Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-05

In 1892 at Minneapolis no attention was
paid to the merits of any contest and
delegates were seated solely upon the
basis of the common preference which
they had with the national committee
men who awarded them their seats.
Twenty years later similar tactics were
pursued in Chicago-and student OF
political history may find something
worthy of reflection II he will scan the
election returns in those two years. so
ia tai to republican hopes.
1T Is true that the committee sits IN
the open with the paid agents of George
w. Perkins and others freely circulat-
ing through the committee room and
the ears of unsophisticated committee
men. With this exception the parallel
is perfect l strongly hope 1t will not
be carried to the election. as it was
eight and twenty-eight years ago..
II am saying this. of course. chiefly
Woods candidacy. But it all applies
equally to Senator Johnson and to Mr..
Hoover. who. with Gen. Wood. have
demonstrated the possession of popu-
lar support. i cannot tell how either
Senator Johnson or Mr.. Hoover would
comment upon the astounding AFRO
gance of what is now taking place
in the Coliseum anterooms: but /
know them well enough to know that
they would not for minute counter
ance in their own behalf the high
handed usurpation which the national
committee is setting up. and they
would be as quick as l to denounce
1t when practiced upon another. To
this 1 can only add that the Wood
strength plus the Johnson strength
easily controls the convention. and
while the national committee may be
too short-sighted to know that what
they are doing is making a coalition
of these two forces inevitable. there
are other people discerning enough to
see It,"
Chairman Hays Position.
After reading the statement issued
by Senator Moses. Will Hays. chair
man of the republican national COM
mittee. said:
Il have nothing to say-not word.
The action of the committee taken In
open session speaks for itself"
When Gen. Wood learned of Sena-
tor Moses announcement he issued a
statement saying he was "loath to
believe" that ANY selfish or personal
interest would be permitted to out
weigh those of the public good" in
the decisions handed down by the ma
that Chairman Hays is absolutely
fair in his handling of the situation"
He indicated that appeals would be
taken from any decisions OF the ma
, tional committee finally decided by
the Wood forces to be unjustifed.
From the Johnson camp came the
, declaration that Senator Moses posi-
ton indicated that both the Wood and
Johnson forces could be expected to
oppose nomination of any man named
by the "old guard" The friends OF
Senator johnson. however. secuted the
present possibility of coalition with
the Wood strength in the convention
in behalf Of either Wood or Johnson.
Platform Questions.
Personalities Of the battle were
mixed yesterday with principles. Sen
ator Johnson and Gov. Lowden out
lined their platform views, with the
former declaring the Johnson forces
would present plank opposing the
present league of nations.
for ratification. substantially with
the Lodge reservations
Regarding prohibition. Senator john
SON predicted it would not be men
toned. while Gov. Lowden declared
for enforcement Of the constitutional
amendment.
ut is part of the law" said Mr..
Lowden. "and I am not in favor of
attempting to evade that or any other
law. Whatever is necessary to make
1t effective should be done by legis-
lation or otherwise"
were discussed by Senator Johnson
who declared against ''dehumaniz-
ing" labor. Gov. Allen of Kansas
who will nominate Gen. Wood, an
nounced that he would urge his plan
for federal labor tribunal.
Gov. Lowden gave out another
statement repudiating delegates from
Missouri receiving Lowden funds,
and said there was a movement to
have them denied convention seats.
canon de Valera. president" Of the
Irish republic. arrived In Chicago
from New York and announced he
would attempt to obtain a plank in
the republican platform in favor of
the recognition by the United States
Of the Irish republic.
IT hope to see this plank introduced
into the platform of both parties"
Mr.. de Valera said.
AFTER this convention is over I
shall 60 to San Francisco to try to
get the democrats to adopt it."