Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-14

Of Wood. Lowden and johnson were
number Of citizens Of Indiana.
They included Senator Watson, Sena-
tor New, Joseph B. Healing and hosr
Of lesser republican lights who reported
to these three men, who in turn got
their instructions from the "sick man
Of Philadelphia" Boies Penrose.
It was never the intention Of this
group Of practical politicians to center
on any one man for the nomination.
It was their plan to produce in TIE
Chicago convention a situation where
they could name one Of a number Of
!. acceptable men as the nominee.
Senator Harding Of Ohio was the first
Of their presentations, and they had
buiIded so well that he was successful,
a conclusion that was neither foregone
nor undesirable
Had Harding not been nominated on
the tenth ballot at Chicago, the combina-
ton would have presented another Of
the same type. and 1t was prepared TO
continue such presentations until one OF
It's dark horses won the race.
Senator James E. Watson was on the
list. He was well toward the front and
would have been either the second or The
third Of the combinations offerings, shar-
ing the honor with Gov. Sproul OF
pennsylvania, whose geographical avail
ability was not as great.
HOW WATSON LOST
PRESIDENTIAL CHANCE.
Watson had the same kind Of handi-
cap as Harding. He did not have his
own state behind him, and he did not
have the nerve to make the fight that
would have put his home state behind
him.
Had Senator Watson relinquished his
hold on the seat in the senate and gone
TO the mat with Gov. Goodrich when the
latter started out TO be a 'favorite son"
- would have gone into the Chicago con-
,vention with q solid Indiana delegation
and would today be the nominee Of his
party for president.
But Watson was afraid Of Goodrich
and treachery and In the belief that he
might not be able to get Indiana be-
hind him he wavered and lost his chances
OF the presidency.
Harding had the nerve to make the
fight that entitled him to the first trial
by The combination aud the first trial
proved to be enough.
The tremendous fight for Wood, in
this state. conducted by the political
opponents Of Watson did no harm to
the gentlemen who were determined to
neme the nominee.
1t made no particular difference to
them whether IL was Watson or Hard
ing. The Wood fight in Indiana merely
resulted in the naming Of Harding
instead OF Watson, and while It may
give some satisfaction to Watson's op-
1onents to know that they prevented him
from being his party's nominee fol
president. that satisfaction IS adulterated
by the realization now that through
- Id
ana, furnished the nominee.
The victory Of Senator johnson and
Senator Borah in framing the repub-
hcan platform was largely a myth. The
platform, as framed, means nothing, and
vas Just as acceptable to the gentlemen
who controlled the party as to any one.
johnson was led into Endorsement OF
It because he thought 1t was not what
his opponents wanted
Wood approved Of It because ii af-
forded him a chance to interpret It as
he pleased If nominated.
Lowden cared little about 1t, because
he was desirous of making his campaign
on domestic rather than foreign issues,
and it did not commit the party.
The "Old guard" was satisfied because
It lauded the ''old guard" and ineumbered
them with no obligations that could not
be carried out by anyone they might
nominate.
There were moments when the 'old
guard" was perilously close TO losing
control of the convention.
Lowden and Wood might have COM
bined to upset this control That they
did not was due probably as much to
the flirting OF the old guard with Low
den as TO any other one thing, and the
extent OF that filtration viii be realized
as the campaign progresses.
HAYS ONCE
PROVED PROBLEM.
VIII D. Hays proved problem to the
-old guard at one time and had IL not
been for the grstuitous help given the
''old guard" by the Wood managers in
clipping the wings. Of Hays the "old
guard" might have lost out.
When Frank Hitchcock entered the
field as manager Of the Wood boom it
was after he had been trailing Hays
over the country and had discovered that
Hays was building up a personal ma
chine to take advantage Of any deadlock
IN the Chicago convention that might be
brought about by the "old guard"
Hitchcock proceeded, first Of ALL to
Undo Hays's efforts along this line, much
TO the glee Of the "old guard" which
didn't want to do it, but appeared to be
confronted with just such a necessity.
The depth Of the Fays scheme to cap
ture the convention was never made pub
lie. But an idea of it may be gathered
from the fact that every effort was
made by the Indiana opponents Of Wat
: son to place Charles w. Jewett In a posi-
5 ton where be could start a stampede to
& Hays had the opportunity ever come
his way.
This was not without its difficulties.
for the unpopularity OF the Indianapolis