Evening star., 1920-04-04
HOOVER ENTRANCE
LATE IN NEBRASKA
Name Cannot Get on Pri-
mary BaIIot-Bryan's
First Shot a ''Dud."

OMAHA, Neb., April (SpeciaD.-
Announcement by Herbert Hoover that
he would accept the republican nominal
tion for President has aroused but little
discussion in Nebraska and will not ma
terially affect the outcome. 1t is too
late to get Hoover's name ON the pri-
mary ballot. but it can and probably
will be written in by some. though the
time is too short for any organization to
secure such an expression effectively.
Whatever vote Hoover gets will likely
be at the expense of johnson, and most
of it will come from the women who are
not inclined to vote for either Pershing
or Wood. The farmers are said to op-
pose him on account of his food control
operations.
Bryan's Shot a 'Dud.,
Mr. Bryan's opening shot in Omaha
was a 'dud." He addressed a scanty
1.5OO people instead of the great throng
that in former times, whenever he was
announced for speech. jammed the
municipal auditorium. which seats more
than 5000. Moreover. instead of dis
cussing any of his paramounts, save a
fieeting reference to prohibition. he de-
voted his time to scolding those of his
party in Nebraska who favor Senator
Hitchcock's fortunes. Gov. Edwards of
New Jersey received some attention, be-
cause he is accused of aiding Hitchcock
and the vets.
This course of the great commoner
has considerably uplifted the Hitchcock
cohorts. who had felt some little appre-
hension as to the effect of the Bryan in
vasion. Instead of giving the voters
some new material, the address merely
opening the way for campaign of per-
sonalities, which is going merrily on
now. and. in the judgment of outsiders,
| is doing the senator little harm and the
former Secretary of State little good.
One Phase Affects G. o. r.
One phase of the Bryan fight is
certain to affect the republican cam
paign to a considerable extent. Out
side of Douglas and Lancaster coun-
ties no registration of voters is re-
quired. This makes the primary in
| the country practically open. and
| there is a lot of country" in Ne
| braska. Campaign managers agree
that every effort will be made to turn
| the dry vote, regardless of its major
affiliation, to Bryan.
: A similar turn of the wet vote to
| Hitchcock is also looked for.
/ lican totals. but how it will affect
| the candidates can only be guessed
| at.
! Woods Claims Premature.
| One thing is certain. the Wood man.
! ayers are premature in their claims
that the sixteen delegates from this
! state will go TO him. Pershing is
| showing strength that was not con-
! ceded to him little while ago. and
| is now looming up as a formidable
contender for the honor. He has the
admitted advantage of being Ne
braska man, and the former service
. men are turning to him in great
{ numbers. His campaign is being ac-
| lively pushed by his friends, who are
not making claims, but who are ex-
pectant of victory.
| On the Johnson side of the fight
! great confidence prevails. Those who
are handling his interests are relying
on the farmer vote, particularly that
/ of the Non-Partisan League and the
labor vote. 1t is conceded that the
| Californian will get these latter ele-
ments. but a considerable part of the
| farmer vote is claimed for Pershing
| because of the announced support OF
| the Farmers Union, which is out
WardIy stronger in the state than the
| Non-Partisan League.
The Johnsonites are much encour-
| aged by the result of the vote In
south Dakota. insisting that it pre-
sages victory for them in Nebraska.
! I. w. MCCULLOUGH.