The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-04
Early Voting Shows First Blood
for Hiram johnson.
BallOting Light in Places
Favorable to Food CZar.
AND JOHNSON CLASH
Minnesota and Indiana G. o. p.
Busy Today.
General Received Majority Dele
gates at Maryland Primary.

san Francisco, Nav 4.-Extremeiv
heavy voting in cities where Senator
Hiram johnson is supposed TO he
strongest. and light voting in Los An
geles, one of Herber Hoover's sup
posed strongholds. featured the early
hours of the primary election in CAL
ifornia today
Experienced observers with their
eyes on Johnson's past performa noes
in California could see nothing but a
big johnson majority as a result OF
today's balloting. Johnson in his race
the state by 296.000. He has always
been remarkable vote getter in his
own state.
On the other hand. Hoover's
strength is unknown. He has never
been in politics. This is his first real
campaign.
While johnson workers declare a
victory for johnson will eliminate
Hoover, the supporters of the latter
quickly deny this, They say that
Hoover will carry the state but that il
he should only get foothold in the
states delegation he would still be the
dominating factor at Chicago.
Charge Hearst Alliance.
Ralph P. Merritt. Hoover's cam
paign manager, came out today with
a statement in which he laid down
the issues as he saw them.
"Johnsons alliance with Hearst and
his alliance with certain reactionaries
of California whom he has fought for
years. abused and vilified. and who
now represent him as delegates on
his ticket and his alliance with the
discontented and red-radical ele-
nents of the eastern states have hurt
him most in California
The difference between johnson
and Hoover in this campaign is
evinced by their headquarters. John
at a rental Of a thousand dollars a
month The Hoover headquarters in
one story shack, paying no rent
whatever; the johnson headquarters
manned by state officers at the states
expense; the Hoover headquarters
manned by volunteers.
Pact Is Not Issue.
AItho Hoover and johnson repre-
sent the opposing sides in the League
of Nations fight. the league has been
a minor issue in the campaign.
Merritt predicted that Hoover would
carry the state by $4,000 votes IL e0o.-
900 votes are cast. johnson men pre-
dicted majorities ranging from 5000
to over 10000.
The registered vote Of the state is
1,111.f92, of which 693.7e7 are Re-
publican. 217.737 Democrats and 1S.-
PA Prohibitionists. The remainder
are listed as Progressives, Socialists
and scattering.
The Democratic ballot contains
twenty-seven names. from which
twenty-six will be selected. Henry II.
Childers of Los Angeles. who has de-
clared himself in favor of more lib
eral Interpretation of the national pro-
hibition law. is running as the inde-
pendent candidate on this ticket.
Voters are permitted to demand any
party ballot they may desire today.
regardless of party affiliation at the
time of registration.
Wood VS.. johnson in Indiana.
Indianapolis. Ind. May 4.-Indiana
, had done little voting today in the first
ence primary. Altho weather condi-
tions were ideal, politicians forecast
light balloting.
Senator Hiram Johnson, Mai. Gen.
Leonard Wood. Governor Frank o.
LCwden and Senator Warren Harding
were contesting today for the states
} delegates to the Republican national
/ convention. No Democrats were en-
tered in the primary. All Republican
candidates have made strenuous cam
paiRns.
/ Indiana will send thirty Republican
delegates to the national convention
and thirty to the Democratic conven-
tion.
No written In" Votes.
It was expected that 100000 votes
would be cast and a majority of these
+ is necessary to bind the state delega-
tions to the conventions Some
claimed that johnson would receive =
plurality of seven or eight thousand.
while Woods headquarters said his
plurality would be 10 per cent.
/ Friends of Herbert Hoover looked
askance at the ruling of the state
board of election commissioners that
no names could be written in on the
Indiana ballots. The Hooverites nad
( hoped that he would receive a big
written in vote.
Wood Leads in Maryland.
Baltimore. May 4.-Maj. Cen
Leonard Wood defeated Senator HI
ram W. johnson of California. in an
unusually light vote yesterday in the
primaries for Maryland's prsference
J .Continued on Page Two.)