Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-09
RIVAL CANDIDATES
USED AS PAWNS IN
POLITICIANS FIGHT
Penrose-Cr Group Takes
ControI-PIans to Put Over
Knox or SprouI.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
CHICAGO. June 9.-The inside story
of what is happening at the republican
national convention is a fascinating
battle between masterful politicians.
The candidates are only pawns. And
the most striking development is that
the real "Old Guard" namely Senator
Boies Penrose and his associates in the
senatorial group. including former
Senator Murray Crane of Massachu-
setts. hassquietly taken charge OF the
whole situation.
The key to 1t all lies in the hands of
the New York, Pennsylvania and Mas
sachusetts delegations, and the various
moves of the last twenty-four hours
indicate that Leonard Wood will be
eliminated by combination of john
son and Lowden strategists, then Low
den win be eliminated by coalition
of the same forces, assisted to some
extent by the defeated Wood lieuten-
ants, and the final effort to put Hiram
Johnson over will be made in all sin
cerity by the senatorial group. with
| the full expectation that the rank and
file of the New York, Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts, delegations will decline
to accept the California senator, leav-
ing the field to dark horse. who, at
| this writing. would appear to be
Philander Knox if Senator Johnson
will agree to run as Vice President, and
Gov. Sproul of Pennsylvania if Senator
johnson refuses to agree.
Frank Hitchcock Scores.
Considerable of a furry has fol-
Frank Hitchcock, leader of the Wood
forces, secured control of the creden-
tials committee. This veteran poll
tician quietly went to work in each
delegation three days ago and saw
to 1T that one of his own men was Sc
lected by each state to sit on that
credentials committee. With a ma
jority of thirty out of forty-eight
members, Mr.. Hitchcock would be
able to unseat many Lowden dele
gates who had been previously seated
by the national committee. But while
he is worrying Tobias Hert, the Low
den general, the latter will surely
carry the fight to the floor of the con-
vention if Hitchcock does attempt
rudely to throw out Lowden dele
gates. Nevertheless, a blow has been
suffered by Messrs. Hert and Will
Hays which may affect their prestige
in the convention. and corresponding
ly Mr.. Hitchcock's stock as leader
has gone up.
Parallel with the strategy whereby the
Wood forces routed the LoWden man.
ayers in the credentials committee is
another move, the significance Of which
| will be apparent as it is unfolded. Will
Hays, who is suspected by the Wood
forces of being too friendly to Lowden
was deserted at the last moment in his
attempt to make State Senator Ogden
Mills chairman of the resolutions COM
mittee. which drafts the platform. That
old guard veteran, Senator Jim Watson
| Of Indiana, took a fall out Of his rival
| Will Hays. by rolling Mills overheard
| with vote Of forty to three. Now
| where did Mr.. Watson get such an over
| whelming majority and how did Will
| Hays come to have so little influence
| in the choice of a chairman of resolu-
| tons committee?
The answer is simply that Frank
Hitchcock threw the support of all the
| Wood delegates on the resolutions COM
| mittee to Senator Watson Mr.. Mills
had counted on the help of Leonard
Wood delegates. but he was beaten by
! the old guard without trouble. For back
OF Senator Watson-indeed, back Of
every senator in this fights Senator
penrose OF Pennsylvania, who. through
the medium of a long-distance wire and
! trusted lieutenants. is simply spanking
the new "Old Guard" and teaching them
lessons in practical politics which they
Will not soon forget.
| See Knox ms Answer.
Now as to the nominee: Again one
must turn to the senior senator from
Pennsylvania for the answer His
statement that the republicans must
nominate a man who can win and
only one who is sure to win was. of
course. being construed by the sup
porters Of each candidate to mean
| their own man. but the writer has the
highest authority for the statement
that Senator Penrose believes the fol-
flowing men could win if nominated:
Senator Hiram johnson, put he can't
| be nominated.
Herbert Hoover. but he can't be
nominated.
Philander c. Knox. and he can be
nominated only If Senator johnson
agrees to accept him and run as Vice
President.
Gov. Sproul of Pennsylvania
There Is no doubt in my mind that
1.-THE "old guard" is very friendly to
johnson and believe him a remark
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