The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-07
Hoover or Hand-P Picked?

NAASHVAAS 70 "-AS 1850
Lowden battle had died, Warren G. Harding was
nominated in the Republican national convention OF
1920.
While the actual nomination occurred in the con-
vention ITSELF the real job done in the smoke
filled room of Chicago hotel
Harry Daugherty was in that room, and Jake
Hanon. Boise Penrose of Pennsylvania was there
in voice. if not person. for the long distance tele-
phone was working between Chicago and Penrose III
Pennsylvania Other professionals were in attend
ance The trick was quickly turned after the psyche
logical moment had arrived. The deadlock between
Wood and Lowden was broken and Harding was
sent in.
To turn the trick many promises had to be made.
Jake Hamon was scheduled for high place in the
Harding administrations high place that death at
the hands of Clara Smith prevented him from at
tanning
And so were Albert Fall and Daugherty, and so
were other members of the "Ohio gang" of which
Daugherty was the presiding genius ITO the victors
belong the spois,' and promises always go along with
such settlements.
The great game of politics as played every four
years has its equipment three chief bits of
paraphernala. One is the favorite Another is
the unnstructed delegate. The third is the unit
rule.
To be able to control State delegation; to de-
liver the delegates at the critical moment during
national convention, is the professional politicians
supreme ambition. In achieving that ambition,
favorte son may help as a means of holding dele
cation in line, or if the delegation is uninstruced
and the unit rule vogue professional leader
can keep his flock together for "the break"
The Jake Hamons, the Harry Daughertys and
others of their ik who typify professional politics,
foil 70
State delegations Out of success grow lower in pat
ronage and all the other fruits of political prefer
ment even unto Teapot Dome.
Such professional politicians get in their work
ahead Of the time when the general public wakes up
to what is going Even they are busy, ar
ranging things that when June and the con-
venton assemblies, they will have the power to d-
rect the nomination
The work" starts with the precinct meetings in
some States In others it is performed in the pres-
Dental primaries. But regardless of what the sys-
tenn to MISREPRESENTATION may be, you will find the
professional politicians adept at bringing forth
crop of pawns
1t is for that reason that Herbert Hoover opposed
by many of his partys most astute professionals is
III danger, despite the flood of favorable public senti-
ment that has been sweeping the country in his
behalf since Coolidge issued his do not choose
to run"
1t is entirely possible for man like Hoover
though possessing vast majority in public senti-
ment to lose nevertheless when the real game starts
in convention hail.
This newspaper desires most earnestly to repeat
the warming as the time approaches for the precinct
meetings, the county conventions, the State con-
ventions, the presidential primaries and all the other
prerninaries.
For, unless the rank and file take part in those
prelmlnareS, and thereby that delegates respon-
SVe TO the popular will are selected the professionals
VIII control when nominating time comes around
And. instead Of like Hoover the country
VIII again be voting in November for some candidate
such as 1920 brought forth hand-picked in the wee
small hours of smoke-fed hotel room.