The Washington herald., 1920-06-13

those two temporary leaders in the
race had worked like beavers during
the night to build up their fortunes.
Votes were sought in the highways
and the byways of the convention.
Assurances were given first by
Wood leaders, and then by Lowden
captains. that victory was attain
able with delegates favorable to one
or to the other candidacy would
only remain steadfast to the bitter
end. On the opening ballot of the
day, the fifth of the convention.
Lowden mounted to the top Of the
list with 303 votes as against 2ss for
Gen. Wood. Their partisans in the
galleries and on the convention floor
cheered wildly as some State
changed or split its vote to the bene-
ft of their respective hero
But, exemplifying that amazing
eagerness If the crowd to be with
the winner. the most fervid enthus-
iasm spread through the Coliseum
with every indication that Harding
was growing in strength At first
his gains-cver his last nights total
were infinitessimal. but they were
straws showing that the wind was
blowing irresistably in his direc-
ton
The announcement that the fifth
ballot gave him 7S votes. only I6l.
more than the fourth, sent Harding
cheers rolling through the conven-
tion hall like thunderclaps The
mob, with the scent of impending
triumph in its nostrils, was painting
to acclaim the man il already felt
to be certain victor.
Wood and Lowden Tied.
Ballot number 6 found Wood and
Lowden still locked in a wrestle 20
the death. This time they were
neck and neck Each counted 3llL
votes Harding was gaining at
what his impatient partisans in, the
galleries thought an intolerabIy
slow pace. Only IS votes stood to
his credit. His own State OF Onfo
wa sevidently not yet ready to
climb into the band wagon, for 1t
gave Wood 13 votes on the sixth
ballot against only cast for him
in the fifth 1t was amazing to OBJ
serve the omnipresent interest over
night in Senator Harding's for
tunes. Yesterday his name was not
seriously on the lips of one out of
any 100 people in the Coliseum.
The nominating speech delivered
in his behalf by former Governor
Frank B. Willis passed almost un-
noticed by the galleries, but was
received attentively by delegates.
Today the throngs OF sweltering
men and women spectators at the
convention were vastly more inter
ested in Harding than IN all other
candidates combined. Early Wood
and Lowden gains stirred the emo
tion of their particular coteries
But the enthusiasm and excitement
| of the Coliseum multitude belonged
overwhelmingly to the Ohioan who
before the hectic day was ont was
to be the king of convention hearts.
Deadlock Continues.
The Wood-Lowden deadlock con-
| tinued. seemingly unbreaka able,
throughout the seventh ballot. It
brought each of them to the peak"
strength they were destined to de-
velop-311 for Wood and 311h for
Lowden.
But it also revealed the Harding
bandwagon getting into its stride
| For the first time the Harding
total mounted into three figures
| 105- Indiana was the first State to
, point the way that, before the day
was over, was to lead to victory.
! 1t gave Harding eight votes, a gain
of three Missouri, Lowden
| stronghold. began to crumble in
the Ohioan's direction. with sixteen
| votes out of thirty-six and unmis-
taxable signs of more to follow.
CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE.