The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-08
DELEGATES ASKING
 IN WHAT DIRECTION
 THEY ARE STEERING
Old-timers Wondering What Will Happen Next Unless Some One Is Found to
 Lead Delegates
By AssocIafso rrs.s


 Chicago, June Tits old time leaders unhorsed and it's favorites for the presidency deadlocked, the republican party will begin it's national convention here tomorrow un- der conditions of uncertainty unparalleled in recent political history.
 Embossed and largely unorganized, the delegates were asking one anoth- CT tonight in what direction they were straying and when a master would arise to lead them out of the wilder ness of their own indecision.
 In the noisy turmoil of conven-
 ton eve, the only definable trend
 seemed to be driving Wood, Low
 den nnd Johnson into a deadlock
 fight which it was recognized
 everywhere might destroy them
 all. The Oldtimers, reflccting that
 1t is but a step from a deadlocked
 convention to a stampeded con-
 vention, wondered what might
 happen next unless some tried and
 trusted leader settled himself se-
 curely in the saddle.
 Many were recalling the Chicago convention of 1880, when the favorites all were deserted after a deadlock of thirty-five ballots and James A. Gar field, who had won the convention by a nominating. speech, was named.
 MUCH DARK HORSE TALK
 Talk of dark horse, in which some of the more experienced practical poll : ticians joined tonight for the first time, began to revolve with increasing frankness about the disclosures of the Senates investigation of campaign ex- penditures. At many scattering con- ferences those who advocate a dark horse nomination predicted that in the end no man whose name was in- volved at all In the evidence of the in- vestigating committee could be put before the county as the party's choice.
 In the main, however, the leaders and near leaders caucused and con- ferred and brought forth nothing. Even those who held the whip hand over a few delegates here and there seemed unable to get together with the other greater and lesser potential dictators of party policy. The result was foggy picture of the possibilities of the next few days
 1t became apparent that unless
 there came a dramatic and unex-
 Pected change the first ballot would
 be taken Wednesday Thursday
 and will record votes for between
 fifteen and twenty candidates for
 the presidency, with scarcely more
 than half enough to nominate in
 the Wood, LOwden or Johnson
 column.
 MAY NOT STAND STRAIN
 To what extent the managers for the leading three can hold their dele gates in line after an unsuccessful test of strength is subject of con- troversy. There are those who con- tradict the claims of the Wood, Low den and Johnson whips that their or ganizations are cohesive enough to stand the strain of failure to nomi- nate on an early ballot
 In any case no one has longer pre- tender to be sure just what will hap pen after a roll call or two has passed into history. The guess of some of the veterans is that votes will swirl and bunch and scatter again like the sands of the sea. And those who hope for stampede are counted on to turn loose every variety of spell binding emotional whirlwind.
 It is situation which gave the bosses of other days many good laugh in their sleeves as today's de- velopments moved in feverish circles Those of the old-time. out-of-date school remained largely to themselves, however. hoping for the best. but shaking their heads sadly at the mem- ory of steam rollers used and wires pulled in the times when leader could be sure of his ground.
 LEADERS SATISFIED
 The new leaders of the party, how ever including Will Fl. Hays. the na- tional chairman. declared their entire satisfaction with the absence of the old methods.
 At last. said MT. Hays. the country was seeing what it mad demanded a convention absolutely unbossed and acting for itself. He predicted that the outcome would be beneficial to the standing of the party.
 One effect of the prospective dead lock was to add impetus today to the movement to make the temporary or ganization of the convention perma- nent. Sentiment among the delegates is strongly against prolopging the convention into next week if 1t can be avoided, and it was argued that if Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, the temporary chairman. were elected to serve also as permanent chairman the formalities might be greatly short ened.
 There also was feeling among some of the delegates against setting up for the critical period of balloting a permanent organization which might be elected after fight and thus might feel obligated to one group or another. The managers for some of the candi- dates said they hoped for an agree ment continuing Senator Lodge in the chairmanship.
 NO DECISION REACHED
 On all hands it was declared. how ever, that no decision had been reached. The friends of Senator Mo- Cormick of Illinois and of former Sena- tor Beveridge of Indiana. who have been brought forward for the pernia- nant chairmanship, continued their campaigns and both predicted victory. The movement to shorten up the con- vention as much as possible found strong support among the western del- egates who have become greatly con cerned over the prospective conges ton of railway passenger traffic west of Chicago next week. In addition to the advance guard of the democratic national convention 1t was pointed out. thousands will be going to Portland for the meeting of the Mystia5 Shrine. AL ready reservations or .eest-bound
 SCentia.e4 ea esse six,