have to consider in
their convention at Chicago next
June. and to ascertain how far such
attitude might match the views of
Congress.
Others of the conferences have been
held at the Capitol, and of these it is
permitted to speak more freely. One
thing which has been discussed is the
stand of the republicans on the league
of nations platform. 1t is necessary
for the republicans to speak first on
this subject, although the prospective
position of the democrats seems now
fairly well foreshadowed.
Democrats stand With President.
The democrats are expected to
''stand pat" with the President on the
covenant without changing the dot
ting of an III or the crossing of a t.
The present anxiety OF the republi-
cans will be to see that they don't
get their eyes crossed, to borrow
phrase from a recent utterance.
The republican plank on the league
of nations will probably be written
in Washington before the convention
meets. 1t is confidently prophesied
by leading republicans that the plank
will not follow the lines laid down by
the irreconcilables. The republican
party is not prepared. it is said, to go
to the country on absolute rejection
of the league of nations idea.
Neither will there be reputation OF
the position of those republicans who
insist upon AmericaniZing the covenant
of the League. CT leaving them without
the party breastworks. A middle course
is available and a plank to conform to
it is now being worked out 1t is assert
ed by those in the know that it will be
accountable to Hiram Johnson and his
faction as well as to the less radical re-
publicans.
AS result of some of the heart to
heart talks held during the week
friends of Gov. Lowden predict that his
prospects will be found to have attained