The Washington herald., 1920-09-20

paign than the national hoadQuar-
tcrs of either party. The art OF
press-agenting is no more shrewdly
practiced on broadway than in the
extensive Offices presided over by
Chairman viii Hays or Chairman
George white-neither Of whom by
the way is often There. But dur
ing the last week the stimulating
aroma of confidence was more dis
cernible on Forty-fourth street
than in the Grand Central Palace.
To begin with. there was the news
from Maine, and though the Demo
Gratis sturdily denied its significance
they were as hsrsssed by IL as
Christian Scientist with a tooth
ache. OF course It was immsterisl,
but ouch!
But Illinos did bother the men
around Will Hays. II ever local
politics portended a split fatal TO
national success 1t is there. Bic
Bill" Thompson, the bad boy OF
politics this year. seems TO have
split the beans. CuriOusly enough
that is it would be serious IL one
attached any idea OF ethical sense
to poiitics-the increasing probsb1-
ity of Thompsons success toward
the end Of the week seemed TO
crafty headquarters. You would
think that Harding supporters
would prefer to see the success OF
Lowden, for everyone recalls the
fine spirit with which the Illinois
governor. after the scandal which
made him unavailable. turned his
delegates over TO Harding. But the
mill won't grind with that political
water. This is the way the wise
ones figure II:
II Lowden wins in Illinois Thomp-
son will be animated by two pur-
poses, revenge and a desire 10 save
all he can for himself His support
is largely OF the machine variety.
and his vote can be swung as he
desires-a fact shown when he
swung il against Lowden in choos-
ing delegates to the national con-
vention. To save himself and TO
accomplish his revenge his policy
might-probably would-be to sacri-
fee the State and national ticket In
order to carry Cook County, to show
that Illinois could not go Repub-
lican without Thompson, while it's
greatest city and county would be
Overwhelmingly Republican with
him would be his obvious political
strategy.
Suppose on the other hand, Low.
den loses and Thompson wins. There
is then. Of course, every incentive
for the mayor Of Chicago TO carry
the State and make himself a ma
tional figure. But would il be Low
den's strategy 10 defeat this pur-
pose? Not at all. Whatever DO
litIcal future there may be for the
governor depends on his making
s1innSEFF - -
election OF a Republican President.
That way lie cabinet portfolios or
smbassadorships
Before this shall be printed final
returns will have shown whether
Governor Lowden or Mayor Nomp-
son is boss in Illinois. But the fore
going is the fashion in which wise
politicians about Republican head
quarters talked while the matter
was still at issue Around Demo
cratic headquarters the talk is that
whichever faction wins Illinois is
lost TO tho G. q. P. Former Senator
Lewis heads the ticket for COVER
nor. having secured the nomination
with but little opposition. II would
be curious IL the luck which at
tended ms unopposed candidacy for
the senatorial nomination in 1912
should attach to his CuberEatorial
nomination today.
Tammany seems to have lost in.
terest in the national election. Its
members do not even keep Up the
perfunctory boastiug with which
the practical politician covers UP
his apprehension Of coming defeat.
In fact. some Of the most prominent
members Of the organization admit
that New York state will go heav-
iiy against their ticket. A very
significant fact is the refusal OF
Representative Thomas +. Smith 20
accept a denomination in his dis
Of Tsmmany Hall. makes no bones
Of saying that he retires because
he is not desirous Of fighting
losing tight AS his district gave
him a plurality Of about $4,000. and
A majority over all OF nearly $4,000
two years ago. this suggests that
this experienced politician is eS-
pecting a political revolution. He
is not alone in his attitude heard
very prominent upstate leader
ConCedc New York 20 Harding by
$500 in private conversation the
very day ne had given out a pub
lished interview claiming il as safe
for Cox.
Even the admitted popularity Of
Governor AZ Smith is not expected
to be enough TO pull him through
this year Personal popularity as
a vote Setter is seldom effective in
moro than one election. The gov
crnor's friends admit tho situation
is desperate for him. and arc not
made more hopeful by the report
that tho remnants Of the old Hearst
organization arc to gather next
week for the purpose Of taking CON-
certed action in the campaign. The
Hearst papers are bitterly against
Cox, and the editor is little likely
to forget that Al" Smith once
hired Carnegie Hall for the sole
purpose Of expressing his con-
temptuous opinion of Hearst and
all his works. One Of Hearst'S clos
est associates years ago used to
describe him as "a man equally
without gratitude and without re-
sentiment" II is difficult, however.
to believe that he has yet forgotten
Al Smiths Characterization OF
him, and his newspapers.
One Of the closest observers Of
politics in this State writes me:
The Tammsny organization TO
date has lied down on the national
ticket. There is no Democratic or
ganizatiOn outside of the City OF
New York; no organization to
speak of outside of q fau % ~