Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-15
CANDIDATES WHO
WON MANY STATES
WERE S|DETRACKED
Friends of viii Hays Had.
Ambitious Plans but failed
to Get By Old Guard
Slipped Only Once /
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1920, for The Atlanta Journal.)
CHICAGO, June 14.-Harry Daugh-
erty made a mistake. Three months
ago as campaign manager for War
about 2:11 a. m. Sin a smoke-f1lled
room" on a certain night during the
Republican national convention, the
next nominee would be chosen. HIS
mistake was on the time-it was 3:11
a. m.
That conference will go down in
the history of politics as the final
breakdown of the American primary
system so far as selecting presi-
Dental nominees is concerned. Sem
ator Harding had carried his own
state in the primaries only with the
greatest difficulty and did not figure
prominently in the nominating cam
paign in any other state. Messrs
Wood and Johnson carried many a
state, but were sidetracked by the
leaders Of the Republican party and
Mr.. Harding was chosen because he
was the only man upon whom an
agreement could be reached.
Many a prominent man was pres
emit at the fatefuI conference. Rep
resentatives Of all the candidates
were on hand, several senator's, man
ayers and friends. Colonel George
Harvey had the historic room to-
gether with Thomas W. Lamont, of
J. P. Morgan & Co. Will Hays, the
national chairman, and several or
the national committeeman were
there, too.
Johnson's Power Felt
Everybody had the feeling that
president was being chosen, for the
expectation of victory in November
was sure. 1t was the plan of the
old guard to nominate Lowden, but
the Missouri expose on campaffin
expenditures, together with the
threat of Hiram johnson and Sena-
i tor Borah Of opposition to the ticket,
prevented the Illinois executive from
getting the prize.
Really, Senator Johnson vetoed
both Lowden and Wood, and the lead
OA . VI IAAC pol " NOS1uCo opOll
ing as the most unobjectionable of
all the dark horses mentioned. OF
course, If Johnson had consented
to run for vice president with Knox,
the Junior senator from PennsyI-
vania today would be the Republican
nominee ~
Word was sent to Senator Johnson
during the early hours of the morn
ing asking him to go on the ticket
with Knox, but he absolutely refused.
So the old guard decided on Hard
ing
Tales galore are going the rounds
about the dark horses held in re-
serve. There seems to be no question
about the fact that Senator Penrose
would have made drive for Knox
at the psychological moment if he
could nave done it. And there is a
well substantiated story that friends
of Will Hays had it all fixed up for
him. Indeed, this convention was
really a struggle between members
of the national committee and the
senatorial group. And the latter
quietly took charge Of things during
the middle of the week and put
through a man of their own choos-
ing from the United States senate.
Kansas Springs Surprise
Old guard strategy went wrong In
only one particular. Word was first
sent to the Kansas delegation that
If twenty votes were swung to Hard
ing, Governor Allen would be made
vice President. And Kansas swung
into the Harding column. Folks
gasped with surprise, as they knew
Kansas didn't like Republican con-
servatives as we'll as Republican
progressives. But that was the prom
Use and being loyal to Governor AL
len the delegation swung to Harding.
Then came along another group and
insisted that Senator Lenroot be the
vice presidential nominee, and after
Kansas had voted, word was sent
| again to the Kansas delegation that
1t was deemed best to name the SEN
ator from Wisconsin for reasons Of
party expediency. Senator Medill Nc
Cormick made the nominate ting speech
for Lenroot, but even the Lenroot
boom was Debated suddenly, this
time by no wish of the old guard.
Somebody in Oregon nominated
Coolidge and Alexander Moore
jumped to his feet and seconded it
in behalf of Pennsylvania All
through the day the seventy-six
votes from Pennsylvania had been
watched as the keystone of the con-
vention itself. The delegates believed
it must be the wish Of Penrose 1t
wasn't. But in the confusion, and
in the desire to get the convention
over with, delegation after delegation
voted for Coolidge.
AS usual, there were expressions
Of disappointment over the selection
| Of the presidential nominee. Pro-
gressives talked bitterly for few
hours after the choice was made,
but already they are beginning to
be converted. The situation is best
illustrated by an incident in the lob
! by of the Blackstone hotel today,
when a woman, who had supported
! the candidacy of Leonard Wood, re-
marked:
well, I am not reconciled yet"
"Ah, that's why we have conven-
tions in June and not September"
answered a Republican editor who
is himself a progressive.