New Britain herald., 1928-02-04
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 Washington. Feb. [ N-Ohio. home Of plany presidents and rich in political background. looms large already as . battlefield in the com lng presidential campaign. .s Virtual certainty of . contest be- tween Senator Frank B. Willis and Herbert Hoover in the preferential primary came overnight with de- selopments at Columbus and Wash inston that brought to light an un- der-surface struggle for convention delegates that has been going on for come time.
 At Columbus the republican state committed gave a 19 to endorse lnent to Willis and soon afterward Representative Burton of Ohio. an- bounced here that the dominant sentiment" in his state is for Hoover Burton urged Secretary Hoover to llle his candidacy and challenged Willis to contest. The senator promptly accepted in a statement that warned that this contest will he no kid glove or powder puff af- fair.''
 For several days partisans of Sena- tor Willis had sought in conferences here with friends Of Secretary Hoover to smooth over the Ohio situation to afford the senator | clear field in the primary.
 The statements of Willis and Bur ton clearly indicated that the par leys had failed and that If MT. Hoover enters his candidacy before the closing date, February 24, it will he at feast dual contest with in- ,toresting ramincations.
 Involved to a degree in the pros ~pective scrimmage are the political fortunes of two other Ohioans who are mentioned as presidential possi- bilities-vice-Pres Dawes, born in Marietta, and Speaker Longworth. Also on the battlefield. anxious lest they fall as innocent bystanders when the ballots bullets begin to fly. are Representative Begg. who has announced for the republican nom- ination' for governor, and Senator Fess. who is seeking reelection.
 I.engworth and Begg are under stood to have kept in close touch with developments here in the Willis Hoover parleys, but 50 far as surface indications 90. Vice-Pes- ident Dawes has done no more than reserve 2 seat at the ringside. Sena- tor Fess' only comment on the new est turn of events was that he re- gretted 1t. and that he will stand by Senator Willis, of course."
 Another possibility of the situa- ton is that if MT. Hoover decides to abandon his position in the shadows of the movement in his behalf and step into the sunlight of an entry in the Ohio primaries. Representa- tive Burton very likely will run as a convention delegate It large, pledged to the commerce secretary.
 It was Burton who made the key rote speech at the last republican convention and the former senator is equally powerful in party coun- cils in his state and in congress here.
 The situation was sharply defined in the announcement at Columbus by State Chairman Fred W. Warner that ''Senatoe Willis ia the choice of Ohio," and in the Burton and Willis statements here. Contrasting with Burton's declaration that Ohio fav- ors Hoover WIS Warmers conten- iion that any such sentiment is manufactured"
 Burton said he had made sur >ey ef the Ohio Aesd and had con- cluded that 1t was inviting Hoover's candidacy if he would accede to the wishes of friends that he enter the primary. He stressed . contention hat "the fact that a state has a candidate of its own should not pre- clude the people from expressing their choice among the candidates from other states"
 Senator Willis and Burton agreed that the contest should be friendly enc but Willis added that ''it should be understood by those undertaking to violate the decencies of politics by coming into the state and causing B development of political factions which will have serious effect upon our ticket for years to come, that this contest will be no kid glove or powder pun affair. Things will be called by their right names provided we are able to think of the word"
 Referring to Burton's statement that efforts had been made toward an agreement on selection of con- vention delegates, the senator said the proposed agreement was pre- dicted on conditions that no hon orable man could accept"
 Tt has been insisted at times. ' he said. that the Ohio delegation should be so made up that after casting ballot .or two for me, It was to ba delivered to Mir. Hoover. Certainly no self-respecting man would agree to such conditions"
 None of the statements made mention of prohibition, but under currents here have given indication that il will figure to some extent in the campaign. Willis supporters are confident that their absolutely dry candidate will show his greatest strength in the Ohio country dis tric's while Hoover's strength would come from city voters. They believe the city, vets" would sup port Hoover and it is their hope that Senator Willis will demand Of the commerce secretary that he de- fine his position on prohibition.
 The Willis people fully expect him 70 round up at least 90 of Ohlo's 51 delegates, but believ.