Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-08
I'ssuint!91 IysOina YestsSdsy axsds 1886
LAW is REASON.
The Michigan Primaries.

The Michigan Primaries.
While not important as pointing out
probable results, the outcome of the
Presidential primaries, held IN Michigan
IN Tuesday. were unusually interesting.
They impaired TO the primary campaigns
,f both the leading political parties ele-
ments of uncertainty and suggestion that
nav have some bearing ON future opera
tions.
The leading event Of interest was the
overwhelming and summary manner in
which Senator Hiram Johnson OF Cali
fornia bowled over General Leonard
Wood. Friends of the latter had conf
IDENTIFY expected 10 carry the Republican
favor. but johnson was an easy winner,
beating Wood heavily in IN unusually
full vote for primary contest. Lowden
and Hoover were second and third, re-
spcctivclv, while Senator Harding OF
Ohio choice of the "Old Guard leaders
Tor the Presidential nomination, was not
entered in the race. He is not, however
eliminated.
There arc two explanations for John
sons sweeping victory. First, he had
the support of all the radical elements OF
the Republican party. and OF all the
traitorous foreign influences that are so
hostile 10 the Democratic national admins
tration and so bitterly IN their hatred OF
President Wilson. All these unpatriotic
and discordant elements OF our cltizen-
shin have gone over completely TO the
Republican party, as the best means OF
gratifying their revenge against the ad-
ministration under which Germany was
defeated and our country glorihed,. and
johnson proved the man OF their fondest
hopes. And many see in the defeat OF
General Wood in the State OF Senator
Newberry, recently convicted for unlawful
expenditures in securing his seat IN the
senate, a powerful rebuke to the EN-
plovment of such methods in political
manipulation.
The small vote for Hoover can be ac-
cepted only as evidence that his Republl-
eanism, TO which he only recently gave
public expression, is not OF a character
that pleases many voters who have been
staunch followers of the party. Evident
ly they look upon him as a convert, and
as a man who must be regarded with sus-
picion, from a political point OF view,
because of having considerable following
in the opposition political party. At
any rate, Michigan Republicans eliminat-
ed Hoover so far as their Presidential
preference is concerned.
No less interesting, although devoid of
real Importance, was the result of the
Democrat primary voting IN Michigan.
There was some surprise at the vote OBJ
tanned by Governor Edwards Of New
Jersey, who is not taken seriously through
out the country, as a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for President.
His popular favor can only be ascribed TO
the continually increasing dissatisfaction
over the Prohibition Amendment to the
Federal Constitution and the very drastic
law enacted by Congress for Its enforce
ment But the vote for Hoover, who ran
aheod of Governor Edwards, was q reai
surprise, especially as Mr.. Hoover, only
short time ago, had publicly declared
he is a Republican and candidate for
the Republican nomination for President.
His large vote at Democratic primaries,
therefore, must be accepted as evidence
of personal popularity.
The other three Democratic aspirants
TO the Presidential nomination, McAdoo,
Attorney-General Palmer and Bryan,
followed Hoover in the balloting In the
order named. Those who hate President
Wilson and his administration accept the
poor showing by Palmer as a Reputation
OF President Wilson, holding him to be the
administration candidate" But he is
not. There is no administration candi-
date in the Democratic race. President
Wilson has never uttered word that can
be construed as extending favor to any of
the aspirants TO the Democratic nomina-
ton for President, and in respect of as
sumption, it would naturally be expected
hewould have more favor for Mr.. McAdoo,
his son-in-law, whose nomination and cleo
tion would keep the Office In the family
than for any of the others. But the
President has been strictly neutral.
The small vote for Mr.. Bryan, in all
probability, means just what it says
that be is no longer looked upon as
great leader of the Democratic party.