Evening star., 1920-03-28

THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments, Based on
Reports From The Stars Special Core
spondents and Staff Writer'S.

accused of having presidential as
pirationS, but it is feared if the
issue is left to question of in
Structing for Palmer or sending an
uninstructcd delegation, the Pal
mer supporters will go to the polls
will stay at home on primary day.
There is no lack Of heat and
pep" in the republican presiden-
tial contest. Gen. Woods victory
in South Dakota has greatly en-
couraged followers of the soldier
candidate. but the hackers OF his
rivals deny that they are down
hearted. All eyes now are turned
to Michigan, where the primary
is to be held April 5. On the sur
face of things. the political ex-
perts seem inclined to give Gen.
Wood the worst of the deal with
respect to the Michigan primary.
They contend that he must win
there or be out of the running. but
that a Wood victory in Michigan
would not put any other candidate
out It is somewhat difficult to
understand by what process of
reasoning this conclusion is ar
rixed at, but the experts say 1t
: is the psychology" of the situa-
ton.
What the man in the street will
be more inclined to accept as a
decisive test will be the primaries
in Indiana. to be held May A. In
diana is "open territory" and
active campaigns are being made
there in behalf of all four Of the
leading republican candidates
Wood, Lowden, johnson and Har-
ding. The Indiana primary law
ceive majority Of the votes cast
before the delegation is instruct
ed for him, but it is claimed by
the Wood management, and gen.
orally conceded, that a plurality
vote for Wood would be moral
victory Of very potent influence.
The "old guard" in Indiana, by
which is meant most of the active
party workers. is opposed to
Wood. and is bending every effort
to prevent him getting a plural
ity, much less majority, of the
primary votes. Since the South
Dakota primary they are count
ing heavily on Senator Hiram
johnson. The returns are said to
show that in South Dakota the
Californian ran strong with voters
is a very heavy German vote in
Indiana.
In Ohio the contest between the
Wood and Harding forces has
reached a point of extreme bitter
ness. The rival headquarters in
Columbus are across the street
from each other and from each
emanates attacks on the other. The
Stars Columbus correspondent
maintains that the Wood campaign
is not likely to take many dele
gates away from Harding, as the
party organization is standing 10y
ally back of the Ohio senator.
A dispatch from Topeka says half
the Kansas delegation to Chicago
now has been chosen, and that
there is not Jingle Wood man
among them. Several are under
instructions not to vote for Wood.
while others were chosen by dis
trict conventions which declared
against military candidate. Only
one of the candidates for delegate
at large Is a Wood man. The state
convention is to be held next We'd
nesday, and 1t is not expected to
instruct for any candidate or even
to give an Endorsement.
In Colorado republican sentiment
for Hoover is counted on by the
Lowden management to cut into
the Wood strength, and the Low
denftes think they will be able to
vote the entire delegation by adop-
tion Of q unit rule: In West Vir-
ginia the Wood management is
conducting a very active campaign
and building up a strong organiza-
ton. The anti-Wood faction now is
making the charge that Senator
Sutherland Is not really a candi-
date for the nomination, but is
Withholding announcement Of his
withdrawal in the interest of Gen.
Wood. Gov. Lowden and Senator
Harding had agreed they would
not enter the West Virginia field
against Sutherland.
Copyright. 1s2o.( y The Washington Star