The Washington herald., 1920-05-03
Republicans Believe Battle
Has Harmonized Party
Politics. :.
WARY GAME PLAYED
Wood Managers Shrewdl,
Placed Both Sides on
Campaign Committee.
fBy . star cerrespendent.)

Baltimore. Nd, May 2.-The cli-
max of the Maryland Republican
Presidential contest comes tomor-
row, after a fortnight Of as swift
and hard a fight as has been OBJ
served in many a day.
Forth last month, the Republi-
can leaders have been on tenter-
hooks. but until April II. no overt
act" of either faction appeared to
justify open hostilities in the battle
of the ballots, between the forces
of Gen. Leonard Wood and Senator
Hiram w. johnson, the only candi-
dates entering the State.
Forces StrategicalIy Placed.
In the meanwhile, like a wary SOL
dier. Gen. Wood had his forces
strategically placed, and his ammu-
milton well in hand; his papers for
filing as a candidate for the Presi-
dency were in the possession of the
organization secretary, Lieut.. COLI
John Philip Hill, ready for immedi-
ate use. provided the johnson forces
filed. though it was hoped that there
would be no contest.
For two weeks this "watchful
waiting" proceeded. and then, on
April Is. word came that DIR. w. L.
Robbins, of Washington. represent
ing Senator Johnson, had left the
Capital for Annapolis, for the pur-
pose of filing the Senator's papers,
and Col. Hill advanced in battle
formation to nacet the Offensive"
with tho Wood papers
Suspended Filing Application.
However, when DR.. Robbins
reached Annapolis, he was met by
Representative Elston with a tcle-
gram from Senator Johnson sus-
pending the filing. and instead DR..
Robbins obtained a sworn certifi-
cate from the clerk of the court
stating that the papers could be re-
ceived as late as five minutes be-
fore midnight Saturday, April II.
Fearing some Wild West Indian
address upon the part of the Cali
fornian. who perhaps had counted
upon lulling the suspicious of the
Wood forces until midnight, April
II had struck the hour barring fur
ther filing, the Wood papers were
deposited on Friday. April 16, fol-
lowed by the Johnson papers the
last day-the 18th. So the johnson
hoa nnohln m
Wood organization with having
filed first and thus forced the
fight" while the Wood people re-
tort that it was only because the
Johnsonians had started the BUSH
whacking.
Depended on Ability to Speak.
The fact appears that there was
never any question as to Senator
Johnson's intent to file. provided he
could arrange his itinerary, so as
to be able to speak in Maryland
during the contest. The suspension
of action. after DR.. Robbins had
actually reached Annapolis on April
15. was due to the uncertainty, still.
as to the candidates being able to
get to Maryland.
Senator Moses opened Gen. Woods
fight with a speech in Baltimore a
day or two after the filing-the
only speech made in Maryland dur
ing the contest, in Gen. Woods be-
half. by a man from outside the
State: all the rest of the campaign
for the general vas fought by local
or State Republicans: the entire or
Saniaztion of the State Central Com
mittee was back of Wood, and its
chairman. Galen l.. TAFT, became
the chairman of the Wood campaign
committee.
Harmony Now Reigns.
Probably nothing has entered
Maryland politics, for many a year.
that has had such a harmonizing
effect within the Republican party
as this warm contest between Re-
publican candidates for the highest
office in the land, though that is
paradoxical.
For some years the party has
been split into two factions-tha,
the leadership of Cover
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.