The Washington herald., 1920-04-12
ILLINOIS FIGHT
GROWSHEATED
Wood and Lowden Factions
Feel Polls There Will
Make or Break"
BOTH RATHER BLUE
Contrary Ways Of Wolver-
Inc Voters Cast Gloom
Over Camps.
BOTH RATHER BLUE
CBy n star Corre.pondent.)

Chicago, April 11.-Illinois voters
have been getting a taste of inte-
sive electioneering during the past
six days. They are hanging on the
oratorical ropes tonight after a
whirlwind campaign by General
Wood. For one solid week the
doughty general has been hitting
the White House trail in this State
in an attempt to break down the po-
litical fence of Governor Lowden.
The voters-gwill assess the damage"
Tuesday in the Presidential prefer
ence primary.
Among politicians of both factions
the opinions are largely entertained
that the results at the polls will
make or break one or the other. If
Wood should get an overwhelming
vote Lowden could be considered
eliminated in the Presidential race.
With Lowden getting a clean sweep
his prestige, after the poor showing
in Michigan, would be rehabilitated.
With only mediocre support for
Wood the result might be a tip to
Ohio and Indiana voters that the
generals popularity is on the wane
and that it might be prudent to
climb aboard some other band
wagon.
Both Sides Feel Blue.
Both sides concede that much Is
at stake in the primary - much
more than was the case in Michi-
gan, where a number of complica-
tions intruded. This, however, does
not mean that keen disappoint-
ment is not felt in both the Wood
and Lowden camps over the con-
trary ways of the Wolverine vot-
ers. Indeed, it would be hard to
tell at which headquarters the in
digo is thickest.
The battle in Illinois differs in
many ways from that in Michigan.
In this State it is a clear-cut fight
between Lowden and Wood. There
are no side issues and no other
candidates to muddy the political
waters. 1t is one against the other.
Thevoter is asked to choose be-
tween the two, not because they
are champions of different ideals, but
because of the man himself. a
paid advertisement scattered
throughout the State and signed by
Nathan William MacChesney, chair
man, of the Wood State committee.
reads, after the voter has been told
that the whole United States is
watching the Illinois primary:
There is a great question before
the people of this country. a ques-
tion so great that it outrides any
petty idea of favoritism for any
faVorite son and goes infinitely be-
yond State politics. The question
is just this: Which of the two men
is big enough and broad enough
TO be President of the United States?
Which. in your honest opinion?
1T begins to look as If the coun-
try had made up its mind that no
matter what may be the thought of
other candidates. Leonard Wood has
done so much more and greater
work for the nation that there is
no comparison between them"
Comparison Hinted At.
The comparative query propound-
ed in the 'ad' is considered "odious'
by the Lowden followers. Although
the name of, the governor is not
mentioned. there is no question as
10 who is meant. Col. MacChesney
did not intend that there should be
any doubt on this score. Conse-
quently if there was a gulf" be-
tween the two factions before, Ii
will be an ocean" on primary day,
and-the interviewer is told in a
whisper-for a long time after.
Having burned his bridges behind
him in Illinois. Gen. Wood has also
let it be known that he will ask
no quarter from the Hiram john
son following. AS soon as the re-
suit of the Michigan primary was
known, the general Immediately in
jected a few extra comments into
his speeches. These were all of
one tenor and to the effect that from
now on it must be a fight against
radicalism all along the line. He
did not mention Johnson by name,
but after he had heard of the cleo
tion results in Michigan he had this
10 say in speech at Cairo, accord
ing TO Chicago paper:
There has never been room in the
Republican party for those who ad-
vocate the abanonment of the great
principles which have made our
country what it is today. Today
we have evidence that some of these
un-American elements are seeking
to gain Il foothold in the ranks of
the Republican party. They are at
tempting to do so by employing
what the loyal American workman
knows as boring from within tao
tics. We must see to 1t that those
who seek to spread false doctrines,
doctrines which call for the over
throw of American institutions, do
not get a foothold.
G. w. AXELsoN.
HoIland Grants Credit IN Cerm.nv