The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-04-30
CLAIMS JOHNSON
IS BIG WINNER
Californian Wins in
Eastern Primaries
Says Nourse
By JAMES K. NOURSE
(Staff correspondent Universal
Service)


Service)
WASHINGTON. - Senator Hiram
Johnson is the big winner in Tues
days primaries in Ohio and New Jer-
sey. Not alone by the size of the
vote given him nor by the number
Of delegates elected under pledges
to support him in the Chicago con-
vention, but by the eliminating ef-
feet Of his big vote on the Wood and
Harding candidates. is the triumph
of the California senator to be
measured.
Both Wood and Harding were suf-
ferers in Tuesdays elections. Hard
ing's plurality in his own state over
Wood is not large enough to con-
vince even the most hardened of the
old guard manipulators that he is
the man upon whom they can con-
centrate in order to keep Johnson
from getting the nomination. The
plurality given Harding is almost
equal to the number of written in"
votes given Johnson, therefore, it is
impossible to escape the conclusion
that if the votes had not been given
to Johnson, Wood would have tri-
umphed over Harding.
On the other hand, Woods vote
in Ohio is unconvincing, and his
failure to sweep New Jersey with
the al dof the most intensive fight
on his behalf by the Republican ma
chine was a distinct disappointment
to his supporters here. Wood APP
parently has carried New Jersey, but
by a plurality SO small that it af-
fords little comfort to his candidacy.
The big fact that stands out above
every other consideration in the re-
suits as they were viewed by party
leaders here is that the New Jersey
primary has fully demonstrated that
Johnson can get the votes of the
east as well as of the west. His big
vote in Jersey ha exploded the
myth that his candidacy is restrict
ed to the Pacific coast, that it is not
nationwide in scope, and is not of
such nature IS to cause real con-
Germ to the old-line leaders who have
set out to deprive him of the nomi-
nation.
Johnson has demonstrated that as
a vote getter he runs just as strong
ly In the states of the east as those
of the west, and that wherever, he
can make himself heard he can get |
the votes
For weeks the Wood boomers
have heralded that the Jersey cleo
ton would be the supreme test"
They declared it would show that
Johnson's candidacy was purely To-
cal and that he could not get the |
votes of the east.
Johnson has met the supreme
test 1t appears, and what was to
have been the great demonstration
of Woods vote getting ability was
a flivver.
Another big feature of the results
is that Johnson has smashed the
in New Jersey just as he
did in Michigan, in Minnesota, in
South Dakota and in Nebraska. In
every one of these states the ma
chine lined up in support of General
Wood. Johnson drew to himself the
voters who were tired of machine
control and desired the right of in
of expression.
Even if Johnson had captured no
delegates at all in New Jersey, his
zig vote there has had the effect of
tirring up the machine leaders as
hey have never been stirred before.
n the cloakrooms of the house and
enate New Jersey politicians ex-
ressed their amazement at the re-
ults. Senators Frelinghuysen and
ldge declined to make any comment.
UGH men as Representative Lehl-
ack and Alderman confessed
themselves stunned by the amazing
esult of Johnsons brief campaign
1 their state.
Among old-line leaders from !:
Their eastern states the result was
0 less astounding. They had looked
pom Harding, for example, as a
safe" candidate to whom they
ould go when the proper time came.
he Ohio result in measure has
estroyed their ideals. Not only II
food, but Harding, the man in re- II
rive, has been checked on the way II
J the nomination.
Next weeks primaries in Mary
nd, Indiana and California are ex-
'cted to yield satisfactory results
r Johnson. His managers claim
will carry all three states. The
God supporters, after a most ex-
nsive campaignin Indiana, practi-
lily concede they will lose and that
9 state will go for Johnson. The
me is true Of Maryland. In Mary
nd and Indiana, Johnson again is j
ttling the machine, which is lined H
solidly behind Wood.
Johnson's supporters also obtained