Americus times-recorder., 1920-05-30
JOHNSON MAY
Use STRENGTH
TOAD KENYON
If Hiram Sees He Can't
Win Himself, Iowa SEN
ator May Be Choice
BY H. N. RICKEY,
N. E. A. Staff Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, may 29.-Sena-
tor Kenyon of Iowa, as one of the
"dark horse" possibilities for the Re-
publican presidential nomination
ought not to be overlooked in an
alyzing what may happen at Chicago.
The junior senator from Iowa is
one of the closest personal and politi-
cal friends of Senator Johnson. He
is also one of the ablest and most
highly respected leaders of the pro-
gressive wing of the Republican
party.
If Johnson is as powerful an infu-
ence in the convention as it is gentr.
ally conceded he will be but is un-
able to force his own nomination,
there is good reason to believe that
he would throw his support to Kenyon
ahead of any other man.
While the reactionary and con-
servative leaders would not relish
having as progressive man as Ken
Won nominated, they might accept
him, under the fear that to nominate
one of their own kind would cause
a bolt and third ticket under john
son leadership.
Kenyon Didn't Bolt.
Kenyon's progressiveness is much
less radical in its manifestations than
is Johnson's. He is less objection
able to the cold guard" because he
refused to join in the Roosevelt
Johnson bolt in 1912. Also there is
not the flaw in his record of having
carried his own state for senator in
1915 by about 100000 plurality
while Hughes was losing it.
That California incident of four
years ago, which deprived the Repub-
icans of the victory that they fully
expected and thought themselves en-
titled to, is the one great obstacle to
Johnson's nomination.
His bolt in 1912 has been forgiiv-
en- if not forgotten, but that ne
should have presented the presidency
TO Wilson four vears later because
of personal grievance against
Hughes was too great party crime
TO be either forgiven or forgotten.
Kenvon's attitude toward the treaty
and League of Nations covenant Is
much more consistent with what u e
Republican platform will probably
saw on this subject than is johnson s.
He's Reservationist.
He supported the Lodge reserVa..
t;ons and voted with the majority OF
his Republican colleagues IN the SEN
ate to ratify the treaty and league
with the reservations.
Although there is much talk among
Republican progressive leaders apou'
Kopvon's candidacy. the Iowa sena-
tor himself is trying to discourage It,
He takes the position that he is 1or
Johnson and that to encourage talk
about himself even as the heir to the
Johnson strength would be dlsloyai.
On the assumption that majority
of the delegates to the Chicago con-
vention will be progressively lnclln,
ed. the nomination of Kenyon Woulo
he at least logical result.
Heads Doodle Probe
His senatorial record is as consist
only nrogressive as that of any man
in the upper house of Congress. ana ma
vet he has kept the progressive falth
without making himself personally or
noiiticallv obnoxious to the more
conservative elements of the party
As chairman of Senate commit
tee which is investigating the prl-
mary expenditures of Republican can
didates. Kenyon is an important tg-
urp and his friends are certain that
he will conduct the investigation with
such courage and independence as to
add to his already great prestige
among the progresslves.