The Republican., 1920-06-17

talks that developed, the part might
be assigned to Senator Frank B. Bran
degee, of Connecticut. But the de-
cision represented the best Judgment
of all the men who sat with Bran.
degee and Harvey. These men were
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Mas
sachusetts; Senator Medill Mccormick
of Illinois,; Senator Reed Smoot of
Utah; Senator James E. Watson of
Indiana; Senator James W. Wads-
worth. Jr., and Senator William L.
Calder of New York; Senator Curtis
of Kansas, 4. T. Hert of Kentucky,
and Joseph B. Healing, of Indiana
They were of ali divisions of SYM
pathy in the matter of candidate
Lodge would have liked to see Wool
nominated. Mccormick was a friend
of Johnson and of Lowden and had
nothing against Wood Crane liked
Lowden. Hert was for Lowden. Wat
son liked LoWden, and so it went.
Everybody wanted to have his own
way, but everybody knew the danger
OF letting the convention run over
into the following week.
Eliminating the Aspirants.
AS the hours went by all aspirants
and possibilities were eliminated
Coolidge, as 4 candidate for President
was too much of the East. Sproul
was tagged by Atterbury Of the
Pennsylvania Road Hughes inevi-
tably recalled the fluke of 1916, and
a fllke is the most tragic, the most
irreparable thing in politics. AS for
the big Three"-Woo Lowden and
Johnson-the impossibility of nomi-
mating any one of them without a
long drawn out 20 or 80 ballot con-
test, producing hard words and caus-
ing deep wounds. was recognized.
So, as the hands of the clock went
around towards 3, it came to Senator
Harding, the only candidate that had
not aroused antagonisms; the candi-
date of Ohio. a state that must be
won; the candidate with the pres
tige of another Mckinley. Leader
after leader left Colonel Harvey 5
rooms, thoroughly convinced that
! Harding must be named and aware
of the strategy TO be employed. Their
| business was then to instruct and
guide their subord mates in the or
ganization for the work in hand
Wood 0bdurate.
After they had gone, all except
Brandegee, Senator Hariing went to
| the Blackstone and was shown up to
Room 404 They were weary men
/ Harding, Brandegee and Harvey, but
they were too tired to hurry to bed
and they talked for an hour and q
half. Harding was gratfied when Ee
was told that his nomination had beer
decided upon and that he would have
the cordial backing, it was then hoped
of all rivals and their f9llowings.
With the early morning the news
was taken to Col. William c. Proctor
| Major General Woods manager. and
then to Wool himself They were
asked 10 agree and hello. Tney re-
! fused. They would MT agree to any
| thing tact meant Woods retirement
! from the race. They insisted on going
CT straight uu 10 the barbed wire.
Appeals Useless.
Wood himself went to johnson and
made an appeal. Re5uffed there, he
| turGed to Lowden. visiting Lowder
! personally at the Blackstone and Law.
! ing before Lowden tie proposal that
II LoWden would consent to Woods
nomination LoWdon could have the
Nice-Presidency. LoWden rejected TIE
offer instantly. saving he did not in
tend to cheaper himself, ard that h:
had nothing to trade. AS for coun.
ter-proposal, he submitted that it was
/ Impossible because he was not vel
nominated for President and had nC
power on moral right to promise any.
thing for support.
General Wood withdrew, defeated
| but determined to carry on the figLt
in the convention. Colonel Proctor
/ again informed the Senatorial grouy
that had agreed uDoH Harding that
Woods last answer was a fiat "No.
| ThereuCon the Senators replied that
ii Proctor insisted u0on Harding be
ing nominated over Woods protest
Harding would so be nominated, pain
ful as it might be.
Great Credit Given To L0wden.
AS reg gards Lowden, the outcome Of
the negotiations reflected great credit
upon him. The decision in favor OF
Harding was blow and a shock. Il
meant TIE collapse Of hope that haC
been sustained in bitter hours. Their,
was something of humiliation in il
tragedy as a matter of fact-becaust
of the general recognition OF Lowden
Inc IlidIcC-SE ana Oh the CliCuIn
stances surrounding the spending o.
money in his cause, blunders made by
his managers that We're fatal to him
But he took the news calmly anc
acted handsomely 1t was taken t,
him by A. T. Hart and charles Z
Warren, National Committeeman, re
spectively, from Kentuckey and Mich
igan. They told him that neither
Wood nor himself would be nomi
mated, Johnson, Of course, having beer
out of the race from the start. Lowder
replied:
You gentlemen know more abou
it than | do. but | have reached thC
conclusion that you are right | vii
be guided by the wishes of the leader!
and the coed Of the rarity. l an
ready to release the delegates 1t an!
moment you please
HARDING'S PAPER O. KS HIN