The New York herald., 1920-01-30
FAYORITE SONS GET
OUT OF WOODS WAY
Governors Sproul, Goodrich
and Coolidge Quit
Race.
STATE FIGHTS TO BEGIN
Lovden, of Illinois, Chief Opponent
of Leader, Who Gains
in Race.

The apparent collapse OF the scheme tc
deadlock the Republican National Conven-
ZION by 'favorite son" candidates, indi-
Gated by the more or less definite with
drawal of three Governors--william c.
Sproul. Of Pennsylvania: James N. Good
rich, of Indiana, and Calvin Coolidge. OF
Massachusetts,. has increased considerably
the chance of Major General Leonard
Wood getting the Republican nomination
according to the views OF Republican
leaders yesterday.
General Wood Is admittedly the leading
Z candidate and this opponents principal
hope in defeating him lay in the belief
that the vote at tho Republican conve,s-
ZION would be so split that General Wood
could not enter the convention with a
majority of the delegates or get a majority
on the early ballots. With a large field
, assured and the votes of a number OF i'm
1 portant States tied by candidates. OF
'favorite sons" managers of rival candi-
siateS could regard General Woods early
Aeaa with comparative Indifference
Situation VitsIIy Changed.
The opening of Massachusetts. Indiana
and Pennsylvania to a general contest for
delegates has altered the situation, and
political leaders not in the Wood move
! ment are wondering whether there is not
pnore than coincidence in the fact that
The Withdrawals of the three Governors
took place within three days.
Representative Norman ]. Gould, East
srn campaign manager for General Wood
said that the Wood forces win at once
anvade these three States. 1t already has
been decided that a fight for General
Mood will be made in Ohio, the home OF
Senator Warren G. Harding. With the
strength that is apparently already his
The addition of all or most of the dele
gates from these four States would put
General Wood far on the road to the
nomination.
General Wood spoke last night at Louis
vile, KY. and it was learned, with inter
est. that he was the guest of A. L
5Iert. national committeeman from
that State, while in that city. The posi-
tion of Mr.. Hert. who is chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Republican
National Committee and occupies a
place in the party of great strategical
advantage in addition. has not been
known. Mr.. Hert was said to have visited
General Wood at Chicago a few days age
and to have then invited General Wood
10 visit him.
Mr.. Hert has been a political ally OF
George w. Perkins, as a leading member
Of group OF Republicans who have done
much for the complete amalgamation OF
the old National Progressive party, fol-
lowing the Presidential campaign of 1916
The best information obtainable from
sources friendly to General Wood was
that neither Mr.. Hert nor Mr.. Perkins
had made a definite promise to support
him.
The supporters OF General Wood pro
, fessed to see in Governor Frank O. Low
den, OF Illinois. his most dangerous riva
for the nomination. and the fight for dele
gates between them was said to be keer
in the Middle West Other observers saw
in the situation the possibility OF Senator
Hiram w. johnson, of California, looming
up as the most serious contender next tC
\ General Wood. and professed to see in the
most recent developments a scheme to
head off Senator johnson from a favor
able position
Attention was called to the fact thai
Governors Sproul. Goodrich and Coolidge
: are from States east OF the Mississippi
River, where General Wood may be pre-
sumed to be strong. Their withdrawal
leaving out DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler
/ OF New York, and Senator Howard Suth-
erland, of West Virginia, whose candi
dacies seem to have made little genera
only General Wood, Governor Lowden
Senator Harding. Senator johnson. Sena
tor Poindexter OF Washington, and Gen
eral John J. Pershing.
With Senator Harding being opposed BY
General Wood in his own State, it was re
garded as significant that three of the
other four candidates left-Senator John
son, Senator Poindexter and General Per
shing-are from States west of the Missis
sippi. 1t was considered of particular sig
nificance that there had been no with
draWal of candidates in the West, wher,
Senator Johnson is believed to be strong.
Johnson for President Club.
a New York Johnson for President Clui
will be organized at a meeting In thu
Johnson headquarters at the Hotel Penn
sylvania- There is no doubt that Senator
Jolpson would be the overwhelming choic,
or the republicans for the nomination on
direct vote" said Angus McSween, tn,
Johnson Eastern campaign manager. "H'
viii come to the convention with NOR,
delegates from west of the Mississippi
than any other candidate. We are conf
dent that he will have as many delegate.
from east OF the Mississippi as any othel
candidate"
Representative Gould said that he hac
no knowledge Of when General Wood in
tended to resign from the army. Durinl
bis last visit here General Wood stated
4 mat ms military position prevented hin
+ from discussing political questions
II know that General Wood has had tn,
matter on his mind for some time" SAID
3 Mr.. Gould. Il have sought expressions oi
opinion on the matter from those who are
supporting him"
Mr.. Gould said that he would leave or
Sunday for Chicago for a conference with
4 General Wood and the leaders In the Wood
movement, and that the question of his
resignation undoubtedly would be dis.
cussed when they gathered on Monday
others expected at the conference will in
clude Colonel William Cooper Proctor
head OF the Wood organization, and Fred
Stanley, OF Kansas, and James j. Nc
Graw OF Oklahoma, who are managing
the Middle Western headquarters.