The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-02
BOOM FOR HUGHES AS DARK HORSE IS
 YOUNG BUT STRONG
Campaign Fund sS citations Regarded as linating Both Wood s lowden,
 Johnson e Lead
By CLINT GILBERT

By CLINT GILBERT
 waskfngton, s 1--tspeciaD.--- The name of Charles E. Hughes is be- ing brought forward by Republican leaders in Washington as the dark horse candidate at Chicago. He has been suggested by the group that ex- pected to swing to either Lowden or Harding before the Ohio governors boom collapsed utterly and before the Kenyon committee investigations made the Illinois governors nomination doubtful.
 Hughes is the choice just now of
 m unorganized group, strongly
 represented in the United States,
 which Is not cooperating with the
 Penrose- -WatsOn-Jo ohnson combina-
 tion, whose aim is ostensibIy to
 nominate Knox, rather doubtfuIiy
 to nominate Johnson, but in any
 event to hold the balance of pow
 CT in the convention and in the
 end choose the candidate.
 One weakness of the Hughes sug- gestion is that it will hardly be ac- ceptable to this combination, as Pen- rose never favored Hughes in 1916. |. is difficult to think oI Johnson hay ing a hand in the nomination of Hughes. although with some of the senators who are discussing Hughes hopefully the favorite idea is a Hughes Johnson ticket
 UTTERLY IN DARK
 The truth is that because of Sen-
 atOr kenyOn's campaign fund i'm
 vesttgatfOns the republican pVlfti-
 cimns have been groping for a cam
 dfdnte. They are utterly in the
 dark. There has not been in
 generation republican convention
 so lacking in programme plans as
 this. Of leadership there Is none.
 The only man capable of leader
 ship is seriously III. His presence
 nt Chicago Is doubtful. His own
 power appears to be slipping.
 On top of thls has come the cam paign fund revelations which Wash inglon regards as eliminating both Wood and Lowden. either of whom might have been acceptable to the old line republicans if they failed to find some one more to their liking at Chicago.
 What the Hughes proposers are look ing for is some one with whom to head off Johnson. They say bravely enough that Johnson has been hoisted by his own petard. They emphasize Johnsons own expenditure of 3200, 900, but they admit his power, the talk about his plan to go upon the floor of the convention itself. They recog nize that he helped himself by his public pledge not to bolt.
 JOHNSON BULKS LARGE
 I repeat all these things, not as inn pressive arguments for Johnsons nom- ination. but to show how large John- son bulks in the republican conscious ness. Of the leading candidates who have gone through the primaries he is the only one whose name is heard constantly mentioned in the discussion of candidates. One of the groups which it's hopes upon cooperation with John- son. And the group less organized aims. not quite consciously, to find a man to beat Johnson.
 So far as one can judge from Wash ington, the overwhelming sentiment of the party is against Johnson. But it is an unorganized sentiment. It has not a candidate unless Johnson him. self turns in and helps to nominate Seas tor Knox, or unless the Hughes suggestion gains sufficient favor to win. Against this still unorganized sentiment is arrayed vigorous and effective leader in the person of John son himself, who has one argument that Is not easily disposed of, namely. that he is a good vote getter.
 FAVORED BY FEW
 Many want him on the ticket as vice president. Few want him there as presi- dent. It will be interesting to see how this contest works out. It is the req issue in the republican party today.
 The chief support of Hughes comes from Senator Shoot of Utah, who led the movement for Hughes within the organi- zation in 1916 Shoot is conservative Perhaps next to Penrose, he represents the sentiment of the business interests in the republican party. Indeed 1t is q question whether he does not represent it better than Penrose does today. The Smoot group is strongly anti-John- son. It wants candidate who has mol been mixed up in the primary cam paigns It wants one - distinctly ol presidential statue, man who coni mands public respect, who is not identi fled with any faction in the republican party It is argued that Hughes has at these qualifications
 The Hughes boom is new. Before it is 24 hours old Washington will ring witf reasons why he cannot De nOinlndt-u For example, there is the treaty issue If either Hughes. or Lenroot, or Johnson is brought forward at Chicago, Borah, foi Johnson, will make a bitter fight on hin as a mild reservationist. The convention Is likely to have one idea-that 1t must have Johnson and Borah on the stumr for the candidate this fall. Johnson has said he will not bolt. but the part, wants something Hmore than merei, negative attitude from him. As has beer said in this correspondence. the repuo lican Senate managers. by starring John son in the treaty contest and by givina him the campaign expenditures commit tee. have brought about a situation II which Johnson has the party by the tail
 WHERE HE IS WEAK
 And then weakness of Hughes is likeis to be his legal activities since his defeat in 1916. Being on the unpopular sidt of law case does not condemn law yer. but it is something to explain ava, in campaign. And Mir. Hughes Is coun- sel for the American Woolen Companj in it's attack upon the Lever act. and fol
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