Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-13
Michiean Surprises and Disappolntmcnts

Michigan Surprises and DiSappoiut nrnts
. EPUBLICANS and Democrats of tho
~ sovereign State of Michigan have upset
many political calculations and have given
the country the first straightout expression
OIL popular sentiment regarding candidates.
and issues since the pre-conycnti0n cam
paign started. The earlier contests were
moro or less indccsive for the very good
reason that the lines had not previously
been drawn and the field had not filed with
those who are seeking Endorsement for the
highest OF Offices in the republic.
AS is manifest Ia all observers the most
interesting of the Michigan results was the
overwhelming vote cast for Senator Hiram
Johnson by tho Republican voters and the
almost negligible vote cast for Attorney
General ~ Mitchell Palmer by the DEM
ocrats. Neither had been expected. except,
perhaps. by partisan workers. According to
all rules and regulations. General Wood was
to receive the support of the Michigan dele
CATION at Chicago and the Attorney General
the support of the Michigan delegation at
San Francisco
The Wood and Palmer people had nut
forward the most strenuous efforts in the
campaign throughout the State. The friends
Of the former had organized in every pre-
cinct and had poured money into Michigan
like water. The whole Democratic organza-
ton had gone over to Palmer and he had
been picked as an easy winner. But all this
awaited nothing. Johnson received almost
twice as many votes as did Wood, and
Palmer came through at the very end OF
his ticket
Politicians therefore. arc wondering what
the effect of this States vote will be on the
candidates. of these two men. The burden
ni opinion is that ii will gravely endanger
the candidacy of both. The Wood hacking
III this race is of a busnesslike sort. The
people who trained him are the kind who
must feed upon success il their enthusiasm
Is 10 be counted upon. AS long as he was
winning they were ready to put up larger
and larger sums of money i'll his behalf, hut
once reverses come, these supporters may he
expected To draw in their lines 1t need not
be surprising therefore. to lind the Wood
candidacy waning in the exact proportion
that JOhns0ns expands.
MIR. Palmer has suffered serious loss
of prestige. tnIess he can make Il favorable
showing elsewhere in the very near future,
he will soon be dismissed from the public
mind seriOns contender for the Dem
ocratic nomination. Tho truth is that he
has probably more active enemies through
out the country than any other Democrat,
save. perhaps, Air Bryan. and unless he cal
prove that lie also has corresponding num-
bcr OF friends. he cannot hope to make much
Impression upon party leaders. His failure
TO make even Il respectable showing in
Michigan, with all the odds i'll his favor. is
circumstance that cannot be minimized.
The Hiram Johnson candidacy will take
big leap forward as Il result OF his blood
less victory Without organization and
without money, he polled approximately as
many votes as all his competitors combined.
which is itself political phenomenon
worthy of the attention OF the whole coun-
try. He will so ahead with his smashing
campaign and. unless some means is found
of heading him of. he may appear at Chi
cage in June with all exceedingly danger
Gus lead 1t will be we'll for Republican
managers Ia keep their eyes fixed firmly
upon the Senator from California.
II l,nrI, linz IL