AMERICAN REPUBLICANS.

Evening Star, Issue 19774, 26 January 1928, Page 6

AMERICAN REPUBLICANS.

Mystery still surrounds Mr Coolidge’s attitude to the coming election for President of the United States. His first announcement was that he did not “ choose ” to rim for the Presidency in 1928. In the subsequent discussions some of his supporters insisted that the Republican Party throughout the country preferred him before all others, and that probably he would not refuse to run if he were unanimously renominated. One of his closest political friends, a member of the Senate, expressed the opinion that the Republican Convention would not be able to make a choice from the candidates on the first ballot, and then the delegates from some State would cast its vote solidly for Mr Coolidge, and he would be renominated virtually by acclamation. This would take the responsibility from him, and would anticipate charges that he had retracted his previous statement and was voluntarily breaking the unwritten rule which has so far prevented anyone from being elected for a third term. Mr Coolidge reproved his impetuous supporter for making such a statement, since it put the President in the position of appearing inconsistent, te which the reply was made ihat Me Coolidge could net prevent

the Convention from nominating him. The next event of interest was the holding of a meeting of the Republican National Committee at Washington, at which, after an acrimonious debate and twenty ballots, it was decided that the meeting plact of the Republican Convention should be Kansas City. Following this, the members of the Convention went to White House to hear the President give an address to the party. As one critic said: “He read what every correspondent in Washington had already read, which was nothing much. Mr Coolidge can say less in more words than any other man who has ever been in the White House.” Then ho made an utterance that had not been included in the advance copies of hft speech. His words, referring to the Presidency, were: “My decision will be respected.” That seems definite enough, and the natural conclusion is that the Republican candidate will be someone else, It remains to be seen, supposing that Mr Coolidge is quite sincere in his professed wish to retire, whether there will be a wave of sentiment in his favor sufficient to cause him to bow to the popular will. One reason for a desire among some of those who control the party machine for the retention of Mr Coolidge is that the danger of a serious split in the party would be obviated. As things are at present ho commands the allegiance of the party as a whole, though at times there have been indications of dissatisfaction in the Western States. It is claimed that if iso were to run again there would be no dissension in the party as between Conservatives and Progressives, Fast and West, Wets and Brys. He would run on his record, which in the main has the approval and endorsement of the Republicans throughout the country. It was reported from Washington this week that a movement, originating in the New England States, had been started to draft Mr Coolidge as the Presidential nominee, with the sanction, it was reported, of the chairman of the Republican National Committee, who a few days earlier was advocating the claims of Mr Herbert Hoover. Should Mr Coolidge maintain his present attitude, it is evident that there will be a bitter struggle among the various factions to secure the nomination. For instance, Senator Curtis is frequently mentioned as an aspirant whose chances are good, but Senator Borah, who is said to desire nomination himself, and who is a vigorous supporter of the “dry” platform, has sent him a letter demanding a reply to several pointed and embarrassing questions as to his views on Prohibition and its enforcement. To these, however, Senator Curtis replied quite frankly. Next, Senator La Follette, the aggressive son of an aggressive father, announced that he would lead a delegation at the Convention in favor of Senator Norris, who, like Senator Borah, is described as a Progressive. Senator Norris denounces the Administration’s naval and military plans and favors an amendment of the Volstead Act. In addition to that of Mr Hoover, a number of prominent names that are under discussion are those of the Vice-President (General Hawes), Mr Lowden (a former Governor of Illinois), and Mr A. W. Mellon (Secretary of the Treasury, and a millionaire). Others will emerge as time goes on, representative of sectional interests in which the divergence of views between the Eastern and Western States will be emphasised. All these are points that show the possibility of disruption in the party, and explain the desire of some of its leaders to retain Mr Coolidge at the White House.