The Washington herald., 1920-06-13

Just at the noon hOur exactly
their emotions scared to the sum-
nit of excitement when the break
to Harding in the Ohio delegation
set in. 1t was not a very hearty
break. only four votes left the
Wood column and went to Hard
ing, but 1t convinced the conven-
tion that the State was at last
ready to give the undivided dele-
CATION Of 4s to ohio's favorite son.
He emerged from the ballot with
SO to his credit. Presently Wyoming
evoked the greatest demonstration
thus far FOR Harding by transfer
ring all Of its votes to him. The
enthusiasm of the galleries knew no
bounds. Like wildfre from end to
end of the Coliseum. now rang the
words: Harding on the next bal
lot"
Galleries join In Voting.
It was at this fever pitch Of ex-
citement that a motion to adjourn
was made. The galleries, frantic to
make At unanimous for Harding
with the possible delay. Joined un-
lawfully in the aye and no vote
called for by the chairman.
Senator Lodge had some difficulty
in deciding how the vote had re-
suited, and was noticed In animated
consultation with Senatorial col
leagues on the platform while max
ing up his mind. Evidently they
made 1t up for him. for he stepped
to the front. gave his gavel a
mighty rap in order to gain the at
tention of the excited multitude.
and announced a recess until 4
o'clock. The convention broke up
conscious that when IL next as
sembled IL would be for the nnal
act, and that the name OF Warren
g. Harding would be writ across
that act in giant letters.
Senator Harding's fate was de-
cided during the two hours recess
for lunch. Also during that tense
interval the doom of Gen. Wood and
Gov. Lowden was pronounced. The
high and mighty of the party. in
consultation with the leaders of all
three principal contestants. agreed
that the end was in sight. that II
could be only one kind Of an end,
the gradual elimination of Wood
and Lowden and the easy nomina-
ton of Senator Harding.
The wheels of the now all-con-
quering band wagon, all concerned
knew, were moving fast In Hard
ing's direction. When the conven-
ton resumed It's activities at 4:3o
o'clock, II did so with unaltersble
knowledge of what mpended.
Crews at Variance.
Some said the end was coming
forthwith on the next (ninth) bal
lot. Others prophesied truly that all
would be over with the tenth. Last
ditch Wood and Lowden men gritted
their teeth and said that Harding
was still $50 votes away from the
4s3 he needed, and that an intermi-
nsble deadlock was as likely as
anything. They talked about hang
ing on stubbornly and dragging the
contest, losing hght though 1t nigh,
be. over Sunday into next week
They were very bad guessers. The
convention came back into the
Coliseum to dispatch the business In
hand with all possible speed.
Arkansas, with a lone fresh vote
for Harding, claimed the openeing
band wagon honors when the roll
was called for the ninth ballot. Col
orado followed with two more Hard
ing votes than IL had given on the
eighth. But II was Connecticut that
now gave the signal that all was
over but the shouting, for II trans
ferred thirteen Of it's fourteen votes
bodily to Harding. taking eleven
of them from Lowden, one from
Lowden, one from Wood and one
from Coolidge.
The galleries seeing the handwrit-
ing on the wall with unmistaka BILE
clearness, let themselves 60 in Con.
necticuts honor. Florida kept ur
the good work with seven fresh
Harding votes and snatched from
Gen. Woods once formidable column
Kansas. however, was to supply
the real Harding band wagon sen.
sation, for presently 1t fired the con-
vention's enthusiasm beyond all
precedent by casting it's entire vote
of twenty for the Ohio Senator. /,
was the first solid State delegation
turned over to him since ballotinR
began.
It robbed Wood Of ten and Low.
den of six votes. Then came the
fer of Kentucky's twenty-six votes
to Harding. Legitimately the gal
-leries chorused their glee in tu-
multuous tones over the Blue Grass
vote, for 1t was proof undeniable
that the Lowden strength in the
convention had now become Harding
property,
Finish For Lowden.
Only yesterday Kentucky's elo-
quent, governor, Edwin P. Morrow
nominating Lowden, declared that
the State would support him to the
finish. The finish, nnanifestly, had
arrived. Whatever lingering doubt
there might have been anywhere in
the Coliseum now vanished. Hence
forward it was q question merely of
the ultimate size OF Harding's final
vote.
Louisiana with its solid twelve, q
few hours previous divided between
Wood. Lowden and Harding, also
pumped en- bloc for the Ohioan
Next Missouri. whose intentions
were suppressed on earlier ballots
only by dint of main force. clinched
matters by voting Its solid thirty
six for Harding. The Coliseum
shook from stem to STERN In token
Of its feelings.
1t was as q flame for the Ohio SEN
ator as IL such a thing as enthusi-
asm for Wood or Lowden had never
existed. Never was a crowd more
tickle. 1t was .the king Is dead
long live the king" with a grim ven
geance. Amid the glory of the hour
for Harding, many paused to con-
template the tragedy OF wrecked
hopes which had fallen upon the
houses Of Wood and Lowden. Their
lately stout ships were now foun.