The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-27
by j. y. Mullen


liable, except to make good our mis-.
lakes, and 10 CLEAN advantages over
our blunders.
Being on the ground I did the best
70 ascertain what was going on. The
ordinary political national convention
Is bowling mass TO the outsiders
nut 10 one advised there is method
IN It's apparent madness.
1t was not boss ridden conyen-
uoh' If 1t had been, Governor Low.
oen would have been nominated on
the fourth ballot, or Senator Harding
on the fifth. The truth of the mat.
ter Is. there were few bosses. and
their interests clashed so that they
were deadlocked.
william Randolph Hearst stated to
n number of us on the streets of
Chicago that he regarded Johnson of
California, one of the greatest orators
IN the world and the biggest man
since Lincoln. But this Mr.. johnson
never had a chance for the nomina-
non for many reasons, two of which.
are:
First: He tampered with the league
or nations plank of the platform. He
was unalterably opposed to the
league OF nations, and to be nominal.
ed on platform suggesting the league
or nations with the Lodge amend
ments.. would have placed him in
position Of being a hypocrite and un.
tenable. The republicans recognize
that 80 per cent Of the people in this
country want some kind of a league
OF nations. It's form is matter of
detail. johnson and Borah threatened
to bolt II the convention did not
amend the plank. This incensed the
leaders OF the convention to such an
extent that after they brought for.
ward the Root compromise, they told
him privately they would never yield
TO him by giving him the nomina-
ton
Second: Borah's resolution creating
the senate committee to investigate
expenditures operated as a boomer
ang so that the Lowden and Wood
forces were irrevocably opposed to
Johnson.
johnson, from the moment the
platform committee made its report,
had no more chance for the nomina-
ton than the proverbial camel has to |
gc through the eye of a needle.
General Wood never had chance |
for the reason that his million dol |
lars and half expenditures had |
aroused suspicion and given birth to |
the idea that he was attempting to |
buy the presidency. Moreover. there
was no overlapping of judgment on |
the part of his campaign managers.
There were internecine strife and in.
testine dissensions among his own
people, so as to preclude the sugges.
ton Of concert OF action, though
there was an identity of interest.
1T was in the cards to nominate
Governor Lowden. He was the best
man in sight for the place, but de.
clarity the situation of why he failed.
Governor Lowden set aside s3s 900
:or publicity purposes in the state of
Missouri and on the 9Th day of Janu.
airy he gave $4,000 each to one Gold,
stein and Moore, of ST. Louis, local
political powers. They were 10 take
this money and expend it judiciously
and legally within their bailiwicks. On
the 18th day Of May, these two were
elected as delegates 10 the national
convention. and announced they would
vote for Lowden. On the 25th day
of May, they were called before the
investigating committee at Washing
on, and there they testified they had
1ot spent the money as they had
heen directed. but had kept it, This
eft the inference that Governor Low.
len had purposely paid money to two
delegates for their support. Notwith-
handing the fact that they were di.
rected 10 expend the money. he was
lnable &c subdue suspicion that he had
bought delegates. He very promptly
lisavowed them, but he could not
overcome the sinister suggestion.
There We're two times during the bal
citing that Governor Lowden had the
highest vote in the convention.
THE truth Of the matter is Mas.
sachusetts was to bid Coolidge fare.
well. and swing its vote TO Lowden.
ohio and Pennsylvania were to go at
ihe proper time. and when their vote
would accomplish the desired result
''cxas, Arkansas, Kansas and New
York We're TO increase their quota
fGr which Senator Calder of New
York was to be the nominee for vice
resident, but the enthusiastic, if loud
r1outhed and self-seeking, Borah told
he leaders, If they tried to nominate
nwden he would take the senate rec
I'd, even II he had to mortgage his
own home with which TO get the
funds 10 do 1t, and read Il in every
IN inlet in the land. He would treat
Wood the same way. This absolutely
'ghtened the leaders. so that they
came afraid TO nominate Governor
] l.owden. The convention overlooked
his wonderful mans great qualifica-
tions, by sticking its finger In It's
wn eyes. II teaches life long les
sn that by one act, however. mad.
y rtently made, may tear down and
',' 'troy the efforts Of life time. Gov
rnor Lowden had within his grasp
III nomination and possible election
It. the greatest office in the world,
f1g for the downright unexpected ac.
| Of two obscure individuals. whose
leprehensible conduct was no part
- Lowden's honest intentions, he lost
= '1ere were four ballots on the first
~ Of ballotlng. That night a few
aders assembled and canvassed the
,uation with a fine.tooth comb. There
wore three men left to whom the
Invention might resort-Harding Of
ohio, Sproul Of Pennsylvania and
Knox OF the same state. The first
oamed had about abandoned any eff.
.nri to secure the nomination. He
anne TO Chicago and first had no
leodquarters. He was unheralded and
except in mild degree.