Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-08
CO.P.LEADERS
CONFRONTEDBY
SORRY CHOICE
1Owden and Wood Bear
Handicaps and Johnson Is
Most Undesirable.
FEAR OF BOLT GROWS
y WILLIAM PHILLIPS SIMS

EY NttEEhFAh 6@tF y 0tNtS ~
CHICAGO, June s.-A titanic
question mark seemed suspended
bver the Coliseum as it opened its
doors here today to receive the re-
publican hosts come to nominate
their candidate for the presidency.
And the query of all who entered
Eass
VINO viii It be7
Gov. Frank Lowden seemed, on
paper, to lead the field, with Mai
Gen Leonard Wood and Senator Hi
ram Johnson neck and neck close
behind. as the various delegations
met and held their vest pocket eau
cuses, but even over this seeming
impending victory of Lowden. lungs
the biggest question of all.
Would the republican guard lead
ers. without whose aid his nomina-
ton would be well-nigh out of the
question, dare take the risk after the
revelations before the Kenyon CON-
mittee in Washington?
The answer is said to be ready
and the understanding is that it will
be mo"
Lowden's supporters today appeared
unusually confident They insist he is
far from being out of the race. They
cite such instances as the Colorado
deIegation's vote as a sample Of what
IS going on Colorado, on the first bal
lot. gave Wood Q, Lowden and Hard
ing L On the second ballot she gave
LOwden II and Wood I. Several other
such were cited.
Former Postmaster General Frank H.
Hitchcock appeared at the coliseum for
the opening session today wearing
poker players expression which caused
those who knew him wei to shake their
heads and say:
Prank knows that either he has the
thing already won or that be knows its
already lost"
Wood supporters wereA immensely
cheered BY the reports from states like
Massachusetts. which It was said would
ultimately give him the entire delega-
ton" A similar report came from New
Jersey, 1t was said.
IN the johnson camp the situation Is
considerable unea siness in republican cir
eies as TO wha- the outcome OF the diff
ferences between the old guard ana
johnson win be. Before Boise Penrose
left Washing for Florida the word
went out that he, as leader Of the ''regu'
lars would not have johnson, and since
he returned from the south he took oc-
easion 70 issue q statement particularly
irritating to johnson, which, IN effect,
was that Johnson might do for vice
president.
Johnson has gone on accommodating
strength. From a shoestring he has
built up a pile Of political capital, ana
sines he arrived here last Wednesday
he has kept his rivals busy watching
both him and the demonstrations car
ried of in his behalf.
: The last was the big mass meeting
st the Auditorium theater here last night
One OF the biggest theaters in the coun-
try. It was packed TO the ceiling with
a mob, which yelled for twenty-five min
ufes when he came on the stage. A
crowd nearly as large allied the streets
outside
But this was not what had the CID
guard guessing today. 1t was some
thing he said In his speech To many
It sounded threatening. Said he, in his
DeroratIon:
with the American people today we
are at the parting Of the ways. Within
the next few days it viii be decided
whether the republican party founded
b. Lincoln to vindicate the liberty OF
the common people is in its hour Of
fun grown power, to drive the common
people from its ranks"
Senator johnson has thrice declared
he would not bolt the party. But 'prac-
tfca1' politicians declare political prom
4ses are made TO be broken.
VIII johnson keep or break his?