The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-03

would have played some Of the big
cards during the Harding administra-
ton The story in political circles
since the Republican national conven-
ton in Chicago in June, was to the ef-
feet that Hamon was the '-angeft in
the Harding campaign He was
known by every Republican leader in
the nation. loved the political game.
was a born fighter and wizard in
organization work
There has been lots of sIobber stuff
since Jake lannon's death Once the
new 4congreSswoman from Oklahoma
threatened to inundats the IoWIands
with her references to supreme wrath
But in the man the folks who knew
Jake HamOn have merely been sorry.
He held the admiration of those who
fought with him and the undying re-
spect Of those who were SO unfortu-
nate as to be on the opposite side
'.Angel' Acr in Chicago.
But the real story OF Jake Hamon
seems to be his "augeI' act in Chica go.
And Hamon never posed as an angel.
either. He was just he man
When the Oklahoma delegation went
to Chicago in June, HaIpon went into
the convention with those tea votes
nailed down for Governor LoWden- At
the end of the first days baIIoting. It
was evident that the convention had
roped and tied General Wood so far
as his ability to secure a majority of
the delegates was concerned 1t was
almost equally certain that Governor
Lowden couldn't win
That night the famous senate eau
Gus was held in the BLACKSTONE hotel
Jake Hamon was in close touch with
the caucus action The leaders agreed
that the first move would be the COM
plete elimination Of Wood. If Lowden
failed to develop. the swing would be
to Harding If he couldn't win. then
the convention was 10 adjourn-preb-
ably over Sunday-and seek a new
contender for the presidency
No One Was Sure.
1t was all speculative There were
so many ifs in the agreement that no
one was right sure Just what might
happen. No one could be certain as
to just the strength which might be
developed behind Harding
Before the convention met that Sat
urday morning. Jake Hamon walked
into the Harding headquarters in the
Congress hotel. He went to Harry
Daugherty, campaign manager for
Harding
Have you enough money to pay
the bills?" asked Hamon-
Daugherty admitted the Harding
campaign fund had a deficit of s3s.-
000- Financially. the Harding stock
wasn't a furore on presidential row
viii that pay the bill 90 asked the
OkIahoman.
Daugherty said it would But he
didn't gain comfort in the remark.
Gave His Personal Check.
Then Hamon walked over to q
desk. wrote his personal check, handed
it TO Daugherty and started to the
coliseum That was an hour before
the convention got under way and
nearly ten hours before Harding final
Iy won the nomination Maybe it
was lannon's "hunch" on playing a
winner. Maybe. That day the Okla
hoHla delegation swung behind Hard
ing Then came Kansas and Missouri,
Iowa and the big down east states
and late that afternoon Harding won-
But long before he won. Jake Hamon
had paid off the overdraft-
1t was largely Jake lannon's organ
ization work that put Oklahoma in
the Republican column last month
Had the national committeeman lived
he would without question have been
administration spokesman for a large
section of the southwest country.