The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-28
T ORD s v EEPS
COUNTRYIN
BALLOT
i.
Straw Vote Gives Him "a, $40
to Harding's 80, 236-Leads
All Democratic Candidates.

NEW YORK, June 2S.--With 1884,
724 votes counted, In Golfers face
to-face Presidential poll. Henry
Ford receives 64,94S and President
Harding 1926. Together they re-
ceived considerably more than half
the total vote, none Of the other
candidate, Democratic or Republic
can, developing any noticeable
strength.
win Ford stampede the Demo
cratic party? WIN the Republican
party take any steps to split the
Ford vote, or to prevent Fords
nomination by the Democrats?
These are the two questions
which the politicians viii be most
certain to ruminate upon this week.
pede is more apparent than ever.
| The South, for instance, is almost
solid for him. He is the favorite
in every Democratic State except
North Carolina (which favors Nc
| Adoo). And the result of the poll
| in many States In which the Demo
/ Gratis have never hoped to win
indicates that they might be car
ried for Ford.
Take Pennsylvania, for instance.
The total vote for all the candi-
dates who are known as Democrats
amounts to 4,047, while the Ford
vote alone is 5,266.
The vote for all candidates known
a. Republicans come to 7,185-easy
i picking against 4,047 Democratic
votes, but something else again
against Ford's 5,266 plus that part
\ OF the McAdoo, Cox and Smith vote
| which Ford as the Democratic can
didate might be expected to poll.
To be sure, il half the Democrats
were to bolt Ford and some Repub-
lican could capture all the regular
and insurgent Republican vote.
Pennsylvania might still be saved
for the G.. o. p.
In Doubtful States.
OF most of the doubtful states.
much the same can be said, even of
| New York, where Ford runs third.
California is an exception. Although
Ford has a handsome plurality,
there is nothing to indicate that he
i could carry the state against a
combination of the Johnson and the
Harding followers.
But this poll, If we mistake not,
| will do more than set the Democratic
politicians thinking. The Republican
politicians, in spite of the gratifying
vote for Harding, are apt to be dis
dressed by this unprecedented shift
OF voters to a man utterly unrelated
| to the world of politics.
! Harding Is so far in the Repub-
lican lead, to be sure. that no anti
/ Harding candidate can be con.
sidered; but is there a Harding
man who, in case Mr.. Ford is not
nominated by the Democrats, might
| make a considerable bid for this
mysterious and seemingly non.
| political 4 vote? Also is there a
candidate in sight whose nonina.
ton by the Republicans might tend
to keep the Democrats from nom
mating Ford?
Might Turn to Hoover.
| It would not be surprising IL this
line Of inquiry rnught compel the
Republican slate makers to think
| seriously Of Herbert Hoover. He
has been a faithful member of
| Mr.. Hardings Administration, and
his nomination might not be con.
strued as a reputation of the
President.
| 1t is possible that Mr.. Harding
himself might be disposed to favor
tiff a Ford landslide loomed too
ominously; while the Democratic
party, finding itself arrayed against
q dark horse, might take some
chances which it would not other.
! wise be disposed to take. On the
face of today's returns, Ford lie
| the only man who can lead the
Democrats to victory over Hard.
ing. But McAdoo 1887, Hoover
7,969-that's another story.
If Hoover and Ford should be
the nominees, 1t would mark a
turning point in American politics.
Not since Washington has America
had an engineering mind for Pres
| ident. The engineers in the mean
time have revolutionized our civil.
Zation.
Generally we have chosen a law.
yer for our leader, sometimes a
soldier, and recently an editor and
college professor.