The Washington herald., 1920-06-03
Johnson Placed
in inMoneyQass
BY Politicians
Efforts to Run Californian
AS Vice President More
Favorable.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.

W N@<AC Ne ADnoAs
Chicago, June 2. - The day of the
dark horse is here. Gloom pervades
the headquarters of the three DIE
spenders. II in the palatial halls
inhabited by the champions of Hi
ram. there is apparent a certain in
clination to hold him immune as the
man who caused all the revelations,
in the hotel lobbies, the feeling is
strong that he is virtually as deep
ly involved in the expenditure of
money as any of the rest. In pro-
paign and the number of States in
volved, the Johnson expenditures
rank well up with those of Wood
Wood Spending Outdone.
By the very volume of his exc
penditures, Wood has been undone-
When 1t was first demonstrated that
the Lowden campaign fund had at
tanned proportions approaching
$500, 900. the supporters of the I'LL
nois governor were sorely downcast
But when. on the day following, the
Wood expenditures were shown to
be in excess of $500, 600, the Low
den spirits rose. and depression was
the prevailing note in the Wood
headquarters. Now comes the rev.
elation of money paid directly to
delegates already elected by Low
den lieutenants, and even hardened
politicians are disinclined to share
responsibility for tactics of that
character. AS a result, gossip about
two hotels is decidedly unfavorable
to the governors prospects.
1t might be thought that in the
event of the disintegration of the
Wood and Lowden forces for this
cause johnson would be the bene-
fciary. His supporters are doing
their best to create sentiment to this
effect. But they underestimate the
degree of resentment of those whose
political plans have been overturned
by the Johnson crusade. They over
estimate the appeal which Johnson's
undoubted ability as a vote getter
may make to delegates who are here
to nominate a winner. That appeal
is doubtless great. In his primary
fights Johnson has demonstrated his
power to bring out a vote of cer-
tain class. in a contest in which only
politicians as a rule were interested
But many delegates are frankly ap-
prehensive that the character of his
support in the primaries will bring
out in opposition to him in the cleo
tion exactly the forces in the COM
munity to which the Republican
party normally appeals.
Does Not Meet Requirements.
For Johnson's support in his pri-
mary fights, though of varied ma
ture, has emphatically not been from
that business element to which his
party desires to appeal. In a year
when the public cry is for a busi-
ness man for President he meets
that qualification neither in his own
person nor in the character ofl his
supporters. And for this very rea-
son We find politicians here feeling
around vaguely for some sort of a
ticket which might combine the
Johnson strength with the more
solid qualifications of tested
statesman. So you will hear sug-
gestion of Hughes and Johnson.
Knox and Johnson, even Harding
and johnson. And it is significant
of the underlying distrust even in
the Johnsonian ranks of his ability
to win the first place that sugges-
tions of his character are not very
violently repudiated by his sup
porters.
1t was thought at one time that
the Californian would under no cir
cumstances consider the obscuration
of the Vice Presidency. But there
are signs he would not be wholly
ayerse. Perhaps since he has been
so seriously following the Roosevelt
record in his politics he may be in
fuenced by the fact that the Vice
Presidency was the spring board by
aid of which T. r. made his first
great leap. There is food for
thought in the fact that the men
suggested as running mates are as
a rule greatly his elders. In fact
the CHASTITY joke is current that
Hiram will only take SECOND place
with one of at least 6S years and
demonstrated hardening of the or
teries.
What may be the outcome of the
situation in which the Republicans
now find themselves can be judged
only from a reasonable considera-
ton of the circumstances.
Leaders Not Yet Arrived.
None Of the mer whose Judgment
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO.