Evening star., 1928-04-29
OHIO DELEGATES
STAND IS PUZZLE
Twenty Former Supporters
of Willis Silent on Kansas
City Attitude.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

will the 20 delegates elected to the Kan
SaS City convention. having been origi-
nally nominated as Willis supporters.
take as to the support of candidate
for the presidential nomination? Most
Of them declared after the death of
Senator Willis for candidates other than
Secretary Hoover-most of them for
Vice President Dawes. several for former
Gov. Lowden and two for Senator Cur
It's Of Kansas. Since the election none
of these delegates has made further
utterance in regard to that matter.
1t Is rumored that there Is to be a
conference OF the 30 minority delegates
next week to discuss the question of
their support Col Carmi A. Thompson,
manager of the Willis movement has
| not broken his silence since the election.
Having been defeated as a candidate for
delegate at large. he will not be in the
Kansas City convention. but he will no
doubt be on the ground to advise with
the 20 Willis delegates who were sue
cessful-now generally referred to as
the anti Hoover delegates.
Not Expecting support.
The Hoover management here is not
expecting their support It is generally
believed that these 20 delegates will
seek ALLIANCES with the other anti-Hoover
elements in the convention, uniting with
them In support of whatever candidate
seems to them most likely to accomplish
Secretary Hoovers defeat-unless de-
velopments between now and the con-
vention should make 1t plain that his
nomination is inevitable in which case
they might decide to make the best of
the situation and drop useless opposi-
| ton.
The 90 anti-Hoover delegates could
probably be best united In support of
Vice President Dawes, as native of
Ohio, though even II that should be de-
termined upon they would carry the
banner Of Gov, Lowden. Mr. Dawes not
being candidate, and swing to Dawes
as soon as his candidacy develops in the
convention.
Anti-Hoover Republicans here are
pointing to the fact that the corn belt
districts all elected anti-Hoover dele
gates, indicating corn belt opposition
TO Secretary Hoover. Unfortunately
however, for this argument, the fourth
district, which is the most pronounced
corn and hog" section of the State,
elected Hoover delegates. The fact is
that he rural districts generally held
the Willis strength because of his dry
attitude. the rural portions Of Ohio be-
ing usually dry. The fourth district is
IL
ing largely German Lutherans, the most
OF whom have no use for the Anti-Sa-
loon League.
Went as Predicted.
In general the districts went as was
predicted by the politicians--excepting
the fourth. which Is above explained
the big city districts without exception
going Hoover and the rural districts 60
ing Willis. But the city districts went
Hoover with more decisive majoriticS
than were expected. It was counted
confidently that the third district
dayton. the ninth tToledol and the
twelfth (ColumbusD would show safe
Hoover majorities, but they all gave
three-to-one votes for Hoover, which,
added to the tremendous Hoover MAORI |
ties rolled up in Cincinnati and Cleve- |
land. as expected. put the Hoover dele
gates at large over by two-to-one vote |
Nothing took place In either Cincin- |
natl or Cleveland on election day TO |
support the charge OF Chairman Fred |
w. Warner that the Hoover managers !
there were planning frauds. and nothing |
has been said about any such practices |
since the election, which would seem TO |
confirm the suspicion that 1t was moth |
ing but campaign cry for effect on the |
voters. The result must be accepted as
a fair expression of the sentiment of |
Ohio Republicans, and the result in all
probability would not have been mate |
riallY different If Senator Willis had |
lived. The fact that In spite OF the |
Senator's death his faithful followers
marked his name on the preferential /
ballot, just as though he were living
for the vote on that ballot stood Just |
about as that on delegates at large did |
goes TO prove this.
In view OF the fact that so many |
original Willis delegates had declared |
before the election their support of |
Dawes, the Hoover adherents here are |
inclined 10 regard the primary election |
result as a gauge OF the sentiment OF |
Ohio Republicans toward the PROPOSE |
ton 10 bring out the Vice President as |
a candidate at Kansas City.
Willis Men Bitter.
The next most important question In |
the situation now is, will the bitterness
Of the Republican primary campaign
have adverse effect upon Republican
chances In the state at the November
election. There Is plainly very bitter
feeling on the part Of the Willis leaders
Just now. and 1t Is directed at Mr..
Burton, Walter r. Brown, Maurice
who as the result Of Tuesdays voting
become the real heads Of Republican
affairs In Ohio. The present Repub-
lican State committee, which is anti
Hoover by a tW0-thirds majority. will
remain In actual control of party af~
fairs until after selection of new
State committee In the Republican
State primaries In August Whether
this feeling will persist through the
months intervening before the Eovem~
ber election viii depend largely upon
the attitude Of the leaders Of the VIC
torious faction.
The Republicans now plunge into an
other primary campaign 10 chose can
oidates for State Offices, with plenty
of sources OF further dlssengione, and
the situation In one that will demand
careful handling, IL the electoral vote
ri the state In not 10 be imperilcd at
this early stage Of the national con-
test
Senator Feas. occupying an anomalous
position all through the presidential
primary campaign as candidate for
delegate at large on the antiyHonVer
ticket while really IN sympathy with
the Hoover movement. now finds HIM
self IN a similar one~~ehosen rs the
keynote speaker Of the national con-
yention and yet a defeated candidate
for delegate 10 that convention. OF
course his position is entirely UNDER
stood here, but IL may be little diffi-
cult 10 understand TO Republicans else
where.
Burton Contest Doubtful.
II Is not believed by friends Of Rep
resentatiye Burton here that he will
become a candidate for nomination for
United States Senator this year. Of
course he would not stand for nomina~
ton for the regular term against fsena-
TOR Fess. and Chief Justice Marshall OF
ths State Supreme Court has announced
himself as Il candidate for nomination
by the Republicans for the seat made