New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Harding Plans
Campaign in
Only 4 States
Ohio Senator's Manager An
nounces No Attempt Will
Be Made to Capture Mich
igan's Thirty Delegates
Hopes To Be I'd Choice
Primary Fights To Be Staged
in Ohio, Indiana, Ken.
lucky and West Virginia

From The T~i,rane's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator
Warren G. Harding. of Ohio, is not go
ing to the Chicago convention next
June with bruises and bumps from
states that hold Presidential prefer
ence primary elections. His plans are
to start the big convention fight with
. comparatively small number of dele
rstes-in the neighborhood of 100
snd a record of no defeats in the pri-
mares.
That Senator Harding will confne
his campaign to very restricted area
was demonstrated to-day, when his
manager, Harry NJ. Daugherty, an
nounced that the Harding people will
not make the race in Michigan, which
holds its primary on April 5. The ex
cuse given was that the election is too
close at hand for the Senator to make
8 vigorous campaign. Mr. Daugherty
explained also that Senator Harding
is making fight in a number Of other
primary states, and that since there
are twenty all told it is impossible to
enter everywhere.
In remaining out of Michigan the
Harding people are making a bid for
second choice. Mr.. Daugherty closes
his letter TO Burt d. Cady, of Port
Huron, Republican State chairman of
Michigan, in which he announces Sem
ator Harding's plans with the follow
ing:
at IS our expectation and belief that
the delegates to be chosen in Michigan
will go 70 the national convention i'm
bued with the purpose to do that which
= teS- -cy-
and with this comfortable assurance we
will abide the choice of Michigan and
the judgment of its delegates"
Michigan will send thirty delegates
to the convention. 1t is not thought in
Republican circles here that Senator
Harding would pass up chance for
thirty delegates in an open state if
there was a chance for him to win in
the primary. Governor Lowden of
Illinois. Major General Leonard Wood
and Senator Johnson Of California are
out for the Michigan delegates.
Reports from disinterested sources
indicate that the contest now is neck
and neck between the Wood and Low
den forces, with Johnson running
strong, but third.
Since Michigan has no favorite son
IN the race and is excellent Republi-
can territory, being the birthplace
Of the party. it has been the hope Of
many Republicans here that Harding
would get into the primary so that it
could be honestly demonstrated to the
country which of the big four candi-
da,es IS most popular with the rank
and file
The Harding campaign, it develops,
viii be confined to four states-Ohio,
Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
kentucky selects its twenty-six dele
gates at q convention, which means
they viii be named by the political
bosses of the state. The bosses at the
moment are said to be divided among
Wood. Lowden and Harding. The
Harding people are hopeful of lining
up Kentucky, but A. T. Hert, who dom.
mates the Republican organization
there, IS understood to prefer an un-
instructed delegation.
1t has been announced at Harding
headquarters that no campaign will be
made in West Virginia, where Se..a.o,.
Suther!and is a favorite son. The u -
Virginia primary is set for Nav .L
Senator Sutherland, it is said. at the
proper moment will withdraw in favor
OF Harding. Senator Davis Elkins al
ready has declared for Harding. The
WOOD management is making fight for
the sixteen West Virginia delegates
ana Senator Johnson has indicated he
VIII enter the race. With the BACKING
o. o. Sutherland and Elkins, however. the
harding forces are confident Of success.
Senator iarding's real fight is in.
indiana, where all the "big four" can
oldates are entered. To get the Indiana
oelegatlon candidate must get a ma