The Washington herald., 1920-03-23
YIGOR OF WOOD
CAMPAIGN MAY
BRING REBOUND
Hostility Stirred in Many
States by Steam Rol-
Ter" Methods.
AIDS OTHERS CHANCES
Jealousies Bred Before Con-
vention Favor Dark
Horse Success.
by WILLIS J. ABBOT.


New York. March 22.-It is per-
haps Inevitable that so vigorous
and. to the present time successful.
a campaign for delegates as has
been waged by the Wood forces
should engender many and bitter
political -antagonisms. Today Gen.
Wood unQuestionably leads all
Republican candidates. His cam
paign Is in the hands of the shrewd-
est political managers, and they are
pressing il in q way that brooks
little opposition. Mr.. Frank Hitch
cock, since his first appearance in
national politics. has been a rider
of the steam roller and has never
been particular concerning the
fate of rivals over whom he trun-
died 1t. Today in the States in
which the Wood forces are count
ing up their delegates you hear
loud cries of rage arising from the
PROSTATE opposition. Hiram john
sons is the loudest voice raised,
but what he says OF the use OF
money, the violation of gentle
mems agreements" and strong-arm
methods generally Is echoed in ev-
cry community in which General
Woods forces are operating.
~
There Is a peril in this which the
managers for General Wood would
do well to reckon with. The men
ace in the election of a number of
bitter antagonisms created during
the pre-convention campaign Is OBJ
vious enough. But the danger may
manifest itself in the nominating
convention.
Nh Ors Will H,v. Matorifx Ne starr
Neither General Wood. nor any
other Republican candidate, will
have a majority of the delegates at
the outset. There will have to be
new alliances, compromises, trades,
If you will. Now it is the almost
unbroken experience Of past con-
ventions that IL is easier to build
UP strength for an unconsidered
candidate than to put over one who
entered the convention with almost
enough votes to nominate. The un-
known man has no resentments to
overcome. no jealousies to appease.
no antagonisms bred of too great
zeal on the part of his lieuten-
ants to heal. The followers of A,
having sworn never to support B,
and the adherents of B having de-
clared vendetta upon A. both can
that unknown character X.
William Allen White. who Is
scheduled as the only delegate TO
the Republican convention pledged
to Governor Henry Allen, is in a
position of tremendous strength. I
trust he has engaged headquarters
as big as though he were a dele
cation OF so at least. For, as he
well points out, there, was but one
Garfield delegate in the convention
which made Garfield its nominee.
Into that inoffensive and peaceful
camp flocked the forces of greater
champions weary of fighting each
other, but still proudly averse to
surrender to their averred foes.
Wood Campaign Is Strenuous.
Today we find virtually all the
Republican leaders denouncing. the
Wood organization for violation of
such political ethics as still find
place in a campaign for delegates.
The generals skirmishers have not
hesitated to push into States sup
posed to be controlled by favorite
sons. They have not been over
squeamish in the use of money.
They have traded with the bosses
where bosses could be useful, as in
x
ular organization where a lofty at
titude of Independence appeared to
promise success. AS a result they
have attained a degree of success
which leads managers to claim 14S
delegates already captured Tor
Wood. How many incurable enmi-
ties were caused by the work of
getting these delegates will not be
known until the Wood managers
try to get the remainder necessary
to a majority.
Seeking the Presidency.
Politicians sometimes sneer at the
theory. of the office seeking the
man Certainly in this campaign
the men are seeking the office Of
Presidency with degree of frank
ness and eagerness never before
manifest. Senator Poindexter led
off, followed by Senator Johnson,
and General Wood. A certain de-
gree of modesty and restraint is
enforced upon Democrats, by the
uncertainty of the Presidents per-
sonal attitude. but Attorney Gener-
al Palmer is very much in the open,
and to all appearances Governor Ed
wards joins his purpose of making
the whole country as wet as the
Atlantic to a desire to be his partv's
Presidential candidate. The COVER
nor has paraphrased the Emerson
advice and hitched his wagon to a
bar.
Political history has little to COM
fort the assiduous chasers after the
Presidency. From Henry Clay to
w. J. Bryan the winner has been
the man who seemed least to desire
the prize. or course we never
elected an actually unwilling Hom-
inee. but this far the people have
been apt to turn the cold shoulder
on the aspirants who showed the
greatest eagerness. Even Roose-
velt ordered his life from early