Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-07
JOHNS0N'S GAINS /.
AOuuuvOOuv ~ Nj uuuuS
! ON WOOD PLEASE
t OLD LINE G. 0. P.
Organization Wants Field
Cleared for Free Action
e. at Convention.
BY \. O. MESSENGER.

Bh y. u. MESSEN GER.
Senator Hiram Johnson's progress
In the primaries is causing satisfac-
tion to the oid-line republicans. who
are aga INST Gen. Wood. and is quite
in consonance with their plans. Sena-
tor Johnson is rapidly undermining
tie foundation Of the Wood strength
support of the proeressives and old
Roosevelt contingent. The old guard
expect johnson 10 eliminate Wood
and clear the field for the grand
Eet-together in the convention. when
They hope to select a candidate.
Their plans. as understood here,
contemplate aiding Senator Johnson
in certain states and up to a limited
Dolnt for the purpose indicated-to
suppress Gen. Wood. They soft
lSan to- let Senator Johnson have
fu-l swing. They intend. it is said
10 aid him in California, in Nebraska
and in Montana. They will not in
terfere in New Jersey-and beyond
that they are through.
REFRESHING johnson In New York
1t will be noted that they depressed
him in New York. where it was no
part OF their intention to let him get
foothold- His candidate for delegate
at large. former State Senator Ben
5000 for the old line candidates. The
party organization in New York
maintained itself in the primaries. Mr.
Hoover's friends were unable to break
the line in the seventeenth congress
sional district. where they centered
their efforts
The Empire state delegation will go
10 the republican convention unin-
structed and will vote for Nicho-
las Murray Butler for President until
the time comes for real business and
they set out to help choose the nom
tnee of the convention.
Johnson's Victory in Michigan.
To get back to Johnson; as stated.
Ahe plans of the old-line republicans
eare to let him paddle his own canoe
.fAs soon as he has scetched the
Wood boom In the states where he is
to be allowed a free hand and to have
stacit assistance through the old guard
abating efforts for their own choice.
The Johnson campaigners are thor
oughly alive to this plan and are re-
garding 1t With the grim suggestion
that the old guard may find that hav-
ing started something, it may not be
so easy as they think to stop it. How
ever, that Is a chance both factions
ARE willing to take. The undeniable
fact exists that UP TO this time Gen.
Wood is showing more actual strength
q ~
hidateh the at4tes which have voted.
boutside OF Michigan. and that he must
lbe stopped" before the other candi-
dates can get anywhere and for the
i"preseny Senator johnson Is looked
upon as the one to do the stopping.
Johnsen's vietory IN Michigan.
Senator -Johhson's victory in Michi-
lxan is counted upon to be OF incalcu-
liable value to him in his fight in CAL
ifornia with Herbert Hoover The
old-line republicans in California
were with Senator Johnson before
Mr.. Hoover entered the lists. From
forts, with the twofold purpose of en-
abling the senator to carry his own
etate-and- rebuff Mr.. Hoover.
The calculations of the o2d-line re-
publicans do not go to the extent of
computing, majority of the con-
~entfon for Senator Johnson. and the
nomination. His attitude Of eirrecon-
cilability toward the league of ma
tions and the peace treaty does not
conform to the policy of the greater,
number of republicans, it is contend
sd The cautious old-line leaders
cannot visualize the republican party
going before the country on a plank
Of irreconcilability to the league.
Moreover. Senator Johnson in his
epeechmaking campaigns has been
q
number Of questions. 1t was OBJ
tserved with some concern that his
.radicalism appealed to the great in
dustrial community OF Detroit and
brought unmist akable response in the
primary balloting.
ington. conversant with the plans and
strategy of that faction throughout
the country, do not yet see" Senator
johnson getting the republican nom
ination. at the same time observing
with satisfaction his inroads upon the
Wood strength -
Hoover Gets Democratic Votes.
1t was noted as curious outcome
of the Michigan primaries that Her
bert Hoover received more votes in
the democratic primaries than any of
the regular democratic candidates:
MIR. Hoover is assumed to be a can
didate for the republican. and not
the democratic, nomination. At the
same time he received 10000 votes
IN the republican primaries. But that
re should run ahead OF Gov. Edwards
.the wet eandidate) and of Bryan.
McAdoo and Palmer in the democratic
esteem is classed as remarkable.
The incident has been seized upon
by MT. Hoover's friends to lend sup
would be a wonderful vote getter'
FOR whichever party should nominate
him. Also has it revived the sug-
gestion that IL the selections of the
Two old parties in regular convention
should prove either too reactionary
or too radical Mr.. Hoover is ~etiil
available as the recourse of a possible
third party.
Lining Up for McAdOO.
Democratic politicians in Washing
tou are hearing every day. from the
country at large, echoes of the sug-
Eestion, which seems to be spreading
everywhere, that 'McAdoo is the man"
the old-line and administration dem
Ocrats are beginning to center upon.
II is quite evident, it is said, that
eonle one has succeeded ia getting the
word around that Mr.. McAdoo is the
administrations favorite at present
Nrnr- aan orn,nor