Evening star., 1923-10-21
ACT TOFORESTALL
JOHNSONI IN OHIO
Willis May Enter Primary in
Behalf of Coolidge Against
Californian.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
COLUMBUS. Ohio, October 2o.-f
Senator Hiram Johnson enters the pres
idential primary in Ohio and President
Coolidge does not wish to seem to be
Smoked out" it is likely Senator Frank
b. Willis will enter as candidate for
the support of the Ohio delegation, with
the understanding that the delegates
elected under his name later be re-
leased TO support Mr.. Coolidge.
In view of the increasing evidence
that it is the intention of Johnson
managers to come into Ohio, this plan
has been suggested. Senator Willis Is
already pledged to the support of Presi-
dent Coolidge and there would not be
the SnghteSt ground for suspicion that
he was not acting in good faith Sena-
tor johnson might be anticipated by
the filing of Senator Willis decIara-
ton as candidate immediately SO that
there would be the same reason for his
not entering Ohio in search of dele
gates as led him to avoid Ohio in 1920
unless he should claim that Senator
Willis was not acting in good faith, as
Mr.. Harding undoubtedly was three
years ago.
There is a feeling among republican
leaders of Ohio, who are without ex-
ception decidedly in favor of the nomi-
nation of the President next year, that
ieft here for Senator Johnson. There
IS In the rank and file of the party an
clement favorable to a candidacy of the
Johnson. type and some misgiVing as to
whether President Coolidge really has
the personal appeal to make him a
strong candidate. With no definitely
indicated candidacy in opposition and
no strong campaign speakers to meet
the Johnson arguments. the Californian
lnight-in fact. he would be almost GER
IO-CanInT6 he .laIn
gates.
Democrats Split.
The Ohio democratic organization
Is being SO completely shot through
with factional dissensiou that 1t
seems quite certain that the state.
originally reliably republican, will
give her electoral vote to the repub-
lican candidate for President next
year, no matter who he may be- The
gathering of clouds of organization
opposition about the head of Gov. A.
y. Donahey has been referred to be-
1ore, put IT seemed likely that the
storm would not fully burst until
after the impending municipal cleo
lions OF this year. But the last week
has seen meeting of a number of
me democratic leaders here regarding
5eleetion of a candidate to enter
nat1on. They met behind closed doors
but the secret got out They have not
agreed on a candidate but have
agreed to enter one.
1t does not seem likely that they
can accomplish the defeat of the gov
ernor for nomination, though at the
poEs in November a different story
may be told.
Though Col. Carmf A Thompson,
the unsuccessful candidate of the re-
publtcans last year for governor. mas
not formally declared himself q can
ddate, H.. \. Blair, his campaign
manager last year and who has
always been closely affiliated with
thompson in politics, gave out a
statement this week TO the effect that
col Thompson will undoubtedly enter
the primary. Col Thompson probably
has the largest following of any one
yet mentioned for. the nomination. and
With the vote of the state split up
between a large field Of gubernatoriaI
Sandidates his nomination should
5e reasonably certain. So 1t seems
likely that the state campaign of next
% year win be staged. with the same
party leaders as last year, but with.
chances decidedly in favor of the
republicans. J. H. GALBRAITH.