New-York tribune., 1920-01-20
Harding Balks
At Being First
Choice of Ohio
Refuses to Have His Name
Presented to Convention
as Compliment and Then
Throw Support to Wood
Wants All or Nothing
Fight for States Entire
Delegation Now Thrown
Open to Four Candidates
Nc'~ York Trbur.
" 0.Shir Ctcr Pu-.ou

HdSh,r otcn Bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-There will
be sn open fight among the Republican
Presidential candidates for Ohio's
tortv-eisht delegates to the Republican
National Convention.
Senator Warren G. Harding. Ohio's
afavorite SON candidate for the Re-
publican nomination, to-day rejected
overtures from the camps of other
candidates that would have made him
the first choice Of the delegation while
they fought TO see who would be sec
ond choice. ana he opened the field TO
all Of the other candidates.
Senator Harding declared that he
wants more than ~perfunctory support
from his home state and that he does
not want the delegation to be for him at
he convention unless it is with "the
genuine and cordial preference of Ohio
Republicans
Four-Cornered Fight Now
The managers Of the campaign of
Major General Leonard Wood have
sought to make deal with the Hard
ing people. whereby Senator Harding
would be the frsc choice of the delega-
ION from Ohio. provided the Harding
support would be thrown TO Wood for
second choice
Senator Hiram ". Johnson, of Cali
tornia. few days ago made a move
10 enter the Ohio primaries, 1nd had
me suggested deal gone throus h Hard
ing would have been named perfume
torily as the first choice OF the Ohio
delegation, while interest III the cleo
lion would have centered on the con
est betwn Wood and Johnson for sec
ond choice.
It is probable now, in view of SEN
ator Hardlng's declaration to-day. that
he. Wood. johnson. and PERHAPS Low
Gen, Will nght II out to secure the dele
CATION
In the statement in which Senator
Harding announced shat he would try
20 secure Ohio's forty-eight votes in
an open contest ne carried the fight
% % ms opponents by placing Harry NJ.
Daugnerty, MS campaign manager. in
the field as q candidate for delegate
% the convention as one of Ohio's "bir
our The Daugherty candidacy viii
,e opposed by the Wood and Lowden
orces IN the state
Harding's Statement
Three other proposed delegates at
arge heretofore approved by Senator
1aruing are Ex-Governor Myron 7.
ierrlck, Ex-Governor Frank 3. Willis.
nd Mayor John Calvin. OF Cincinnati
IN reference to Ohlo's choice for
res dent Senator Eardi,c, 80.
aent said:
There has been some discussion
oncerning Ohio's second choice. with
ne attending Inference that the first
nto-ce Is mere perfunctory or COM
-lmen tary thing TO be recorded and.
hereafter. proceed to the task OF
reater interest l never could permit
IS name 20 go before national CON
en,ion with merely perfunctory or
ION from Ohio. II there is doubt
bout the real choice OF Ohio. let US
invoke the real preference by an ex-
ression OF the Republican voters at
ne primary polls. In that frankness
'n.ch becomes the Importance of the
Undertaking. let i be understood that {
90 not wish a delegation favorable
ne unless my candidacy is the gen
Inc and cordial preference Of Ohio .
epublicans and I could permit no en-
eavors II my behalf at the convention +
there is mare perfunctory support.
4 viii welcome an expression in
ballot and Will accept the (
sllS in such a way as 10 join Ohio's
ldeavors in making Ohio's influence
Fective when We meet the Republicans
the whole country in the national
invention. | am sure this spirit and
irpose cannot be misunderstood"
y ood headquarters are now in full
Tng al The Willard Hotel. with SEN
or George H. Moses, Of New Namp-
IRE IN charge George c. Peck, for
g last five years associated with the
epUol1can Publicity Association, is Of
= manager The Wood-f for President.
an paign Committee VIII be announced
i-ni1 few days, and il was said that
~-l contain the names Of t.lihu
oot' Governor Burnquist OF Mime
"a and many other prominent Re
.o.cans.