The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-15
Republican Convention Ex-
pected To Be Lively Fight.
Even Conservatives Anticipate
Five or Six Ballots.
GIVES DARK HORSES CHANCE
Wood viii Go Into Meeting
With Field Against Him.
Allen to Control Kansas DeIega-
ton on Early Vote.
BY A. L. sHULTz

Political book keepers may be
wrong. but there is rather unani-
3 nous opinion that the man who goes
TO Chicago for the Republican national
convention in June will witness a
a show such as has not been staged
by the Republicans in a number of
years Even the hopefuls anticipate
five or six--maybe more-ballots be-
fore the party presidential candidate
is nominated.
That Gen. Leonard Wood will lead
the field on the first ballot is general
" accepted. He even may hold the
lead during the second and third roll
calls. Then. il Wood has not pulled
together a majority of delegates. the
wise dopesters put him in the discard.
II will be after the third ballot that
the runners-up and dark horses will
have their opportunity to show ability
to develop speed.
Field Against Wood.
with the convention little more
than three weeks away. it is clearly
apparent General Wood will go into
the fight with the field against him.
of the candidates whose names may
be given serious consideration on the
early ballots, none are expected to step
aside and start a wild parade around
the coliseum in behalf of the army
leader. on the other hand, the organ
ization ability of opposing candidates
viii be directed in a general effort to
pry loose the Wood support just as
soon as it is transferable.
Il is probable General Wood will
finish the first round of the fight with
ESQ to $50 votes. A slip in the more
conservative dope sheets might give
him 275 or 500 votes
Using the high figure as Woods
first ballot strength, he is starting
nearly geo votes short of a nomination
and with an opposition that is slated
to turn in any direction except to the
army chieftain. In the face of this
situation there seems little probability
that he will gain the needed votes be-
fore the big delegations from New
York, Pennsylvania. Ohio. Massachu-
sets and other states have felt out the
avowed contenders and looked over
the dark horse stable for finish heat
Must Win at Start.
Thus Wood, ' no seemingly holds
slightly more than one-fourth of the
voting strength of the convention.
must double his present power and
win before the smart organizers can
swing to some promising possibility
who can defeat him. Neither Lowden,
Johnson nor Harding may be expected
10 lose sleep because of the generals
need of a couple of hundred votes.
whether Governor Lowden of Illi-
nos or Senator Johnson of California
VIII be the chief contender with Cen
eral Wood on the first ballot is spec
ulatlve. There is a general impress
sion that Lowden friends will use the
building up process and conserve
strength to be turned to the Illinois
governor as the balloting progresses.
In this manner they hope to land If
the Wood organization is unable to
corral a convention majority in the
early fighting.
Split Story Attracts Attention.
The johnson organization will put
every ounce OF strength into every bal
lot according to the political wise
men In spite of Johnson's denials
that he will lead new party. if de-
MED the Republican nomination. the
story continues to attract attention. 1t
may be used to influence the tinpid
delegates who prefer to sign the deed
rather than face a repetition of the
family row of 1919.
Among the Kansas delegates to
\cago, Governor Aliens action and
wisNes will determine largely their
voti w in the early stages of the con
vention. Governor Allen in strongly
for General Wood. In consequence he
IS expected to deliver as many Kan
sas votes for Wood as possible. He
win doubtless control the ma jority on
the early ballots.
Not all Of the Kansas delegates tho,
are expected to go over to Wood on
any ballot. This situation remains in
spite of the frequently published re-
ports that Wood would have the solid
twenty from this state. Woods &C
tual strensth-based on a straight out
fight which might mean immediate
nomination-is five to seven votes on
the Kansas delegation.
In view of the fact that General
Wood will doubtless start with a little
more than one-fourth of the strength
of the convention. some of the friends
Of Governor Allen may contend with
him as to the wisdom of placing too