The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-06-14

vention was dominated by q group
Of United States senators who we're
that one Of their social
club should have the nomination.
Even Senator johnson and Senator
Borah were parties to the nOmina-
ton, for there were moments when
they could have objected and made
a fight for q more progressive can
didate. Moreover, even though
much was said in praise Of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, the man who was
nominated fought bitterly against
the colonel in the Ohio campaigns.
It was q severe defeat for the Wood
forces and the Roosevelt group.
Wood to Blame.
But General Wood has only him
self to blame. For he could easily
have been the Republican nominee.
He played with the wrong set Of
managers He didn't affiliate with
the real powers in the party. And
when he acquired Frank Hitchcock
he made nomination impossible, for
the men behind Lowden and be-
hind the other candidates had q
common meeting point - they
would never let Wood have It. To
be sure, Warren Harding's success
Is the result of the inability of the
Lowden men to win for their own
man. They planned to have Low
den pass Wood on the balloting,
they planned to push Lowden over
II possible, but the Wood forces
wouldn't bulge. In the psychology
ical moment 1t became necessary
to hold the johnson delegates from
going to Wood, 80 the old guard
told the Lowden managers that the
Illinois governor would have to be
abandoned. Talk of Knox and
Sproul came from the Penrose
camp, but the distinguished politi-
cal leader from Pennsylvauia had
Harding in reserve in case Knox or
Sproul couldn't win out. As mat
ter of fact, Harding was the choice
Of Senator Penrose many months
ago as revealed in a statement from
the Pennsylvania senator.
Kill on One At . Time.
I'VE must kill of one at a time
was the word whispered from the
Penrose headquarters before Wood
Lcwden and Johnson were elimin.
ated and the process by which tina,
was done was super-strategy itself
First, inroads were made In tn,
Wood delegations where instruc
tons for Wood had been given |,
the primaries but where the dele
gates were faithful members of tn,
Republican organization Of man,
years experience in balloting q
conventions. 1t was recognized
| that Wood must be equalled an,
passed. This was done, too, and /,
the meantime delegates were quiet
ly taken from Johnson and tn,
whole convention showed ia
tigue that made all want to enc
the deadlock with anybody rattle,
than somebody. The suggestion O.
Harding was backed by recollec
ton Of the splendid nominating
speech made by Governor Willis o.
Ohio, who pointed out that New
York and Pennsylvania and thu
other eastern states were safe bul
that Ohio had gone Democratic II
1912 and 1915. This, he argued
should mean a summons for Hard
ing who had carried the state wher
he ran for senator In 1914 by al
overwhelming majority. The Dem.
ocrats may be impressed by thu
Ohio argument, too, as Governo,
Cox has three times been elected
on the Democratic ticket in Ohio
Certainly the selection of Hardine
would seem to insure Cox q place
on the ticket. He says he will moi
run for vice president. but that'i
what all contenders for first place
say. II . poll Of persons ct the
Republican convention were taken
It probably would show . predic.
ton that McAdoo will be the Dem.
ccratic nominee. References wer,
made to him In the nominating
speeches.
Wilson Congratulated Coolidge.
The selection Of Coolidge for vic,
president WAS . clever move, To-
while labor dcesnt like him for hi
attitude In the police strike u
Boston, the Democrats would an
peal through McAdoo for the lahoI
vote. 1t must not be forgotten tina
President Wilson himself sent
message Of congratulation to Cor
|ernor Coolidge ON the day Of hi,
election and Republican orator.
win make shllful use Of that mes
sAge.
Harding and Coolidge b ! good
old-fashioned Republican ticket
but that's what tie convention
wanted and that's What most of th'
dale9Ates think the American peo
pie want Back 70 the good oil
days 0f Repuhlicanism" and ~dOwl
With WILSON, ar the slogans D
H. campaign ~ The Republican
ttfatasists who ran this convention
@fler the race absolutely condidenl
q victory n November.
{ ThA police force In Qfs6t Britain
n NRnkficAI1Y fha onl1 GO N III