Evening star., 1928-04-01
Willis Leaves Hoover Dominant Figure in the Ohio Primary
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary of National Developments Based on Reports
From The Stars Special Correspondents
and Staff Writer'S
.HE death Of Senator Frank
q. Willis. Ohio favorite son
candidate for the Repub-
lican presidential nomina-

candidate for the Repub-
lican presidential nomina-
ton. changed overnight the
the political situation in vital man.
ner. The primary for the choice
of Ohios delegates to the national
convention. set for April "a, has
been regarded as the probable
barometer OF the Hoovcr-for-Presi-
dent boom. A victory for Mr..
Hoover in Ohio. 1t was believed,
would assure him the nomination.
With Senator Willis out OF the
contest, the fight now becomes one
between Mr.. Hoover and the anti
Hoover forces. which in addition to
supporting Mr.. Willis. have sup
ported Frank o. Lowden OF Illi-
nois, Senator Charles Curtis OF
Kansas. Senator Jim" Watson OF
Indiana and, further In the back
ground, Vice President Dawes for
the presidential nomination. Mr..
Lowden is the second choice OF 81
of the Willis candidates for delegate
to the national convention. Senator
Curtis is the second choice OF
and Senator Watson the second
choice also Of 3. The other nine
Willis delegate candidates arc sup
porting Fisher. a dummy" candi-
date So-called.
The belief is that Mr. Hoover, un-
der the changed conditions. will win
a majority of the delegates from
Ohio. although the opposition may
defeat his delegates in some OF the
,f
large seem assured to Hoover.
The secretary OF state OF Ohio has
ruled that Senator Willis name re-
mains on the ballot. and the presi-
Dental preferential primary. which
runs along with the election of the
delegates. will be contest between
Mr.. Hoover and the late Senator
Willis. Under the Ohio law there
seems no way to substitute a candi-
date Tor Mr. Willis.
April presidential preferential pri-
maries may settle definitely the Re-
publican presidential nomination
and have an importan bearing upon
the choice of the Democrats in
Houston. according to the special
political correspondents OF The Star.
Two of the presidential primaries
take place during the coming week.
The first is in Michigan, on Mon
day, and the second In Wisconsin,
on Tuesday Secretary Hoover OF
the Department of Commerce is the
only Republican to file, and he Is eX-
pected TO have not only the prefer
ence vote but the hearty support of
the Michigan delegation at the Re-
publican national convention. On
the Democratic side Gov. Al Smith
of New York alone has filed. How
ever. the friends of Senator Thomas
j. Walsh of Montana have been ac-
tive since the announcement OF the
late Senator Ferris that he could
not favor Smith but did favor the
nomination of the Montanan. Un-
der the law voters may write in the
name OF Walsh II they wish. and
they may do so In considerable num-
bers, II Is said.
The Wisconsin primary is OF inter-
est principally TO determine whether
the La Toilette Progressive group Is
to continue in power or the stall
warts, the Republican old guard. Is
to win popular favor again. Both
Senator La Toilette and Senator
Blaine are candidates for delegate
at large TO the Republican national
convention. The La Toilette slate
of delegates Is pledged TO support
Senator Norris of Nebraska for the
presidential nomination. while the
stalwarts' slate, II chosen. Is to be
uninstructed. The chances appear
TO favor the La Toilette Blaine slate.
The Democratic primary in Wis
consin presents a mixed situation.
The only candidate to file for the
presidential preference is Senator
Reed of Missouri. But Senator Reed
has no delegate candidates. There
are two states OF Smith delegates
for districts and delegates at large.
Senator Walsh of Montana has filed
merely q slate for the four dele
gates at large. 1t appears that Smith
must have the district delegates, %
In number. Walsh may win the
delegates at large because Smith has
tNO AIGkEtS III bltB IlCtu, Atlu IttGu
will have the preference vote Of the
State.
The next two presidential pri-
maries fall on April l0-~in Nebraska
and Illinois In Illinois the battle
has become violent. with at least one
murder and two bombings In Chi
cago playing their part. The Small
Thompson Frank Smith combina-
ton is losing ground. according TO
reports, while the Lowden- -Deneen-
Emerson faction Is making headway.
The bombing OF Senator Deneen's
house and OF his candidate for
States attorney against Grove. the
incumbent. lis having It's effect on
public sentiment. Small seeking
third term as governor, is slip
ping" and Secretary Of State Emer-
son, his opponent. may be nomi-
mated. Frank l.. Smith may lose.
too. In his fight for denomination 10
the Senate, which declined TO permit
him 10 take seat In that body not
long ago.