The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-05
In State Politics
ALLEN OUT OF IT?
Belief That Wood Nomination
May Hurt His Chances.
Doubtful Effect as "Dark Horse"
When Behind General.
ELIMINATE COURT ARGUMENT
Wise Men Say Wood Supporters
Are Afraid of Unions.
Governor Says He Win Not Run
for Vice President.
ELIMINATE COURT ARGUMENT
BY A. L. SHULTZ.

Governor Aliens action in accepting
the invitation to nominate Gen. Leon
ard Wood did not improve his chances
as dark horse. That is the opinion
as expressed by close political observ-
ers in Kansas. They feel that the ac-
ton may force the governor to accept
Wood as the nominee as his sole joy
and comfort from the convention. On
the other hand there is an added i'm
preston that failure of Wood may
spell defeat of the Alien chances.
For several weeks the smart men in
politics in this state have been pull
ing for an opportunity which would
enable Governor Allen to win the floor
and speak to the convention. But
these men wanted the governor to talk
about the industrial situation, the new
Kansas labor law and the problem
now before the nation.
Now the governor is to nominate
Wood. He is certain of his chance to
speak. But his nominating speech is
| likely to bar him from a further op-
portunity to talk! On the other hand
his references to the industrial court
law and the labor situation are certain
to be carefully and prayerfully edited
| by the Wood managers many hours
before the big flag waving day in the
convention.
Love and Fear Allen.
| forces are anxious to win the benefits
| of Aliens oratory, but are not counting
the hostility of labor, which is certain
| to go with a serious mention of the
industrial problem in the nominating
| speech. Such a conviction by the
Wood managers would bar Governor
| Aliens real speech from the conven-
ton. To mention the industrial court
| in the speech might easily attach the
responsibility of such a tribunal to
Wood in event of his nomination.
On the other hand the jump out of
| the frying pan might be directly into
the fire. If Wood is due to win the
enmity of labor thru a pronouncement
Iof Aliens well known position, he
might lose support of the employer
| or capital class by sidestepping the
issue. In short il Allen dominates
Wood and makes no mention to his
views of the needed national reform,
the delegations opposing radical or
| ganized labor forces might refuse to
support Wood for fear of a straddle.
Every man active in state politics
who has visited Topeka in the last few
days has asked one question: How
will Henry's nomination of Wood af-
| feet his own chances?"s
Won't Help His Chances.
There are scores of answers. But
| the wise men in state politics and the
friends of Governor Allen are not con-
benefit. While the action does not
preclude all chances of Allen winning.
there is feeling that the nominating
speech will not help.
Many Kansans have felt that should
Wood win the presidential nomination
he would force the acceptance of AL
| len for second place. Such action is
not regarded as probable. Politics
and legislation are matters of COM
promise. If Wood lands the presiden-
tial nomination, the effort to placate
| the losers would doubtless result in
nomination of one of their number.
Anyway. a Washington quotation says
Allen will not accept second place.
Again. Wood and Allen are former
| Roosevelt supporters. 1t isn't at all
likely that the standpats will go out
of the meeting without some trophy
of the day. And second place-always
better than nothing-would be their
natural meat if the old crowd failed
to win first prize. The convention
leaders are playing their cards too
| close to their vest fronts to permit
both places to go to either faction.
| Consequently Allen apparently mus
be eliminated if Wood wins.
| If Wood Should Lose.
| Should Wood lose first place, the
| question of Allen taking either firsl
or second comes in for consideration.
I