Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-05

gavel on Tuesday next. After that the
party leaders will probably settle down to
the serious consideration of task TINT is
obviously going To be an extremely hard
one.
Up to date the spokesmen of the second
rank who are taking the measure OF each
other have been milling around not un-
like herd of mavericks, scentling the
coming of storm, or on the verge OF a
stampede. The chaotic condition, there
fore, provides very fine opening for a
competent political leader to take the
centre of the stage, proclaim himself the
boss. describe what should be done ana
how ii should be done. Perhaps one may
be developed during the next forty-eight
hours
SHOW LITTLE FORCE.
Hert. the resourceful Kentucky Cap
tain. looks TO be more like a real leader
of national proportions than any OF the
others. He could probably get away with
the undertaking, mainly because OF the
lack of competition. Hls disclinatlon
to do so is probably born OF the sound
conviction that lot of the leaders and
delegates do not want TO inherit lot OF
troublein in the way of personal animosittes
The majority of the second rate leaders
who have held the stage up TO date, have
been distinguished more for their tlmld'ty
and suspicion than because of any con-
structive qualities or courage essential
TO success The art of "Pussy-footing' has
been reduced to an exact science.
The National Committeeman, settling
contests on its Judicial basis, which
NAV or NAV not result to the advantage
of any of the Presidential aspirants, hence
probably have been kept within orderly
lines by apprehension rather than by any
moral influence.
The members Of that body and the
leaders who are directing their operations,
do not know what is going to happen IN
the econvntion next week, SO they want
to be on the safe side and not take nay
chances. Consequently caution rather
than courage has been the most prominent
feature of the achievements OF prcllml-
nary character up to date.
Johnson is the one figure that means
anything beyond mere personal ambition
To a great many persons who will have
saw in determining the result, he Is the
most vigorous fighter in Chicago. tie
knows what he is after, what he wants,
and what he is against. He is surrounded
bv crowds that follow his every movement,
and that are influenced more by surcharg-
ed motions and deep earnestness, than by
anv concern for the views of the profess
sional politician.
He knows the vulnerable points of his
competitors and how to attack them,
and the supporters Of the letter appreciate
the TACT that he . the only contender for
the Presidential nomination who has
developed under unusual circumstances
ANYTHING approaching the popular follow
ing Of the late Theodore Roosevelt.
Johnson's knowledge Of the technique
OF politics is quite rs extensive ana
comprehensive as that OF any OF the second
rank leaders who are trying to find man
to beat him after they have used him TO
accomplish the defeat Of Wood.
GROOMING sPRoUL.
During the last twenty-four hours
resourceful group Of leaders have been
to anticipate the rejection
of Johnson along with Wood and l4owden
bv bringing forward man upon whom the
forces now AT conflict might ultimately
agree They seem To have settled on
Spro,lI the PENNSYLVANIA governor, whose
independence of Penrose has been the
chief argument, employed by his support
ers.
The name OF Sproul is figuring con-
spicuously III speculation regarding the
sort OF men back Of whom the controlling
leaders NAV line up with anything like
chance of success. The iieutenants of
Penrose assert that he is not particularly
friendly to Sproul, IN support Of which
assertion they cite the recent declaration
az Penrose that he personally favors the
election .oi his colleague, Senator Phil
ander c. Knox But there Is latent sus-
picion IN the minds Of a good many nf the
party leaders who would not vote for
s'Penrose candidate under any circum-
stances that the Pennsylvania matter
would not be grievously disappointed if
the governor Of his State should be hastily
headed toward the White House
Some of the erstwhile Roosevelt Pro-
eresslves have been acclalmlng the virtues
Of Sproul or the last day o. two, notably
Editor Moore OF Plttsburg, who was one
Of Col. Roosevelt's lieutenants The
"Sproul feeler was put out by men who
ordinarily reflect the ambitions Of Penrose.
The chief purpose OF il seems to u to
draw the johnson FIRE, and il will prSeUkIv
do so