The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-05-05
SENATOR KNOX
THE DARK HORSE?
Pennsylvania Scion May
Reap Benefit of
Anti-League
Agitation
By JAMES r. NOURSE
(Staff Correspondent Universal Ser

by JAMES n. NOURS
(Staff Correspondent Universal Ser
vice)
WASHINGTON.-Is Senator Knox
of Pennsylvania to become the bene-
ficiary of the overpowering senti-
ment against the league of nations
which has been stirred up through
out the country by Senator Hiram
Johnson in his campaign for the
presidency?
This Is the question whichh Sena-
tor Johnson's supporters here are
asking as the result OF, the declara-
ton by Senator Penrose in favor of
Knox as the Republican nominee.
Knox and Johnson have stood
squarely shoulder to shoulder on the
treaty issue. But johnson has car
ried the fight to the people and has
aroused sentiment against the
league that has swept him into first
position in every state where he was
an active candidate. 1t is this SEN
timent which is counted upon to land
him the nomination at Chicago IL his
nomination possibly can be obtained.
Johnson's supporters therefore are
asking why he should be expected to
step aside and permit Knox to be
nominated after all the fighting has
been carried on by the California
senator and Knox has not even been
an avowed candidate.
Some definite statement by Sem
ator johnson on the situation Great
ed by Penrose's announcement may
be expected from him when he re-
turns here next week after his cam
paign in Indiana. He is due to arrive
here Wednesday. The only comment
he has made on the matter thus far
was the sttement issued last night
at Terre Haute in which he said:
"Penroses declaration for Knox
as a presidential candidate comes as
a surprise to me. am not pre-
pared to say that my personal friend
ship for Mr.. Knox will lead me to
support Mr.. Penrose's position in
case of deadlock
That statement affords no ans
wer to the question of whether John
son will permit himself to be quiet
~ showed aside in favor of Knox il
1t should be found impossible to win
the nomination himself.
There is no question that in ad-
vancing the name of Knox, Penrose
and the others back of his candidacy
staked everything on the existing
friendship between Knox and John
son. In doing so, however, they
were without any intimation from
Johnson as to how far this bond OF
friendship might be stretched.
The suggestion that johnson
might accept the nomination for the
vice presidency on the ticket with
Knox savors too much of the conde-
scension in the opinion of Johnson's
admirers. 1t simply means that the
old guard manipulators recognize
that the growing strength behind
Johnson composes a factor which
cannot lightly be dealt with and they
are attempting to console him with
second place in order to get his
followers all behind the entire
ticket.
AS light begins to dawn upon the
Penrose announcement, it is inter-
preted here to have been made with
several distinct objects in view. The
purpose which Penrose had
IN mind was to clinch his hold on the
Pennsylvania political situation
which was threatened by the ascend
ancy of Governor Sproul and the in
vasion of the Wood forces. It is
that by coming out for
Knox, Penrose has executed a shrewd
move which has quoted the Sproul
sentiment and also has DESTROYED
any chance that Wood might have d
lad of capturing any votes in the
Pennsylvania delegation.
Woods candidacy, already on the
vane as the result of the Ohio and
New Jersey battles, has been given
deadening setback by Penrose's
announcement.
The same may be said for Gov
'rnor Lowden's candidacy, which ap-
'arently was growing in strength I'D
o the time that Penrose declared -
Knox; it is evident now that nsitR-
II Wood nor Lowden may expect any
Import from the Penrose following.
AS to the effect of Penrose's
tand upon Johnson's candidacy, it is
likely to help Johnson rather than
lurt him. Penrose never was for /.
ohnson, anyway, and it may be stat-W
q as fundamental proposition that
Johnson wins the nomination It
viii be in spite Of Penrose and not
Nth his help.
so far as Knox is concerned, no
ctive move by him toward captur-
ng the nomination is looked for.
Iather 1t is expected that he will
no move that might
urt Johnson's chances. He will &C.
ept the nomination If it comes to
I'm without any violent II it is full
demonstrated that Johnson cannot
in.
The latest bit Of gossip about the
rganization Of the convention is /.
lat Governor Morrow of Kentuckv n