New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
By Carter Field

~ 'ou 10 doHiilteu!H Ill tne IeaC IN the
Indiana fight. especially since. Governo O,
Goodrich has got out Of the race fol-
endorsement as the "Hoosier Son" The
Wood organization is not quite $,
strong as in Kansas or Minnesota, but
u is very vigorous, and, in addition
the general is being strongly support
ed BY THE Indianapolis News" always
spower
The Republican city organization
headed by Mayor Jewett. is for Wood
as is the regular organization in the
Fort Wayne district and several coun.
ties in various sections There is no,
any very general lining up as yet, due
to the fact that most of the Republi-
can machine had been working for
Goodrich. and his retirement left the
party workers little up in the air
General Woods candidacy has profit
ed onsiderably by this condition. The
Ugh. had been started for him before
Goodrich withdrew. Some of the men
behind IT We're strong partsans of Sen
ator Watson who were a little sore
that the Governor did not yield clear
sAd to the Senator for Endorsement as
favorite son. However it started, the
movement developed real strength with
the people of the state. Men who sell
dom take an interest in politics signed
the petitions to place Wood on the
ballot in the primary.
Want Uninstructed Delegates
Emsley Johnson and "Peg" Hamilton
were what might be called the original
Wood men in Indianapolis. They got
out the petitions and obtained thou
sands of signers. Then, when Gov
crnor Goodrich withdrew, the city or
SANITATION Topped to the general,
rather dispIacing johnson and Hamil-
ton in the function of directing the
Wood fight.
But what might be called the "od
guard section of the organization is
not for Wood, and is confident that he
will not get the Indiana delegation
Curiously enough, it has not lined up
dates opposing Wood so far despite
the fact that this is direct primary
tate and that the primary is held on
the first Tuesday in May.
What they would really like is an
uninstructed delegation, and apparently
they plan to get it by not permitting
any candidate to have clear majority
N the primary. The Indiana law pro-
= vides that the result of q primary
10 rational convention unless one
candidate develops majority. Thus,
Wood might poll 10000 votes. but if
Iowden Harding and Hiram johnson
combined should poll 150,00l then
Wood would not be regarded legally
as the choice of the primary, and,
under the Law, the delegation would
be instructed by the state convention
dc to which candidate to vote for oil
flrs hcI lot nf Il :.
give the old line politicians control Of
the instruction as we'll as control Of
the delegates. 1t would be the next
best thing to having the delegation
instructed for Goodrich, under which
scheme some interesting negotiations
might be conducted by those con-
rolling the delegation before it was
finally delivered.
The most favorable sign for the
Wood candidacy is that this plan had
70 be abandoned. The people have
N,othing against Governor Goodrich
They might even be for him if they
thought he had a chance for the Presi-
Dental nomination. But they saw
$ through the oldtime favorite son de-
vice pretty clearly, and this helped the
Wood boom. 1t became very apparent,
therefore, that unless something was
done Wood would run away with the
y lttlo
business to transact at the convention
cTcept the mere recording Of Indiana's
vote for Wood
50 The organization decided that
ermething had to be done. and i'm
mediately Goodrich got out Of the race.
IN interesting sideIight or this situa-
lc1. is that while Goodrich has re
we'd nc has not declared his own
"felereNccs rather surprising move,
unless this scheme of the field agains, ,
God, IN order to prevent the deleea-
ton being instructed for Wood, is con-
sdcrcd.
There is apparently no intention on
the part Of the leaders to let Lowden
or haralng get majority indorse-
ment either. They are encouraging
party workers who seem to fnyoI.
either to 90 the limit for their choice.
MS may be changed long before pri-
nary DAY. OF course. but 1T is the
would prefer Wood to run last. or al
east third. with Lowden and Harding
nlV'd,ng ilrst and second places. Judg-
ny ny the way people talk and the
fac' mat some important parts of the
reguiar organization are for Wood,
'n's Is not probable. The present
prospect is that Wood will run 6rst.
mat Lowden and Harding will take the
M
johnson will run last
Miners Favor Lowdep
The prospect is also. however. that
Wood viii scarcely get a clear ma.
1ority. aud therefore will lose the in
structlon of the delegation. The poin.
- that while there is no great demand
apparent for Lowden, Harding or
Johnson, each has certain elements of
Strength. and 1t would really be a re-
markable political performance for
Wood to poll as many votes as all
'hree Of them. especially when so
many Of ,tpe cld-line politicians are
devotlng their whole attention to pre-
venting that very thing.
Lowden seems particularly strong
with the coal miners. They liked his
stand that the miners should have
more money. He is strong with tho
business men, who have to pay heavy
tate taxes. because of his admnistra-
've record in Illinois, particularly his
~educing the :ax rate. Then, naturally,
there are sons counties in Indiana
into which Illinois influences reach
very strongly
known in Indiana than Governor Low
den, having made a great many
speeches at one time or another
through the state. Many of the poll
ticians are strongly inclined to him
The organization down in Pike County,
for instance, has come out for Hard
ing and promises it will give him
lead of 500 over his nearest competitor