The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-08
DARK HORSES
TO HAVE BEST
SHOW To PLACE
Republican Choice Most Likely
VIII Go to "UnknOwns."
Herbert Hoover and Philander
Knox Are Strongest.
BE NO FIRST BALLOT CHOICE
Two Months Scramble for Dele
gates Has Been FruitIess.
None of the Aspirants Have
Votes Enough.
Herbert Hoover and PhiIande
Knox Are Strongest.
BE NO FIRST BALLOT CHOICE
BY HAROLD D. JACOBS.

New York, May S-The Republi-
can presidential situation, already
complicated, has been rendered even
more difficult of solution by the
growth OF favorable reaction to the
candidacy of Senator Philander C.
Knox.
There is a fairly general under
standing that when Senator Penrose
endorsed his colleague for the Re-
publican nomination, it was intended
largely as a "feeler' to learn the
sentiment of the rank and file of the
party and of the candidates, regard
ing possible dark horse"
Knox is recognized conservative
and Penrose, as representative of the
old guard, apparently wished to learn
particularly how Senator Hiram John
son and the progressive wing regarded
Knox as compromise candidate in
the event of deadlock at Chicago.
Is Foremost ozark Horse''
Even Penrose is understood to have
been amazed at the quick response
of sentiment for Knox in both
branches of the party. And this
strength has grown daily, making the
Pennsylvania senator loom up formid-
ably among the large stable of dark
horses
Johnson has repeatedly given assur-
ance that in the event of his defeat
at Chicago he will be no party to a
bolt The conservative leaders, in
view of Johnson's obvious popular
strength. find considerable comfort in
the thought that it would be doubly
easy for the Californian to accept
Knox, close personal friend.
Hoover Still Strong
The possibility has thus arisen that
two men who may not get a handful
of votes on the first ballot will stand
as good chance for the nomination
as any of the present "big four" of
Johnson. Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood.
Governor Lowden and Senator Warren
Harding. These two are Knox and
Herbert Hoover.
For the former food administrator
is far from dead politically. if the
word of several astute politicians may
be accepted. They point out that at
no time since Hoover refused to enter
the general scramble for delegates in
the primaries and state convention has
he been other than a dark horse
candidate and as such he has retained
a reserve strength that has not been
greatly affected even by such defeats
as he received in the California pri-
mary at the hands of Johnson.
No First Ballot Choice.
With all but six of the states having
chosen their Republican delegates. ii
becomes more apparent that no candi-
! date can hope to win on the first bal
| lot. instructed delegates at present
are apportioned as follows: Wood
1856; johnson. 106; Lowden. 73; Hard
| ing, 80. and Senator Poindexter, IA.
Counting claims to uninstructed del
egates. the standing would be: Wood
243; johnson, $50; Lowden, 145i
Nicholas Murray Butler, IS; Harding
| 40; Governor Coolidge, 20; Judge J. c
Pritchard, %; Poindexter, IA.
| Democratic delegates are still wide
lv distributed. Instructions have beer
made as follows: Governor Cox, "a
! Hoover, 80; Governor Edwards. 2S
Senator Owen. 20; Senator Hitchcock
Is; william ]. Bryan, 10; James W
Gerard, 10.
Claims to uninstructed delegates
would make the standing: William
G. McAdoo, 1853; Edwards. 1874; Cox
100; Attorney General Palmer. 36
Champ Clark, Sc: Hoover. SO; Secre
tary Meredith. So; State Senator Sim
mons of North Carolina. "a; Owen
20; Bryan, Is; Hitchcock, 16; Home
Cummings, IA; Gerard, 10.