Evening star., 1928-04-08
TESS CAN CONTROL
! OHIO ORGANIZATION
Willis Death Leaves Way
Open for Senator to Be-
come Permanent Chief.
n,snatch 10 The Star

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April THE
| change that the death of Senator Willis
has caused in Ohio politics is registered
almost wholly in the control of the
! Republican State organization. Senator
FesS becomes by this event at least
! titular head of that organization. For
the rest of this year. at least, he will
have complete authority over Federal
patronage in the State, which until now
he had shared with his Senatorial col
league. The way seems to be open to
him now. if he has political ability
and he has already given evidence that
he haS--to place himself permanently
in control of the Republican State
organization.
AS for the Republican presidential
primary, it will proceed as before Sem
ator Willis death, and for all that can
now be seen ahead. the result so far
as the selection Of delegates in the dis
tricts is concerned will probably be
just what it would have been If SEN
ator Willis had lived. The chances for
the Hoover organization to elect the
delegates at large have no doubt been
materially increased, for voters will
naturally hesitate to vote for a person
known to be dead. But the Willis per-
Sonality will not present itself on the
district delegate ballots.
Willis Chances Scant.
The form in which the Republican
presidential primary election now pre-
sentS itself brings out the fact, as 1t
was not presented before, that the con-
test is really an anti-Hoover and pro-
Hoover one. While many of the friends
of Senator Willis hoped, and even be-
lieved, that he would carry the State
in the primary and control the State
delegation. few Of them ever felt that
there was anything more than re-
mote chance.
The old guard Republicans of the
State believed that whatever might be
the claims of Secretary Hoover to
membership in the party. he was not
their kind of a Republican. and would
not be likely. II elected President. to
play the game" as they put 1t, and so
they were, and still are. against his
nomination. Senator Willis candidacy
lent itself we'll to their uses. but all the
while the organization was first anti
Hoover and then pro-Willis, though that
is not TO say that their support of the
Senator was not sincere. The sentiment
against MFR. Hoover is still the control
ling and determining cause of the move
ment against him here, which Is now
for the first time called by its right
name.
The Willis organization. for II still
retains that name. was unable TO agree
on a single candidate when the dele
gates met here for consultation last
Tuesday. following the funeral OF Sem
ator Willis. and they were unable to do
it because of the attitude of Senator
FeSs. The Senator did not attend the
conference, proceeding directly TO
Washington with the members of Con-
gress from other States in the funeral
party, but he sent word TO Col Carmi
A. Thompson that he would not stand
for any agreement TO pledge the dele
gates elected on the Willis ticket to
support MFR. Lowden. II that action
should be taken, he gave notice that he
would repudiate ii so far as he was
concerned. and he placed his declara-
tion on the fact that Mr.. Lowden was
basing his candidacy mainly on his
support of a policy as to farm relief,
which President Coolidge had rejected.
He would not join in any such repudi-
alton OF one of the outstanding acts Of
the President as the Endorsement OF
Mr.. Lowden by Ohio Republicans would
be.
Hooverites Cautious.
That notice is said 10 have led to
the decision TO let the delegates stand
without instructions, except as to their
second choices already registered when
they entered their candidates..
Hoover managers have realized that
the situation presented by the death OF
Senator Willis was one calling for
caution on their part. The Hoover
headquarters were closed at once and
not opened again until the announce
ment from the Willis management that
the fight would go forward exactly as
before, except that their delegates would
be uninstructed That was interpreted
as meaning that the object would be 10
secure in this way as many delegates In
Ohio as possible TO use In cooperation
with other antf-Hoover forces In the
convention to prevent his nomination.
Former Representative Cole, who was
Senator Willis chief of staff In primary
stump work, viii take the place OF the
Senator in the speaking assignments
that had been made for the Senator.
Charles n. Jones, the Senator's secre-
tary. will also be used as a speaker.
Senator Fess, by the aloofness that
he maintained from both the Hoover
and the Willis primary organizations
here, Is we'll positioned To secure favor
from both sides II he wishes 10 place
himself firmly in control OF the entire
Republican machine. the present he-
publican State committee is over
whelmingly a pro-Willis one. and as
Senator Fess is at least nominally anil
ated with that element OF the party, ne
will be acceptable there. He has shown
himself sufficiently tree lance, how
ever. To be looked upon with favor BY
the Hoover following.
May Aid His Choice.
The election OF a member OF the ma
tional committee is the first thing In
sight in the control Of the State organ
ization 1t is possible that Senator Fess
may hold the balance Of power In the
delegation to Kansas City and throw
this honor 10 a person Of his choice.
In the selection Of Senator Fess as
temporary chairman OF the Kansas City
convention, politicians here see an early
test of the draft Coolidge" sentiment
in the convention for, being an ardent
admirer OF the President, the Senator
viii be sure to open his address with a
tribute Of praise for the present national
administration. J. II. oALBRAITH.
.
NEW JERSEY SEES BREAK