Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-07
tes Fight for Convention Recognition y
HOOVER HELD UP AS ''BUGABOO'
TO RIVAL CAMPAIGNLEADERS

the leaders consider him a pro5abii l.
ity. though al admit a public sentl-
ment Is IshInd his candidacy which
would make victory absolutely as
s'lrcd II he We're the republican NOM
!nee.
.Auch more plausible is the talk Of
, Hughes Again and again as the
! disinterested delegate looks around
and speculates on the possibility OF
a prolonged deadlock he reverts to
the former Justice of the Supreme
Court as clean candidate. with a
of politica! inactivity and an eX-
perience off the bench that would
make him Il much better campaigner
than he vas in 1916.
Zach Faction similar.
1t is easy to say that this conven-
ton is cropping in the dark-that 1t
Is leaderless is a superficial inn
preston This convention knows its
business, knows what il wants. but
the uncertainty is due to the tug of
war between factions which repre-
sent the same thing. Prejudices ga
lore are recited against each candi-
date. If the democrats We're here
they could fill their campaign text
books. Big republican leaders whis-
per that Leonard Wood is ''imposs-
hle because the country will not
stand for military man: Others
openly declare Johnson is ABSOLUTELY
unacceptable to American business
Now the leaders thems, Ives like
Johnson.
They would nominate him in 4 MN
ute if they could. His colleagues IN
the Senate have grown fond OF Hiram
and they don't think him . h:y TOO
radical. Eut the rank a.G file of the
delegates are determined TIA. John
son SHAH not win. Tie trout,.e IS that
even j. the lad US want Johnson
they could uot deliver the delegates
to him. To that exteh, this conven-
ton is controlled by the conservative
Influences n the republican party.
Senator Johnson, Senator 3orah and
their associates can torpedo any of
the leading candidates. bat they can't
WIZ the nomination for lie California
senator unless they persuade the dele
gates overnight. So the tactics of
johnson are oratorical. Tonight's
mass meeting and possibly some dra-
matte speeches in the convention will
constitute The final efforts to win by
direct appeal to the delegates
But if Johnson becomes convinced
That he can't win there's the psyche
logical moment to watch for. He is
I bsolutely determined to stay regular
this time. lie will not bolt. But if
The candidate he wants 10 see nomi-
mated isn't chosen. IT, for instance,
Lowden, whom johnson regards as
impossible is chosen. something
worse than j bolt from johnson may
be expected. He will play the game
he has played before. He will stay
regular in California and probably
Will not stump for the tiket anywhere
else. And the republicans admit
Hiram is wonderful vote setter. To
pi.,cate Johnson, the new "oid guard
may have TO give up Lowden, but in
50 doing they would want Wood elim-
hated 100. In free for all Johnson
could dictate the choice. Intimate
friends SAY he leans toward Gov
Sproul of Pennsylvania. Others say
he favors Senator Lenrott Of Wiscon-
sin. OF one thing the public may rest
assured. Hiram johnson vii! insist on
a. progressive, but it is premature to
say that he thinks of any one else
but himself as that progressive.
Copyright, 1920