Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-03
JOHNSON'S STOCK
RISING, HIS GREAT
CHANCE is At HAND
Results in Three States May Put
General Wood Out of
the Race.
HOOVER FACES REAL
TEST IN CALIFORNIA

Washington, MAY 3.--With three pri-
maries being held this week-in Maryland,
Indiana and Californla-the ultimate fate
If some of the Republican Presidential
candidates may be sealed.
Senator Hiram Johnson of California
and Maior-General Leonard Wood will
fight t out alone in Maryland; Senator
Johnson, General Wood, Senator Warren
Harding and Governor Lowden Will stage
the battle in Indiana. and Senator john
son and Herbert Hoover will hold the
place up front in the California contest.
III a popular expression of the Republl-
can voters IS to gain any recognition In
the Republican national convention, an
opportunity has come to Johnson TO
write his name in letters which could not
be ignored. Victory In each OF the three
States under ordinary circumstances
would boom Johnson's demand for the
nomination, although it is generally con-
ceded that the Republican leaders VIII
not accept him regardless OF the great
strength he has shown I'm the primary
contest.
Recent reports reaching Washington
from the three States have been en-
couraging to the Johtison supporters.
They now believe the Senator has fair
chance Of carving Mary land, counting
upon Baltimore and the Western counties
of the State to offset the majority Tor
Wood elsewhere.
Similar reports come from California,
where Herbert Hoover was generally con-
ceded the victory when he first entered
the lists as an active candidate. Recently,
however. word comes to Washington that
johnson is almost certain to conquer
Hoover, and conquering Hoover In Cali
,lI lr.tCixy N lnhnCnu' =
strength.
In Indiana probably the most interest
ing primary contest is to be held. Earlier
in the fight the State delegation was con-
ccded to Senator Harding, because Sena-
tor James l.. Watson was espousing the
Harding boom, and Watson has come
into such strong power in Indiana that he
virtually controls the Republican party of
the State So certain WAS the Harding
management of capturing Indiana that
practically the entire campaign effort was
made in Ohio and Indiana.
Wood sentiment" however, con-
ol,cred the Watson-Harding organization
in Indiana in the early stages of the
race and with superb and well-hnanced
organization, Wood swept through the
State. Every poll taken at the State
universities and colleges, among the
newspaper men and IN the factories
showed Wood having tremendous strength.
Johnson then entered the Stale and
without any organization and with po-
EticaI campaign manager never heard of
before. began the contest. With the same
drive that has featured his effort in other
States, Johnson has swept over Indiana
80 rapidly that many predictions have
come to Washington that he will get
.thc greatest number of votes. To do
ithis would be next to a political miracle
for he must do IL without any leading
support. Harding has the two Senators
and the Indiana delegation IN Congress
lined up: Wood has his OWN organiga-
ton. supported by one of the leading Re
publican State commit teemen, and Low
den has Governor Goodrich and the
Goodrich personal organization, while
johnson has nothing.
johnson victories in the three States
would about eliminate Wood. john
son victory in California would not add
TO Hoover's strength. \ Wood victory
in Maryland and Indiana would restore
some of the recent damage suffered by
the Wood boom. 1t appears 10 be one
of the final tests for Wood and one of
the finest opportunities for johnson.
In addition to the primaries, Utah,
Missouri, Michigan and Colorado Re-
publicans will hold State conventions
this week In Michigan the delegates
have been inst tructed by preferential
primary for Johnson.
Ii is the deliberate judgment of many
far-seeing leaders in both parties that
before the 1920 Presidential campaign
is over the history of 1912 viii repeat
itself; thas a third ticket will enter the
field and that Senator Hiram Johnson,
OF California will be at its head.
Senator johnson has declared many
times that he will not bolt the Chicago
convention, and his friends insist that
he is absolutely sincere when he makes
such statements, but they understand,
as do impartial observers that condi-
tions may arise viii ch VIII change the
mind of the Senator.