Evening star., 1928-03-04
WILLIS AND HOOVER
STRATEC|STS MEET
Secretary's Backers Grow
More Confident After Dis
trict Survey.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

COLUMBUS. Ohio, March 3.-ThS
strategy boards Of the opposing Hoover
willis forces have held meetings III:
week and lcss of the interesting cor
test has appeared iii the open. though
probably much more has been going G.
under cover. Col Carmi A. Thompson
manager Of Senator Willis interest:
had a sroup Of Willis leaders. including.
Chairman Warner Of the Republican,
State committee and Wilma Slnclai:
levan, woman member Of the Repub-
lican national committee. in conference
With him at the Willis headquarters
here Tuesday and stated that he
planned to have similar conference
every Tuesday until primary election
Gay. with different group OF Wills
workers present on each occasion.
The list Of those present at Tuesday s
conference contained but one name that
had not already been listed in the
Willis ranks. That was Arthur l..
vorys of Columbus. who was the man
ager Of the Taft interests. Norys has
alwavs insisted on party regularity ana
So while he had not been identified With
the Willis interests before. his lining up
with that element Of the party IN the
present controversy Is exactly what
would be expected. He is thus brough.
whose nomination he helped to ac-
corlplisa II l9os-Robert Tafe Of
Cincinnati. who is leader in the
Hoover movement and one of the
Hoover delegate e-at-large candidates.
Form Hoover Clubs.
AS expected. Hoover managers are
resorting to the formation OF Hoover
clubs in the cities Of the State. which
ai-
regular party organization in furthering
Hoover interests locally. The Repub-
iicsn organizations. State and local.
have been captured by the Willis man
ayers with the exception OF those III
Cincinnati. Cleveland and possibly
Toledo The situation is IN doubt IN
the latter city still.
Here in Columbus the Repubncan
organization will take no position as 10
the nomination for the presidency. Ine
chairman, Harry L. Arnold. has assured
senator Willis Of his personal support.
but the district committee will take no
action in the matter.
The Hoover supporters In Columbus
organized large Hoover Club last week
with Gen. Edward Orton. one OF the
Hoover candidates for delegate at large
as president. A supplementary club OF
students OF the Ohio State University
was also organized to work among
students.
Following the conference at the Willis
headquarters here Tuesday, Col. Thomp-
son gave out a statement to the effect
that the Hoover movement was SLOW
ing down" not only III Ohio but all
over the country. as the result OF Ques-
tions intended 70 bring out Mr.. Hoover's
position on the League OF Nations, the
Chicago drainage canal and temper
ance II was evident from what hasald
that the Willis leaders are not entirely
satisfied with the answer OF Secretary
Hoover 10 Senator Borah's question
naire on prohibition. It will probably
be their policy to press for more ex-
piicit expressions on this matter and to
question his attitude toward the other
two propositions referred to above
Is Labeled Bunk"
The Ohio State Journal, central organ
Of the Ohio Republicans. which favors
Hoover, refers TO this inquiry on the
part Of Col Thompson as campaign
bunk"
The statement was given out from
Hoover headquarters during the week
that the Cleveland News, Republican
organ. had decided the support Secre-
tary Hoover. but so far no declaration
OF that sort has been made by the
paper.
Il vas beiieved when the presidential
primary campaign started that the
willis side would have decided advan-
tage from the fact tha, the State or
ganizat!on being for Senator Willis.
candidates for nomination and election
20 all Offices in the State would be
st~ sA he tt1v N
line up with the Willis organization in
the primary. or at least to remain
neutral. but Saturday evening. Matthew
L. Bigger, Columbus attorney. in an
nouncing himself as candidate for the
Republican nomination for attorney
general. stated that he was in favor Of
the nomination OF Hoover.
Hcoverites Confident.
This Is an indication Of the growing
confidence IN the ability o. the Hoo9er
movement 10 carry the State When the
contest started il Vas generally re-
garoed as certainty that willis would
have & majority Of the delegation
electes 70 represent the State al the
Kansas City convention. Outside Of the
Wills organization this is not now
generally regarded as sure. Col. Thad
Brown. head Of the Hoover organiza-
ton. speaking Of The reports he was re-
ceiy,ng from the districts u the State,
said Thursday that he did not concede
single district 10 Wills
All the hope ~ the Wills managers
thai there might BE- q split In the Re-
publican parry IN Hamilton County on
the .ndoy1efrsent of Secretary Hoover
vanished last week when the element Of
ti1e o;ganlzatlou ruled over by Fred
Echnel.er anc tna, ~ which former
Congressman Victor J Hlnsz Is the
head net ard adOpteG Without coniro-
sersy resolution indorsing Hoover
J II OkLEPAITH