New-York tribune., 1920-02-25
Hays Arouses
Wood Leaders.
Clash Averted
Report That Chairman Sent
Word to Idaho Favoring
Uninstrtscted Delegation
Precipitates Near Break

A clash between the manapcrs of tho
Leonard Wood campaign and Chairman
VIII III. Hays of the Republican Ma
tlonal Committee threatened yesterday
when Representative Norman j. Gould
the Wood Eastern manager, said that
advIces from Idaho indicated that
Chairman Hays had sent the word
along the line that delegates from that
state to the Chicago convention would
better go uninstructed.
"A delegate to the Idaho Republican
State Convention, a Wood man in his
sympathles, wrote Chairman Gould for
ADVICE. He said that at the state con-
Ventlon held on February 12 John w.
Hart, the national committeeman from
Idaho, had told him that he had re-
{urned recently from trip to New
YORK, where he had seen Chairman
Rays and that it was the wish of Mr..
Hays that the delegates from Idaho ro
10 10 the Chicago convention uninstructed
" men Mr.. Gould was asked yesterday
what Interpretation he placed upon the
aaVlce rom the Idaho inquirer he said:
really have no definite idea as to
some time ago stated in unmistakahle
terms that ne considered that as chair
man OF the National Committee it was
MS nusless to elect and not select. the
caholdates. Republicans everywhere
accepted that declaration as a clean
cut announcement of his policy and it
comTmended itself to the Judgment of all.
Surprised at Letter
IN view Of that policy, I am sur
prised that any one should have re-
celved from him advice or suggestion
or inference which would lead a na-
tional committeeman to saw that il is
Mr. Hays's wish that delegates should
go to the Chicago convention unin-
Sstructed. 1t is the first time that I
ii;nd "as9 dn,ai' meaid OF any suggestion of that
A'nq nv coming from Chairman Hays"
wi hat is is the policy of the Wood
managers with reference to obtain
ing support?" Mr. Gould was asked.
The Wood men want all tho SUPPORT
lot their candidate that they can get.
put from the beginning we have re-
framed from canvassing a state where
lnere was an unmistakable popular
cholce Tor some one other than Gen
eral Wood. In New Hampshire. fbr in
stance, all eight delegates are pledged
to General Wood, and in other states
"here there is no reason for our stay
ing out we have gone in and done the
best we could to win delegates.
III there is such policy, either de-
fined or understood, that the National
Committee desires delegations to 60 to
chicago uninstructed, it is new to us.
~ would seem to be in line with
the declared policy of Harry NJ Daugh
eerty,, ot Columbus, manager for Senator
Harding, who last week based his hone
or Landing the nomination for Senator
Harding on the result of round-table
conference. | have here the words of
Mr.. Daugherty, which, in the light of
our advices from Idaho, may possess
unusual significance.
Attitude Of Harding Men
"Mr. Daugherty said: L don't ex-
pect Senator Harding to be nominated
on the first, second or third or even
the fourth ballots, but l think we can
we'll afford to take our chances when
at about eleven minutes after 9 O'Clock
on Friday morning at the convention
nlteen or twenty men, somewhat weary,
are sitting around a table, and when
some one will say, "Well, who shall we
nominate?' At that time Senator Hard
lng's friends can suggest him. and can
afford to abide by the result. l don't
know but what / might suggest him
myself
My Interpretation of that statement
by Senator Harding's manager is that