Evening star., 1920-02-26
WOOD AND JOHNSON
N WSH0WD0WNOV
ROOSEVE[TLEGACY
National Politicians Watch
! Michigan Primaries With
Keen Interest.
BY y. O. MESSENGER.


BY n. O. MESSENGER.
when is a feller the richer for be-
Ing poor" is a question Senator
Hiram Johnson's boomers claim they
can answer. They reply: In Mich
iSan. about now. when a chap has
political aspirations"
Representative Cramton of Mich
gan. who is in charge of the John
son presidential campaign in that
state. has returned to Washington
all worked up over the prospects of
Senator Johnson having an even
break in the coming primaries with
Gen. Wood and Gov. Lowden. Mr.
well financed campaign has made
Heavy inroads on the Wood strength
among the politicians in the state. so
that today Lowden seems to be prac
Wood" but that recent campaigning
seems to have a chance with the two
Others in carrying the state.
Lacks Financial support
The johnson campaign in Michi
gan. as elsewhere, is characterized
by lack Of financial support. says
Mr.. Cramton. who adds. naively but
that feature is not entirely handi-
zap in Michigan at this time
National politicians here will watch
the result of the Michigan primaries.
April 5. with keen interest. as being
the first showdown of the relative
,etanding of Gen. Wood and Senator
legates of the Roosevelt strength.
sboth men now claiming TO be the
sreal heir. Michigan was one of the
strongest Roosevelt states, and the
progressive sentiment is declared to
BE still rampant One of the lead
t&n0 MichtOan which sup
ported Roosevelt, has been conduct
'5ng for weeks a bitter attack upon
Gen. Wood.
Harp ON Roosevelt String.
Senator Johnson's supporters are
harping vigorously on the Roosevelt
string. Their latest action was to
give out a letter written by Col.
Roosevelt in 1916 to Edgar Williams
of California in which the colonel is
quoted as saying. Il am trying to keep
in touch with Hiram johnson. Tor
Of all the public men in this coun-
myself in most complete sympathy.
You are perfectly safe in following
his lead"
II seems definitely assured now that
universal military training will not
be an issue in the coming presloehtiasi
tenGfng intention to suppress it. The
republican leaders of the House have
agreed to postpone legislative ac-
tion until the next session OF Con-
gress. a special committee 10 io9k
carefully into the subject meanwhiie:
The democrats of the House had
hitherto declared against acffon now:
There is at hand today an explicit
statement Of the stand or Gen. Leon
ard Wood on preparedness. as oisso
ciated from militarisrn. II came from
the Wood national campaign commit.
tee in Chicago. quoting Gen WOOD
in sneech. He declares for highly
eficient. but small regular army. not
10 exceed 100000 men. and "a nrst,
class navy. always ready. benlna
"aome system which will give our
youth enough training to make them
quickly available in case OF attack
I've won't call it compulsory mill
+ary training, but training for ma
tional service, which will combine vo-
cationaI industrial and citizenship
training. They all go together In the
making of the American citizen we
are concerned with the making OF
better. more effective men. The sol
.dier training is only part IN the
tmaking of the citizens of the re-
public"
Wood Men Draw Distinction.
Gen. Woods campaign managers.
finding themselves confronted oy a
rising tide of opposition to the cry OF
militarism which was raised by some
of his opponents as involved IN ms
stand for preparedness. are no" TAX
ing pains to draw clear distinction.
This was rendered necessary by eVl-
dences that the west, considered at
the outset to be the stronghold OF
Wood sentiment was slipping away
from him. as the thought was engen-
dered and fostered that he advocated
Dailitarism.
lion was found in the east. where the
political leaders were beginning 10
ask the Wood people. How can you
expect US to nominate a candidate
who may not be able to carry the
west." Thus preparedness and train
ing and militarism. alleged or real,
became at once a question of prime
Importance to candidates aud TO party
Democrats in several states will be
busy this week, getting things in
shape for the campaign. In New York
democratic leaders are conferring to-
day in unofficial convention at AL
bany over their state platform. and
will select their delegates at large to
san Francisco
In New Jersey the democrats ar,
preparing to make a wet drive at the
national convention. They have Sc
lected Gov. Edwards as one of the
states delegates at large. and he has
openly declared his intention of go
ing TO t1ie mat" with William J. Bry-
an and his prohibition cohorts on /
proposal for light wines and beer.
The New Jersey legislature Tuesday
passed through the lower house. with
reported prospects of senate concur
renee. bill for $50 beer Action
was accomplished by combination Of
democrats and wet" republicans, and
had the approval of Gov. Edwards.
There is declared to be every indica-
tion that New Jersey is going to the
national convention in force to try TO
bring in damp plank If not u wet
one.
IT is stated authoritatively in demo-
cratic national managerial circles that
the national organization will not be
party to proposed assaults on the pro-
hibitton enforcement act as il now
stands on the statute books.