Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-05
C. @. GROPES
ABOUT IN DARK
WITH NOLEADER
Free-for-AlI Promised at Con
vention, Anybody Being
FavOrite.
DARK HORSE PROBABLE

the unprecedented OUTSTANDING lSd-
lures of the republican situation to-
day on the eve of convention week:
From the practical political stand
point the convention is leaderless
and the incoming delegates show
general symptoms of bewilderment.
Any one of the eight prominently men
toned presidential candidates is an actual
possibility, although the weeks develop
ments have badly shufied the cards Of
Lowden and Wood.
dark horse is not improbable; prob
ably not more than third OF the total
number of delegates of 9s4 are actually
under pledge. and many OF these pledges
are wobbly
ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTING
TO PARTY'S CONFUSION.
The prevailing confusion is a broth
brewed OF these elements:
The primary system. the death of Col.
Theodore Roosevelt Senator Penrose's
Illness, the strange mixup Of the southern
delegates. who Of late years have been
delivered" at the psychological moment
by Frank Hitchcock; party disputes con-
cernning the form OF the treaty OF peace
and pre- eminently the failure OF any
strong hand to assert general party Goa
troll.
How 10 hold and swing this amazingly
confused mass is the problem facing ma
chine leaders who have never before par
ticipated In a republican convention that
did not respond 10 the dictates OF one or
more dominating practical leaders.
The best they can predict now is that
the convention will take form. that leader
ship will assert itself and sentiment for
candidate consolidate upon the shoul-
ders Of man who viii satisfy.
y. y. DELEGATION
CITED AS EXAMPLE.
The New York delegation is a case in
point. though it exaggerates the situation.
II numbers Ss.
They viii arrive Sunday.
They are unplodged. except as they are
expected 10 yield the usual ''fayorite son"
honors on the hrst ballot
A meeting Of the delegation will be
held Monday to canvass the candidates.
But there Is no pronounced leader and
after President Nicholas Murray Butler
has been paid his compliment, the mem
hers are likely to be free 10 drift with
the prevailing political winds
John W Dwight. a district delegate
from New York. who has been attending
political conventions since 1SSO. said to-
day:
Il have never seen such wide open
convention.
Each candidate will have hts chance
here
II enjoy the situation, believe It is a
healthy condition.
Il believe there are 600 unlnstructed
delegates at this convention"
HARDING MEN CERTAIN.
SOS JOHNSON CAMP.
Although the Pennsylvania delegation
Of 20 Is under Instructions TO cast its
hrst ballot for GOV Sproul Of that state.
with sproul definitely under pledge TO
carry through the wishes OF senator Pen
rose. no one knows exactly which can
didate this tower Of strength VIII prop,
but today as yesterday, the tip was
strong that Senator Harding OF Ohio
could have It II he needed it to go over
the top.
Senator Hiram Johnson is not known to
be at peace with eastern republicans of
power. but his friends here, and they are
numerous. are lighting desperately for
him as the man who can win the cleo
tion next fail"
Lowden. Wood, Johnson and Poin-
dexter are making a determined fight on
the ground.
Delegates are under terrific pressure
from each of them, the former three hop
ing for a quick decision when ballot
ing starts next Friday.
POINDExTER FIGURES
ON LATE RESULTS.
Poindexter appears to be hoping for
late result.
The same is true OF Harding, who
will come in late Sunday or Monday
morning, without fireworks.
Butler men are doing little active
work on the ground.
Cooldge's friends are moderately active.
Hoover is distinctly receptive can
didate. his legion of local workers say,
as they go about from buttonhole TO
buttonhole talking of him as a man of
works." and high distinction"
This is a peculiarly quiet work, the
psychology of which rests upon the power
of calm persuasion.
Wood has less than 200 instructed
delegates; johnson has little more than
100 instructed delegates, and the third
member of the "big three Gov. Low
den, has about the same.
The rest are spit up among tne Va
rious favorite sons whose supporters are
not pledged after the first several bal
lots.
After the first ballots, these delegates
are In imminent danger of splitting up
into small groups so numerous that to
weld them together in a cohesive. voting
mass will be a herculean task.
MANY LOOKING AT
PENROSE MANTLE,
Half dozen men are ambitious to fall
heir to the job of the straw boss lying
on a sick bed in Philadelphia.
Not ore of them can muster sufficient