The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-01
"A WOOD "BONER?"
Generals Invasion of Favorite
Son States Causes Alarm.
Act as Bar on Late Ballots,
DOpesterS Believe.
MAY ADD TO ALLEN CHANCES
Candidates Managers Watch
Kansas Delegation.
Wood or johnson Won't Control
Convention, Indication Now.
MAY ADD TO ALLEN CHANCES
BY A. L. SHULTZ.

Application of the Kansas standard
of politics to the national situation
does not cause injury to the cause of
Governor Allen as a Republican dark
horse because of presidential prefer
ence primaries during the last week.
Returns from Ohio, New Jersey,
Massachusetts. Idaho and Arkansas
only strengthen established convic-
lions that the nominee is to be chosen
after the delegates reach Chicago
probably from the field of present out
side possibilities.
| General Woods running in Ohio
and New Jersey won acclaim from
surface observers. But the men who
do the real deep sea thinking in poll
tics are not so certain that Wood has
really gained ground because of his
showing. The New Jersey situation
has broken down every apparent
chance for a Wood-Johnson agree
ment in Chicago on the ground of
former Roosevelt associations. Woods
vote in Ohio was remarkable, but
| Woods Ohio campaign is a bar to any
Harding strength which might go to
the army chieftain after the early
! ballots.
Woods Policy Causes Alarm.
It was the policy of the Wood man
agement in putting his name on the
/ the son states lHdl
| is now causing alarm. Wood gath
cred some votes in Illinois, but he did
| not gain the friendship of Lowden
supporters when he made a vigorous
| campaign in the Illinois governor S
| home state. The same situation pre-
walls in reference to Governor Cool
idge's support in Massachusetts.
Neither Lowden, Harding nor Coolidge
are likely to act as cheer leaders for
| the Wood crowd in event one or all
of the three should be unable to win.
1t will require a court order to send
| their strength to Wood.
All of these things may add to Gov
ernor Aliens chances in Chicago. The
governors preference is General
Wood, but he has fatty declined to
make Wood speeches in the states of
any of the numerous favorite sons
Inability of Wood to win would logi-
cally throw his deliverable strength to
Allen. On the other hand the Kansas
governor will be able to pick up much
Independent strength and might be
able to land delegates friendly to
either Harding, Lowden or Coolidge
but who would fatty refuse to go to
Wood
Look to Kansas Delegation.
The political faux pas of the Wood
managers in going into Illinois, Ohio
and Massachusetts, has been the sub
ject of nationwide continent. Should
General Woods vote from these states
be sufficient to give him the nomina-
ton early in the convention, he would
profit thru the move. At this time
however, there is seemingly no posi-
bility that any candidate Will be with
in gun shot of the domination on the
first-probably even the second OF
third-roll call. Elimination of some
of the weaker possibilities in the earl,
voting would scatter their delegates
but the psychology of the campaign
has not been such as to indicate ina
the swing would be to Wood.
In consequence of the present out
look the action of the Kansas delega
ton in Chicago becomes matter o
more than general concern. Governor
Aliens personal fidelity to Wood i
expected to insure for him the ouil
| of transferable Wood strength, should
the general fail to land The actor
of the twenty Kansas delegates pre-
. ceding such a possible situation viii
be watched with real concern by man
ayers of all other candidates.
Agreement Falls Thru.
On the face of flat personal prefer
ence, General Wood has from five t.
eight votes on the delegation. Woo
supporters have urged that the full
Kansas delegation vote for the genera
in order to insure his support of Coy
Il ernor Allen should he develop strength
later in the game. Yet, such actor
might place Governor Allen in mucl
1.-THE same situation which has con
fronted General Wood in his relation
with other candidates. If Kansas re
fuses votes to other candidates on tn
early ballots, the other candidate
easily would find an alibi in de
clinipg to cheer for Allen later in h
battle. Thus, the serious side of smar
politics is to be determined by til
Kansas delegation and the party lead
ers sometime between now and tn
first roll call,
Several Kansans recently forecast
4 Wood-Johnson agreement because c
former Roosevelt associations. Such
combination might hold the veto powe
/ of the national convention.
If such an agreement were possibl
sixty days ago, it is now almost be
yond the realm of consideration. TIL
Johnson and Wood forces did nc
come out of the South Dakota pr
maries in good humor. There was
decided slump in brotherly relation
after the Michigan returns. No
Johnson's managers openly charge TIL
Wood forces with stealing the Ne
Jersey primaries and will contest til
vote in several counties.
Lowden Gathers Strength.
Seemingly it all means that Johnso
must win without Wood and Woo
must win without Johnson Bot
might throw strength to Governor A
len who was a leader in the Rooseye
organization and is on friendly tern
with both of the candidates. Thel
1 is a strong belief that Senator KIND
of Pennsylvania is to be the residual
legatee of johnson if the California
is unable to corral a majority of II
I national delegates. Knox's prospec
4 might not be increased in view of tt
fact that Governor Sproul is in Il
& dark horse class johnson delegate
] who would naturally balk on a blank
1 delivery to Knox. might be classed l
! favorable to Allen more than any OF
other candidate.
It is quite clear that the last wee
E has not materially improved IL
4 chances of either Wood or Johnsc
to control the convention. Lowdt
has recently picked up the Iowa del
4 cation and the bulk of the Arkans;
Il delegation. johnson has gathert
Il some natural votes in the far west b