Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-05
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1920.
Evening Yesterday l4lSO
Republicans at Chicago.

Republicans at tmcagos
Tuesday next, at noon, the Republican
National Convention will assemble at
Chicago. to nominate candidates Tor Presl-
dent and Vice-President and promuigate
a declaration of principles on which the
nsrtv's national candidates will be eN-
pected to stand throughout the pending
campaign. During this week all the party
leaders. the Presidential asplrants and
their friends, and most OF the delegates
have arrived in Chicago, and the preilm-
inary interest has been stimulated hy the
dailv slttings Of the Republican National
Committee. which has been hearing the
somewhat numerous contests for seats in
the convention. in order to determine the
right Of the matter in each contest, ana
place the names Of the favored CONTESTANTS
IN the roll Of delegates which Will con-
stitutc the membership at tho opening oi
the convention, next Tuesday. Inc con-
vcntion will appoint a committee on Gre
dcntials. which Will consider tins delegate
LIST as preparcd hv tho national commit
tee. but it is not expected the credentials
committee will recommend any change N
the results reached by the national com
mittee' hearings. The way To protest and
appealto the convention is open, however,
and dissatisfied delegates whose claims
have been rejected may carry their fights
70 the convention floor if they 50 desire
or can secure sufficient backing 70 en-
courage them to this extent
The national committee also Is wrestling
with the formation Of at least tentative
platform 10 he laid before the committee
on resolutions that will be appointed BY
the convention Never before did plat
form preparation loom up So omnously
and 90 importantly as il docs al tn time
At Chicago. This subject has claimed the
attention of the national committee ior
months and that body went to the eE-
traord nary and unprecedented extent q
selecting an outs de committee ot 11l
members representing ali the states. 70
give careful attention to the subject and
submit recommendations Also, Chairman
Havs of the national committee threw he
subject open to competition by offering
pr.zes Of money for platform suggestions
that should contain sufficient merit TO
warrant their acceptance by the commit
tee. Never before did the national plat
form of a party receive 50 much atten-
ton. or attention Of such wide scope OF
action. in advance Of the national conven-
ton.
In respect Of the nomination for PresI-
dent interest Is at the highest point and
will continue unabatcd until the conven-
ton makes a choice. OF the leading can
didates. Senator johnson. Governor Low
den Of Illinois and General Wood are on
the ground. taking personal charge Of their
campaigns. johnson, II Is generally be
lieved. will lead IN the preliminary ballot
ing. but no aspirant VIII have an initial
following that will bring within encourag-
ing sight of a majority vote. There Is
bound to be a struggle which may become
protraeted, and It may settle down TO
what is termed anyone fight before
the end IS reached
1t is apparent at Chicago. and con-
firmed by the trend Of nearly all the
convention comment, that the chances
of General Wood and Lowden have been
severely shattered by the investigation
by a committee Of the United States
Senate into the expenditures made in the
conduct of the preliminary campaigns, al
the instigation Of Senator Borah of
Idaho and with the earnest approval OF
Senator johnson. and that Johnson also
will suffer from the effects Of the reyela-
tions WhiIe more lavish expenditures
were made ID behalf of Wood and Low
den, in the order named, the Johnson
primary campaign fund was shown to be
al least $500 600, with intimations that
all the contributions had not been dis
closed And the revelations will affect
johnson more severely than either Of his
competitors as he had opened the subject
Of campaign expenditures by caustic re-
fiections upon the use Of money and by
holding himself up as an Qspirant to the
Presidency who possessed no wealth and
who proposed to ascertain if il is possible
III our country for man without money
and without the aid Of wealthy friends to
secure the nomination. In fact, he posed
as the poor man" candidate. but is now
compelled to take place among those
who are backed by men of wealth.
In view Of the extreme probability Of
defeat coming to all the leaders, the
subject Of speculation is the
identity Of the compromise candidate"
who will reap the benefit when the break
up comes. Governor Coolidge Of Alassa-
chusetts is rega sled very lavorably IN this
connection, and 50 IS Governor Allen of