Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-07
Old Leaders Pass and New
Ones Lack Force of
Cohesive Action.
PLATFORM TALK MERELY
| SCREEN TO HIDE CHAOS
Bewildered Delegates Wandering
About Hotel Lobbies, While
Former Bosses Smile.
BY the Associated Press.


have appeared today in the conven-
ton lineup and none are expected.
twenty hours before the convention
assemblies it is an absolutely unboss-
ed, unled affair. and as the bewil-
| dered delegates mill around the hotel
lobbies bewailing the absence Of lead
ership. the men who were the real
| leaders in the years gone by find
grim satisfaction in referring to the
charges of bossism which were so
freely hurled at them at former con-
] ventions. They are asking delegates
| II it is not better to be led than lost.
Fruitless Conferences.
Such overnight and early morning
conferences as were held were of the
same inconclusive natupe as those
which preceded them. and only served
| to strengthen the program Of letting
the convention learn by its prelimi-
nary ballots that none of the candi-
Gates now having the most delegates
| has enough to nominate him.
The so-called leaders are still ex-
planning to inquirers that attention is
/ now being concentrated on the plat
form. which they emphasize is very
important. The best informed OBJ
servers, however. see evidences that
this is merely screen to hide the fact
that the so-called leaders are no
| longer leaders.
The passing of the old line party
whips becomes more and more evil
dent. and has brought up an entirely
new crop of so-called leaders. many of
whom do not know one another. and
/ that is one of the things which ex-
plain the lack of cohesive action in
getting down to definite conclusions.
Waiting for First Ballot.
| No campaign manager has been
/ Q fc n
to go in with confidence for a real
test vote. Each one of them is wait
| ing for the first ballot to demonstrate
how good are the assurances he has
| received from the uninstructed dele
gates.
All the managers look for the first
| ballot to settle the outlook consider
ably for the big threV-Johnson, Low
den and Wood. They feel that the
| candidate who gets the, highest num-
ber will have a potential advantage,
| and the candidate who stands at the
bottom of the list will be decidedly on
| the defensive. The candidate who can
make 2 gain on the second ballot. the
managers feel, will provide his man.
| ager with very valuable ammunition
in rounding up things for the third.
Undercurrent Of Hughes Talk.
Dark horse talk was still in the
| background today, and there was a
strong undercurrent of Hughes talk.
Senator Borah of Idaho. one of the
| johnson supporters. said that as yet
he was not considering dark horses,
| but that he would regard Mr.. Hughes
as "a very formidable man." if the
dark horse stage were reached.
Today's business was largely among
| the state delegations, which were or
eanizing and electirg members to the
convention committees. Several good
| fights in the selection of national
committeeman were being staged.
The campaign managers and others
continue to get reflexes from the
Senate's campaign expenditures in
yestigation at Washington. Men who
are coming in from the states are
bringing the view that the conven-
tion might better find a candidate who
has not been mentioned in the inves-
| tigation at all. 1t was from such as
these that come most frequently the
names of Hughes. Gov. Coolidge and
others. who did not figure in any way
in the slush fund inquiry.s
Buffers Position.
The New York delegation postponed
| until Wednesday morning its discus
sion of candidates. The decision
was reached at the request of
Nicholas Murray Butler. who said that
he did not want to receive any COM
plimentary or 'favorite son" votes
Il want the New York delegates
to have chance to look over the
situation he said. Il have made it
plain that l am not seeking any COM
plimentary vote. This is no time for
paying compliments. 1 do not wish
any favorite son votes. / want only
the votes of those who have faith
in my candidacy and who sincerely
desire to support me. l am not willing
to be made pawn in any campaign
for the nomination for governor, or
any local political issue.
"As the situation has developed ii
seems not unlikely that the delegates
from New York. Pennsylvania. Indi-
ana and Iowa may figure prominently
in making the Anal decision. 1t is
for the New York delegates and not
for me to decide how best to use
their great opportunity to give to
New York again it's position of COM
manding leadership in the national
organization.
League Of Nations Plank,
The latest developments on the
league of nations plank in the plat
form are that progress is being made
toward agreement on a plank that
will satisfy those of us who have
been standing for the traditional re-
publican foreign policy. II those who
have been opposing any cooperation
between the United States and for
eign nations to promote the peace of
the world will accept such plank
we shall have no difference of opin-
ION anu Ho uSUdlc. IL uoWcNcI, tHo
contrary should be the case there will
be such a debate. and 1t will be con-
Quoted without any pussyfooting."
"All the big fellows will have their
trial heats but / don't see how they
are going to get by" said Gov.
Sproul, presidential candidate from
Pennsylvania. He had nothing to say
regarding his candidacy except that
things are going along nicely"
Gov Sproul said noticeable fea-
ture of the pre-convention hours was
the good feeling among the delega-
tions which led him to believe the
fight would not be protracted.
Rehearing for Contests.
The outlook has helped to enliven
the squabble over contested conven-'
ton seats and the struggle over per-
manent organization of the conven-
ton. At least some and possibly all
of the 1877 contests decided by the ma
tional committee will be brought be-
fore the credentials committee for a
rehearing and a few may be decided
finally on the convention floor itself
Most of the leaders agree that the
situation as regards platform at least
is beginning to take form. Only a
few of the more troublesome planks
remain to be agreed on. and although
some sharp struggles are in prospect.
no one seems to think that any OF
them will lead to serious conse-
quences.
There were indications today that
league of nations plank. over which
one of the bitterest convention fights
had been predicted, might soon be
given the approval Of all leaders ex.