The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-11
CONVENTION IS
WAITING FIRST
BALLOT TODAY
Expected to Show Results OF
Underground Work Done
by Supporters of Big Three
Dark Horses Busy.
WOOD CLAIMS BIGGEST
(By Associated Press)

CHICAGO, June 11.-Animosities of
the platform battle swept away BY
the roar of affirmation which wrote
the Republican creed for 1920 into
history. delegates 10 the national con-
vention gathered early today to fulfill
their chief duty and name a prcsiden-
tial candidate.
Who would receive the highest hon.
or in the party's gift was as much
on the lap of the gods as ever Field
marshals for the big three Wood,
Johnson and Lowden, expressed con-
fidence. They made no specific claims
to more than the votes pledged to
their candidacy by primary action
The balance of power still lay with
the more than 500 uninstructed dele
gates. Despite days of missionary
work among them. lieutenants of the
leading candidates had learned little
of their state of mind II remained
for the first ballot to reveal any de-
cisive drift of sentiment among the
rank and file of the party.
First on the program came the NOM
mating speeches. To get these
| swiftly out of the way, the convention
| met at 8 o'clock instead of IL as on
| previous days. Further steps toward
! short circuiting useless and often tire
| some oratory were taken in connec-
ton with seconding speeches.
! Under the rule adopted, each can
didate may be seconded in two five
minute addresses. He may have as
many seconders as he likes but if he
elects to have more than 2, none of
those who speak for him may talk
for more than two minutes.
JTndor this rrrtblaSc ourh nf aI,1o-
gists, the first ballot should be reach
ed by mid-afternoon Indications are
that II will show the instructed
strength of the major candidates lined
up virtually solidly as the mandates
the instructed delegates carry, direct
Will Reveal Drift of Current
1t will bring out too, the full "fav-
orite son" strength. already discount
ed by the announced purpose Of var
ious delegations 10 thus compliment
man of their own state allegiance. 1t
will formally enter a whole string of
dark horses" in the race; but the
overshadowing interest in this first
direct step toward the nomination lies
in what it may disclose as to a current
among the uninstructed toward one of
the big three to supplement his in
structed strength.
its half and quarter votes tabulated,
workers for the various candidates
will have material on which to work
t>lligently. On the next vote, fav-
o-ite son strength will begin to dis
appear. the delegations, their duty of
courtesy done, being free to join in
the fight on candidates possible of
nomination. Then will begin the
round of quick floor conferences, the
trading and dickering that oils the
wheels of a political convention to-
+ ward ultimate choice.
Second Ballot to Reveal More
The second ballot is certain to show
some changes, always providing that
the wholly unexpected development of
a nomination on the first ballot has
not made further voting unnecessary.
From the second on, step by step.
strength of the leading candidates may
be expected to wax or wane until
either a deadlock occurs or one Of
the trio emerges as master of the
situation.
Dark horse movements spring out
of deadlocks. Up to the time the con-
vention assembled today. there was
every indication that a triangular
deadlock between Wood. Johnson and
Lowden would be shown on the first
counting of noses. For that reason
dark horse promoters had been busy
through the night, planning and work
ing in order to be prepared to at
tempt a coup when an opportunity
came.
Out of these activities and also of
the vigorous maneuvering of leaders
and heutenants of the leading candi-
dates came new crop of reports over
night.
Wood Claims More Daily.
Wood supporters affirmed that he
would show strength in excess of 800
Continued on Page Eleven)