The Washington herald., 1920-05-29
WOOD MANAGERS
/ RESENT INQUIRY
JOHNSON FORCED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

was succeeded today by a very evi-
dent confidence.
Partly this is due to the fact that
the enormously greater amount of
the Wood expenditures has diverted
attention from the. Lowden record
and partly to the fact that whatever
criticism has been expressed has
been tempered with approval of the
frankness and promptitude of the
Lowden statement and recognition
Of the fact that II was his own
money that was spent. ..
Wood Men Anxious.
The supporters of General Wood
are less resigned to the stroke that
has been dealt their chief. They
admit that il is serious. and are Bit
Johnson, to whom they ascribe
Johnson, to whom they ascribe as
the fact and the manner of the Boz
rah inquiry. Their attitude is or
the more Importance because of the
great number of Wood delegates
who will seek other candidates
should their first choice prove hope
less. -
A statement compiled by one of
the best equipped observers of the
situation gives Wood 265 votes on
the first ballot, growing to SIS on
the third. Should the growth stop
there, either because of defections
growing out of the campaign issue
or because of the determination of
the old guard to prevent the gen.
erals nomination, the release OF
these votes could nearly accom-
plish the nomination of any other
candidate.
May Go to Hoover.
But they can hardly 60 to Low
den. for the avowed conviction Of
the Wood managers is that the
Illinois governor has become the
candidate Of that combination Oh
old line Republicans that have
tought Wood from the start. They
will not go to johnson, since it Is
to him that they ascribe the inves-
ugatlon that has so mussed up the
wood boom. OF course, they may
be widely distributed, as many in
d1Vfdual delegates instructed for
Wood have their own personal
preferences, but in private conver-
sation more than one Wood leader
has told me that in his Judgment
the vote would be thrown as nearly
solidly as possible for Hoover.
VIII Nominate to Win.
The fact is that occurrences of
this week have done much to dispel
the feeling with which many Repub-
hcans came to Chicago that anybody
could win on their ticket. There is
a growing feeling that seeds of dis
union have been sowed in Republic
a
take shrewd advantage Of them.
While the delegates will NOT be
gravely shocked by the barring of
great campaign expenditures, they
are likely to give consideration to
the effect of such revelations upon
the country. Nobody wants to share
in nominating a losing ticket in a
year whici. seemed to promise GER
tain victory.
Three weeks ago the most emi-
nent Republicans thought they
might safely take chances. It can
be stated with emphasis that they
think so no longer: Neither the re-
payment of ancient grudges, nor the
mere qualification of personal senti-
ment will sway the convention. It
is going to nominate to win, II that
be within the capacity of its leaders.
How Lowden Views II.
I think that Gov. Lowden ex-
pressed the general sentiment Of
the leaders as we'll as his own earn
est convictions when he said to me
today, Il feel that the welfare of
the country demands the return to
power of the Republican party, and
to be defeated for nomination would
not be half so grave a blow to me
as to be Nominated in a way that
might later give me reason to think
that some other man might have
carried the party to victory where
had failed"
Abandon of the idea that any Re-
publican might romp in to victory
and it has been abandoned-means
that the convention is going to be
a deliberative body. 1t really is GO
ing to be the sort of a convention
that the advocates of direct prim-
aries and Presidential preference
votes thought they had done away
with.
The delegates are going to be
bound by instructions only to the
limit prescribed by law, and then
will act according to their own
Judgment or perhaps that of the
leaders-as to what will most con-
tribute toward victory.
As this has become apparent the
feeling that a dark horse. or at
least one of the candidates not en-
gagged in the savage primary fights,
will be the nominee has gained cur
rency.
Hoover Leads Dark Horses.
Men differ as to the respective
strength of these newer candidates.
So far as widespread reputation and
general discussion in the Hobbies
is concerned. Mr.. Hoover easily
leads all. But DR.. Butler has al
ready scme very earnest advocates,
although none of the New York
leaders are on the ground.
Sproul is talked Of, but usually
with the comment that his chances
depend entirely upon the attitude
of Penrose. fnd none here dares
outline that attitude. Coolidge IA
but seldom mentioned, while Gov.
Allen, of Kansas Is already much
in the lipelight Great interest is
expressed in the showing that the
governor may make in his forth
coming debate with Gomptrs on his
Industrial Court