New-York tribune., 1920-01-09
King Retires
AS Leader of
Woods Forces
Action of Connecticut Com
mitteeman Is Result of a
Meeting Which Was Held
in Chicago Last Week
General Here Tomorrow
Hitchcock, Perkins, Hert
and Dan II. Hanna Said
to Have Forced the Issue

necticut, who for a year has taken the
lead in pledging prospective delegates,
national and state committeeman to
support General Leonard Wood for
President at the Republican National
Convention, has retired from active
participation in the Wood campaign.
His action, it was announced, followed
conference in Chicago yesterday and
the day before with General Wood,
William C. Proctor, president of the
Leonard Wood Campaign Committee,
and others
Mr.. King left Chicago yesterday for
New YORK; He is expected at his Of
flee in West Fortieth Street to- day.
General Wood, in order to get into
touch with his political supporters in
New York, will be here tomorrow for
a conference.
Kings Opponents
While no one connected with General
Wood's campaign will discuss the mat
ter it is the opinion of local politi-
clans that the withdrawal of Mr.. King
can be attributed to combined pressure
from influential men, including promi-
nent Republicans in Mr. Kings own
state, who object to the leadership of
Mr.. King in the General Wood canvass.
1t is believed the objectors to MIR. King
included Dan R.. Hanna, of Cleveland;
Frank H. Hitchcock, former chairman
of the national committee; George w.
Perkins, the former Progressive leader
and prominently identified with the
United States Steel Corporation and
the international Harvester Company,
and A. r. Hert, of Louisville, national
committeeman from Kentucky.
Messrs. Hitchcock, Perkins, Hert and
Hanna have, for the last few months,
been in correspondence with prospec-
tive delegates. 1t is the guess of local
not assent to the dropping overheard"
of Mr.. King, although it is understood
that the bulk of the pre-convention
| campaign work from now on will be
done by the Leonard Wood League, of
which Colonel W. c. Proctor. of Gin
cnnati, is president. The New York
headquarters of the league is at the
Imperial Hotel, on Broadway.
The retirement Of Mr.. King is a sur
prise to local Republicans. How far
his withdrawal will demoralize the
Wood following, if indeed it affects it |
materially, can only be surmised. Ever
since the organization of the National |
Leonard Wood League there has been
more or less confusion, and in some in
stances friction, over the fact that mem.
bers of the league in thirty states
organized by Mr.. King, with the result /
that appeals would be made either to
| Colonel Proctor, Mr. King or to Gen
eral Wood himself, asking about "who's |
who" in the Wood campaign.
Climax Reached
| The climax was reached in Chicago
this week, when Republicans from all
the Middle Western States attended the
Chairman Hays, Colonel Proctor, Mr.
King, and perhaps a dozen national
| committeeman were on hand. 1t is un-
derstood that Mr. King asked to have
his status defined, and when it became
apparent that the rapid spread of SEN
timent for General Wood demanded the
quick handling of it by u national or
ganization formed on the lines of the
Leonard Wood League, Mr.. King decid
ed that he would retire. His resigna-
tion was confirmed last night at the
Office of Frederick Moore. director of
publicity for the Leonard Wood League
In reply to direct questions Mr.. Moore
said:
"In my opinion the support which
has come to the General Wood cam
paign from every quarter of the coun-
Wy mas btcl 90 cHLcuSlNc JNdt IL mas }
temporarily overwhelmed Mr. King and /
Mr.. Proctor. When recently saw Mr..
King in New York before his departure
for Chicago he not only seemed over
worked but said he was fatgucd. Re
Gently he said the support which was
coming to General Wood through him
had amazed him and that it had como
too fast for him. | saw on my recent
visit to Chicago that it also was com
Ing too fast for Colonel Proctor, who
had hardly sufficient time to give to
the numerous supporters who were
coming to the newly opened Wood
headquarters from all parts Of the
country.
at is my opinion that the action of
Mr.. King is temporary thing, because
| know that his successful work has
been fully appreciated by all the mem
bers of the Wood campaign committee.
I believe that AS soon as Mr.. King has
seen General Wood again he will Join
in the tremendously successful move
ment in behalf Of the general.
Zone of the most important ncwspa
per editors in this country said to me
only last week after tour of various
states that he had never seen a finer
class of strong, clear thinking
truly patriotic Americans rally to
the support of any Presidential candi-
date in the way that they have sprung
up to support the candidacy of General
Wood, and this he stated, was remark
able In view Of the rcmotencss Of the
election" Wv
Mrs. 1lOvd Ceoroa ToL. Co.