New-York tribune., 1920-04-29
Capital Is Convinced That
Republican Nominee
Will Be Picked After
DelegatesReachC Chicago
Harding ding Regarded
AS Out of Contest
Woods Hope Is in I'm.
pledged Votes; Jersey
Result Pleases Johnson
By Carter Field

From The 1rbunc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-Tues-
days primaries make it certain, ac-
cording to the best political judg-
ment here, that
The Republican nominee will be
selected by the convention after
the delegates have arrived at Chi
cago.
Senator Warren G. Harding has
been practically eliminated, even
as dark horse.
General Wood will stand or fall
according to the judgment of un-
pledged delegations, having lost
his chance of forcing a nomna-
tion on the first or second ballots
through selection of delegates by
primaries and conventions pledged
or known to be favorable to him.
Johnson Men Ehthuscd
Naturally the Hiram Johnson boost
ers are enthusiastic about the showing
made by the California Senator in New
Jersey, where they did not really hope
for success, but where he ran neck. and
neck with Wood. Coming on top Of
his tremendous majority in Michigan
and his victories in the Nebraska and
Montana primaries, the Johnson show
ing in New Jersey has inspired many
ff htc f.t>,, Il ,Al - Il
convention. may yet turn to him.
But every one comedies now that no
candidate will be within striking dis
tance Of the nomination so far as
pledged delegates are concerned, and
Johnson will have fewer delegates,
probably, than either Wood or Lowdcn,
with many more opponents with deep
rooted convictions and prejudices
against him than either General Wood
or the Illinois Governor.
Johnson's nomination, despite his re-
markable showing in the primaries, is
not ADMITTED to be possible by most
observers here.
Even at one time day. when it
was thought johnson had carried New
Jersey, and when Senator'S Edge and
trelinghuyscn were saying they would
vote for him if the preferential pri-
mary showed him ahead by one vote it
was not conceded that he could be lom-
mated.
If it were possible for him to win
enough primaries to control majo
ity of the delegates, so that he could
force his own nomination, Johnson
could win it, but hc will never win the
nomination, according to practically
every Republican IN Washington out
side the Johnson ranks, by any mere
showing Of popular strength
Johnson's Weakness
are practically nil because of the atti-
tude of the mon who will control the
delegations from New York, Pcnnsyl-
vania and other important states which
have pledged either to favorite sons or
have been selected unpledged. There
are practically no votes in sight for
Johnson Of the cighty-sevcn from New
England, for example, except perhaps
one or two in Connecticut.
New York's eightyeight are almost
sure to be solidly against him, not only
on the first ballot but until the final
ballot. Pennsylvania scventy-six are
while the large number Of delegates in
the solid South, no matter which way
the contests turn out, will be anti
Johnson.
Senator Harding. although he has
carried his own state, is believed to be
absolutely eliminated because Of his
failure to carry by larger vote The
ma ority actually was much smaller
than the Wood people had expected it
to be, and the election of some of the
Wood delegates prevents him from hav-
ing solid delegation.
Harding is expected to get another
jolt in Indiana next Tuesday, as john
son and Wood are expected to divide
first and second places in the popular
vote, with the prospect that Lowden
will edge in as third, ahead of Hard
ing.
Dark Horse Talk Revived
Talk of dark horses has been greatly
revived by the closeness of Tuesdays
results and the presence in Washington
yeterday of Governor Henry J. Allen
of Kansas, who is known to be the sec
ond choice of large element of the
Republican delegates and to be strong
ly opposed by very few outside of those
man opposed by union labor
Senator Irvine l.. Lenroot, Of Wis
consin, despite the big vote rolled up
against his friends by the La Toilette
organization, is also being much dis
cussed, sentiment for him being noted
among some of the upstate New York
ers.
Possibility Of third party is also
being more and more talked about, as
it becomes more and more apparent
that Johnson will 90 into the conven-
tion not only with considerable num-
Der Of delegates. but with a tremend-
Gus showing of popular strength. Most
Of Johnsons friends insist that he will
be regular. but there is IA growing
suspicion that a third party, headed. if
not by Johnson, perhaps by La Fol
lette, or perhaps by Hearst, may COM
rlicate the situation.
The declaration of Senator Borah
that some party will run on straight
out kill the treaty platform is recalled
ard it is further pointed out that the
primary votes so far may inspire some
group of politicians. of which Borah
Will be one, to start a third party for
the purpose Of combining both the
Democratic and Republican treaty op-
pOnents.
Gorgeous revival Of "FIufodor1s'-Century
TheAtre--Star Cast OF 176.--Advt.