Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-06-03
GEN. WOOD WILL HAVE 1873
VOTES IN cow NTION
johnson 100, Lo,vdcn 74-Favorite sons
and Uninstructcd CAS-


Chicago. May 27.-Canddates for the
Republican nomination for the presi-
dency to-day opened their final drive to
capture the 493 votes that spell victory
in the convention which opens here one
week from next Tuesday.
The last of the 9si delegates who will
sit in the convention were selected yester-
day. when Vermont Republicans met and
chose eight uninstructed delegates.
Major-General Leonard Wood. present
returns show. will enter the convention
with more instructed votes than any
other candidate, but his total of 1913 is
less than one-thrd of the number neces-
sary to win nomination.
The division of strength among the
large field of "favorite sons" practically
preludes any possibility of nomination
on the first ballot. Even the most
optimistic campaign managers here are
not claiming victory before the third
ballot. and the more conservative party
leaders predict that the break Will not
come before the fifth or sixth at the
earliest. One big factor which may upset
campaign managers predictions is yet to
he dealt with. One hundred and forty
five contests have been or will be filed,
more than one-seventh of all the seats
in the convention being at stake. and the
national committee which meets here
Monday to decide these contests and pre-
pare the temporary roll. may materially
alter the prospects Of several candidates.
The principal contests are between sup
porters of Major General Wood and Gov
ernor Frank O. Lowden.
In addition to the 145 contests. "a sur
plus delegates, with fractional votes, nave
heen chosen from ten States and the ma
,ional committees rules provide that
their right 70 seats shall also be contested.
The convention call stated that no over
size delegations should be seated and no
extra seats have been provided
Figures compiled here show the follow
ing division of the convention vote: Major
General Leonard Wood, 1883; Senator Hi
ram johnson. no; Governor Frank Q.
Lowden. "A; Favorite sons and unin-
structed. 64s
In the favorte son list. Senator War
rem G.. Harding has 30 votes from Ohio;
Senator Sutherland is from West Virginia;
Senator Miles Poindexter is expected to
receive Washington's IA, and Judge Prit-
chard Of North Carolina is expected to
get II of his States q votes.
Campaign managers here of the three
leading candidates all claim victory. The
Wood and johnson camps make definite
/
the supporters of the general claiming
AS votes and those Of the senator 236.
The Lowden forces. while processing their
confidence, are not prepared to quote
figures.
Leonard Wood says a statement
from his headquarters. has so increased
his votes in the last week that first
ballot prediction of 3s5 votes was made
to-day at Wood headquarters here. This
Is more than the conlh"el instructed vote
of all other candidate. on the first
ballot he Will be Dig leader and this
total will increase steadily until nominal
ton is assured
! The johnson headquarters which is now
in charge of Hiram w. Johnson, Jr. the
senator's son announced with equal posi-
tiveness that:
Senator Hiram W. johnson already has
2ss pledged delegates who will vote for
him on the first ballot and will stick with
him to the last ditch. His vote on the
! first ballot will equal if not greater than
| that of any other candidate and by the
| fifth or sixth ballot he will be nom
, mated"
1--WE are going to win" said the state
ment from the Lowden camp. I'VE have
| had no time to sum up, and figures there
! fore are unavailable but we are going
| to win and the situation looks even pet-
ter than it did last week"
| Work on the convention hall is progress
ing rapidly and Charles r. Hull super
| intendent of the Coliseum has assured
| the convention committee that more
than 1000 seats will he in place "a hours
before the convention is called TO order
by Chairman Will H. Hays of the ma
| tional committee.
Extra balconies are to be erected IN
provide nearly 1000 more seats than were
| available at any previous convention
| The speakers platform and seats for
| 700 distinguished visitors have already
been located. In the coliseum annex,
officers Of the convention committee and
officers and the room of the natonai
committee, where the contests Will ne
| heard next week. have been in readiness
! for some time. ,.
National committee men began arriving
early this week and a majority OF the
&, members are expected to he on hand
nv Monday. Chairman Hays will arrive
Sunday. A. T. Hert of Louisville chalr-
man of the committee on arrangements
arrived yesterday,