New-York tribune., 1920-04-16
N. Y. Committee
Sentiment for
General Wood
Reorganization Meeting
Reveals That Delegates
Favor Him, but Wish to
Preserve Open Minds
Strong in Erie County

CeA OAS Ah AAAC AVuAty
Admirers of Roosevelt i'm
Vicinity of Buffalo Lean
Toward Soldier Candidate
The meeting Of the Republican clans
81 the reorganization of the State Com
mittee yesterday disclosed the early
stages of q crystallization of senti-
ment in favor of General Leonard Wood
as the choice Of the New York dele
gates. The delegates attending the
meeting are scrupulously reserved in
their comments on the possible out
come of the Chicago convention, one
and all seeming determined to keep an
"open mind" as to their choice of a
candidate. William L. Ward, the vet
eran Westchester leader. came close to
duplicating the mental attitude of all
OF the delegates when he said:
GAS delegate I shall go to the Chi
cago convention in a more serious
frame of mind than ever before in my
life. I have nc choice for President.
This is not year when the right
minded delegate is seeking to bring
about the nomination of a man whom
he can politically see after he reaches
the Presidential chair. 1t seems to me
that the situation is even more than a
United States situation, geographically
speaking. In sense it is world situ-
alton, and the man needed for Presi-
dent must be one so sound of head and
heart that the people afterward will
feel safe in his leadership.
Explains johnson Vote
Asked about the result of the Illi-
nois primaries. Mr.. Ward said that in
his judgment the results did not ma
terially change the situation.
Governor Lowden received less
votes than his friends expected said
Mr.. Ward. "As to the johnson vote,
that was the Thompson organization
strength. Doubtless the order went
down the line, and the disciplined
members responded to the command or
the implied command. Very often in q
bruising race like the present the lead
ers use themselves up. but whether
that Is the case this time it is too early
to say"
DR.. Conrad E. Wetlaufer, chairman
OF the Republican County COMMITTEES
of Erie, said that the Wood men are
we'll organized in Buffalo, and seem to
have large following.
General Wood made an excellent
impression when he was in Buffalo" }"
he said. "The Wood men include Mr..
Goodyear and other outstanding. men
the general. think there can be no
questioning the statement that Erie
County and the western end of the
state adjacent to Buffalo is Wood terri.
tory. Roosevelt was great favorite
there. l do not mean by that the dele
gates have declared for General Wood
for they have not. They are going to
Chicago with open minds. l am speak
ing of the situation generally, as it
would impress an unbiased observer
who visited Buffalo in quest of infor
nation concerning the drift of things.
Senator Johnson's friends opposed the
regular. Republican organization in tho
last primaries and were routed. leay-
ing the johnson boom with few SUD-
porters among the rank and file in
Buffalo"
mere IS more talk in Brooklyn in
favor of Wood than for any Of the
asplrants for the nomination." said
Charles F. Murphy, one of the Kings
delegates. II think that the delegates
are refraining from committing them.
selves until they reach Chicago and
nave chance TO talk things over with
the delegates from the other sections
OF the country. AS for myself, l an
tree to say that ! am not 'for' any
candidate. ! am like the others, open
minded in the natter
Governorship Race Open
II don't expect to make up my mint
about candidate until get to Chi
cago,"' said ex-senator Ogden L. Mills
who is chairman of the subcommitte,
of the Republican National Committed
on policies and platform.
The Erie County members Of tn,
state committee have not abandoned
their idea of making John Lord O'Brian
Of Buffalo, the next Governor of New
York The situation as set forth by
prominent Erie County Republican fol
lows:
Without disparagement to the char
Ter Travis, Secretary Of State Hug,
or Speaker Sweet, there is a feelin,
on the part of the leaders throughou
the state that the GoveTnorship question
must be kept open until after the Chi
cago convention. Even allowing tina
any of the men named would make
good candidate, the fact remains tina
the national Republican leaders charge,
with the responsibility of carrying New
York are entitled to voice in tn
council when the Governorship is dis
cussed. When that time comes tn
Erie County Republicans will brin,
forward the name Of John Lord O'Brian
OF whom it can be said that he meas
ures up to the job. Mr.. O'Brian ha
not sought the nomination. The Fri
County people believe it will be for tn
good Of the party if the nomination
goes to some one who is not seekinl
It"