Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-23
Ilrenlasl9lt ITenIng Yesterday teods l435O
Interesting Primary Contests.

Interesting Primary Contests.
Tuesday was another day of interesting
urinary contests having bearing upon
the fortunes OF aspirants to the Presiden-
,;al nominations of each of the two leading
political parties The results, however
while significant. were not OF importance
a. in anv manner rejecting the tnai ac-
ton by either party convention.
First in interest were the primaries oil
both parties in the State OF Nebraska
I'm the Democratic primaries, senator
Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock, running on plat
form that cordially indorsed the adj
ministration of President Wilson and
earnestly supported the League OF Ma
tions. easily defeated his competitor as
candidate for the Democratic nomination
for President. Also, Senator Hitchcock
favored amendment of the Nolstead law
in support of the Prohibition Amendment
aothe Constitution. so as to increase the
alcoholic content of what the law defines
ms Intoxicating beverages, in order TO al
low a general manufacture and sale OF
beer and light wines. His campaign IS
sues. therefore, were clearly defined and
thoroughly understood.
But while Senator Hitchcock thus
triumphed decisively, Mr.. Bryan, who
ran as a national convention delegate
hostile TO Senator Hitchcock and with
the distinct purpose in view, IN the event
of his election, to fight against any KIND
of liquor Endorsement in the Democratic
national platform and to endeavor to
secure open approval of both the Prohlbl-
tion Amendment and the Nolstead law,
was elected one of the four delegates-at-
large TO the Democratic National Conven-
tion. He was not high man OF the four
successful candidates. but h got votes
enough to insure his election, and there
fore must be credited with personal VIC
tory
IL is said this paradoxical yerdict-in-
dorsernent Of Senator Hitchcock and cleo
ton Of his open opponent-was largely
due 20 the support from Republicans re-
ceived bv Mr.. Bryan in the voting. The
Primary Election law of Nebraska per
mits this kind of cut-throat voting at
urinary elections. and it is not hard to
determine why Republicans shouldincline
strongly to throwing whatever support
they could to Mr.. Bryan. Their purpose,
of course. was to do what they could to
inject disturbing and disrupting elements
into the Democratic National Conven-
tion.
Another event of interest in Democratic
circles was the lead obtained by Attorney
General A. Mitchell Palmer in the Georgia
Democratic primaries, with Senator Hoke
Smith and Ex-Governor Thomas E. Wat
son as opponents. Smith. who has been
vicious in his opposition to President
Wilson and the League OF Nations, was
third man in the voting. Watson, also
AN opponent of the League OF Nations,
was second and close competitor of
Palmer. The Smith and Watson sup
porters, however, if they combine, will
control the State convention, and there
by secure an anti-Mitchell delegation to
the Democratic National Convention.
The significance attached TO Palmer's
lead in the voting lies in the fact that
he was heralded as the administration
candidate, +" although there is no authority
for even the assumption that his candidacy
is favored by President Wilson. But
under this impression he took lead In
the popular voting, even against two
prominent citizens of the State. And
when it is considered that Mr.. Palmer
is from Pennsylvania, the last State in
the Onion to which the Democratic party
is likely to go for a candidate for Presi-
dent, his victory becomes even more i'm
pressive. Had he been from any other
State be probably would have beaten
Smith and Watson combined.
The result of the Republican primaries
in Nebraska gave another boost to the
candidacy of Senator "Hi'' johnson, the
rampageous insurgent from California.
He led largely in the voting, and there
fore will secure the support of the States
delegation at the Republican National
Convention. General Wood was second
and General Pershing poor third. This
would indicate complete elimination oi
Pershing, as Nebraska is his home State
and his Republican fellow-citizens have
repudisted him. 1t is matter of sincere
regret that this gallant and successful