The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-18
REPUBLICANS MAY
 FIND DARK HORSE
By HOLLAND


 New York, April H.-(SpeciaL )-LittA significance is to be found in the report that of the total number of delegates already chosen who are to serve at the repupllcan national convention, 403 are Tn favor of Woods nomination and y,7 will vote for the nomination of Governor Lowuen. Trailing along behind these two ieaolng candidates are Sproul, Harding. Johnson, Coolidge, Watson and Borah Nevertheless it is undoubtedly true that so far considerable sentiment favors the nomination of Wood, but whether it is to De majority sentiment remains to be learned.
 The impression in fact is growing rap icly that the convention will not make choice Of any candidate until several bal lets, perhaps many have been cast Then 1t IS possible if not probable that some new name will be brought forward which will make successful appeal to the con vention, Some of those who are of the opinion that the voting will be prolonged until considerable number and perhaps many ballots are cast are persuaded that republican convention precedents points to a conclusion of this kind Frequent reference is made to presidential con vention of 1876. For some weeks befure the convention met it seemed almost in- vitable that James c. Blaine would be the nominee He was undoubtedly the popular favorite, being at that time in the full splendor of his intellectual Dow CTS and possessed of a personal mag nctism not surpassed by any one since Henry Clay revealed personal power of that kind. But Blaine was not able to secure the majority of the convention. The voting shifted from one candidate to another until at last out of the confusion came the name of Governor Hayes of Ohio, so that he, who was not esteemed ar available candidate for the nomina- n a rn af afed ha- came President
 AS TT WAS IN 1880
 The experience of this kind was repeat ed in 1S80 The friends of General Grant had perfected a strong organization in favor of his nomination for third term. The republican convention in the state of New York instructed it's delegates to sup port the nomination Of General Grant, But Grant was never able to command the support of the majority of the dele- gates. Various names were brought to the attention of the convention and an attempt was made to break the Grant line. It was unsuccessful but at last. of sudden. the name of General Gar field, himself delegate to the conven- ton. was brought forth, and almost in the twinkling of an eye he became the nominee. The convention of 1888 was stalled. so to speak, between several lead ing candidates, Chauncey M. DePew.
 
 others. But at last graudally, but sure ly, the figure of Benjamin Harrison ap- peared before the convention and in the end captured it.
 Precedents of this kind are now re- ferred to because there seems to be every indication that the convention which is to be held in June will really confirm these precedents. Of course the nomi-s nation of Mckinley. of Roosevelt and of Taft, were practically assured when the conventions met. But who is to be the mysterious personality who will be able at last to capture the convention in June? No one can say. It may be a man whose name is not at present spoken with reference to the nomination. Un the other hand there are many who be- heve that General Woods chances for the nomination are excellent, and that he will be named as the republican candidate for President perhaps as early as the third ballot.
 Many of the delegates will take their seats with an open mind respecting the candidates. This morning Charles F. Bf poker, who is one of the delegates at large from Connecticut. and who was for some years the Connecticut member of tho national republican committee, said that the Connecticut delegation was go- ing to Chicago with an open mind. MT. Brooker is one of the great industrial lealers of the United States. There is no doubt that each one of the delegates had preference he admitted, but all prefer ences would be sunk or passed by This is also true of all of New England, ex- ceptng possibly New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Massachusetts delegates will be committed to the support of Coolidge. But this will be done as a mat ter of compliment and in not any strong hope of the nomination of the governor. After the complimentary vote the Mas sachusetts delegation will be of open mind. although there are reasons for sur missing that some of them have personal preference for General Wood, others for Lowden. |
 But in mid-winter it was thought that