Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-05
Lowden's S Chances
Considered Best
Among Leaders
(Arthur Sears Henning in Chicago
Tribune.1

[Arthur Sears Henning in Chicago
Tribune.1
Chicago. June 3. - Develop
ments yesterday in the big
republican free for all to be staged
at the Coliseum next week indicated
that OF the avowed candidates for the
presidential nomination, Governor
Lowden Of Illinois has the best
chance Of carrying off the prize.
The seasoned republican conven-
ton veterans, who began appearing
on the scene yesterday, l found. do
not expect the delegates to name
either General Wood or Senator
Johnson.
The prevalent understanding is
that Wood is slated for early elm
ination from the contest. The gem
eral Is up against n volume Of op-
position which seems 70 the practi-
cal politicians to be we'll nigh insu-
perable. In addition to the antagon-
ism OF old guardsmen from the start,
Wood Is suffering from antagonisms
contracted by his managers in pro-
jecting his campaign into the states
of favorite sons.
Wood Claims $50 Votes.
The most hopeful Of the Wood
managers think they see $50 votes in
sight for the general on about the
third ballot. but that is as far us
they are willing to go In the line OF
prediction when discussing the sit
uation frankly. This top figure Is
some 100 votes short OF majority.
The Johnson managers do not ex-
pect the senator to get within shout
ing distance OF the nomination un-
less both Wood and Lowden should
be eliminated and then their chief
hope lies in possible stampede OF
the convention to the California SEN
ator. The appearance Of Johnson in
the convention on the league OF ma
tions issue in connection with the
platform would be relied upon to pros
mote such stampede in the nom
nation.
Little Chance Of Stampede.
A convention in which there are.
500 delegates who sat in the con-
vention Of 1915 and 800 veterans OF
the convention of 1912. however. is
not likely to be stampeded. Therefore
the hope OF the Johnson managers
Is put down as a slender one. to say
the least.
5 Lowden occupies tho strategic
poTitioA In convention calculations
that he has held for several weeks.
His reserve strength made up Of the
pledges OF several hundred delegates
for second choice makes him for
to begin with. He is being
by the decisions OF the
committee on contests. de-
cisions which will be indorsed by the
credentials committee, with the re-
suit Of weakening Wood by the same
token.
1t remains to be seen whether the
Lowden candidacy is permanently In
jured by the revelations Of the pay
ment OF Lowden campaign funds to
the two Missouri delegates who ap-
proprated the money to their own
uses instead OF expending it in pri-
mary organization.
Delegates Are Awaited.
II the delegates pledged to Low
den who are to arrive in the next few
days should disclose any consider
able weakening as a result of the in
fluence of popular opinion in con-
nection with the campaign fund af-
fair the nomination OF Lowden may
become an impossibility.
There Is clear indication among the
delegates arriving yesterdays how
ever. that the Illinois governor has
not been appreciably injured In public
esteem by the Washington testimony.
chiefly because he lost no time in
demonstrating that he turned over
the fund to be expended in Missouri
for legttimate organization purposes
and that he was taken advantage of
by couple of unscrupulous dele
gates.
The Missouri delegation will meet
In Chicago next Monday to discuss
the expenditure OF $3S,000 Of Lowden
campaign funds in their state, 1t was
announced yesterday.
Sherman Aids Lowden.
The opposition to Governor Lowden
In Chicago is confined to the dem
ocratic press and representatives of
the democratic party, according to
Senator Lawrence Y. Sherman.
Their sole motive" he said, us in
having the republicans make as weak
a nomination as possible. There is
no excuse for permitting such at
tempts to have the slightest in
fluence upon the incoming dele
gates from other states"