Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-09
Wood JOh hns son
Forces May Pair
tOCut LOWden.
PLANK ON LEAGUE
PROVES TICKLISH JOB
Many Believe 1t As Important
As Selecting a
Candidate.
BY N, O. MESSENGER.

CHICAGO, June s.-Big men in the
several candidatorial campaigns ana
factions agreed today that the NOM
ination situation has about reacneo
the point where it's is beyond control
by manipulation of leaders. and rests
with the delegates themselves. That IL
will be solved only by actual ballot
ing and not by arrangement OUTSIDE
of court by the leaders of groups.
The nearest approach to a comblna-
tion visible today is an apparent work
ing plan between the Wood and John-
SON forces. but it is held together py
very slender threads. and has but one
plished, the friendship would cease,
and the Wood and Johnson people
would bristle at each other again,
only to find their further plans men
aced by the resentment OF LoWdens
friends.
Skeptical as to Lowden.
There is still tho belief in informed
circles that there are enough votes
under cover to put Lowden in the lead
after a few ballots, II the concurrence
OF Judgment among them is that 1t Is
best to nominate him, but doubt OF the
expediency of doing SO is growing and
is being fostered by some important
people. II this doubt should become
a certainty, and he Is rejected. 1t does
not follow that Senator Johnson will
profit by it.
But only the delegates, voting not
even in whole state delegations, but
and after various changes and sway
ing from one candidate to another.
can settle it.
Interest I'm League Plank.
With this uncertainty over candi-
dates so poignant, interest turns for
the moment to consideration of the
platform and to the league of nations
plank therein. The contest is sharp
and bitter between the irreconcilables.
led by .Borah and johnson. and the
reservationists, led by Lodge. Lenroot.
Kellogg and others. Their respective
positions are summarized as follows:
BY the irreconcilables-'The repub-
1ican party declares incorporating
opposition to any such plan Of inter-
national government as contemplated
in the league of nations embodied in
the treaty of peace with Germany by
President Wilson; and. the republican
party affirmS its determination to pre-
serve and maintain the foreign policy
OF this government as it was an
nounced by George Washington and
James Monroe. and as 1t has been
maintained ever since"
BY the reservationists-'The repub-
lcan party indorses the acts of the
senators who prevented the ratifca-
tion of a peace treaty that involves
the United States in the international
entanglements of Europe, thereby i'm
periling American sovereignty and
the American institutions. and pledges
itself to the ratification Of a treaty
OF peace and an association Of nations
with an international tribunal for the
determination Of non-justiciable ques-
ttons between the nations and with
such safeguards as will insure the
protection of every American inter-
est"
Held Highly Important.
Many republicans believe that,
after all. the party's decision upon
its league of nations plank is equally
important as the selection of a can
didate. since the league of nations
10 to be the democratic campaign
issue and one which the republicans
will be compelIeo TO meet
Whatever the report of the COM
mfttee on resolutions may be, and
whichever side presents a minority
report. there Is reason to believe that
the delegates themselves will consider
and act upon the issues advisedly. and
not yield to clamor. This belief is ac-
centuated by looking over the per
sonnel of the delegates.
Studying in detail the delegate body
as with upturned countenances they
face the platform. the observer is
struck by the presence among them OF
so many men of mature years The
young. inexperienced element is con-
spicuously in the minority. They in
deed look hard boiled. 1t was COM
planned yesterday that the conven-
tion was cold and did not enthuse over
Senator Lodge. Well. in the first
place. the senator is hardly classed al
a firebrand. But. in point Of fact. that
crowd of hard-boiled delegates would
not go in the air very readily.
These men. it is believed, realize
the importance of the league of ma
tions issue. and whether the majority
OF them, a number sufficient to adont
or reject a proposed platform, are
with the frreconcilables or will fol-
low the reservationists. they are not
likely to be swayed by emotional ap-
peals.
There is in evidence an increasing
appreciation among the delegates Of
the Importance of nominating a can
candidates. bearing in mind their pos
sible disabilities. are to be weighed
very carefully with this object In
view.
Strength Of Candidates.
The strength Of the three leading
candidates was built up as follows:
Gen. Wood. first through adaptation OF
the latent Roosevelt and progressive
strength and second, through the
most efficient campaign of propaganda
this country has witnessed
Gov. Lowden, through the untirinp
efforts Of political leaders of the old
line and with the support of con-
servative business interests who de-
cided he would make a good Preside lent
Senator johnson. by his personal
magnetism. whirlwind campaigns and
appeals to a section of the progress
sives who had not gone over to Wood
This is the way the delegates came
to the convention. Now that they are
here. they are subject to argument
to the logic Of the situation, to ap-
peals to their best political judgment
to their own personal and selfish in
ferests and finally to the best interests
of the party they are supposed to up
hold. 1t is not believed that they are
subject to be carried by storm.
Rash supporters of Senator John
son are continually predicting dire
results to the party If their hero is
not nominated. These threats, which
are not thought to be encouraged by
I Senator Johnson, apparently ara not