Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-13
WEEKS IS DOOMED
FOR SENATE RACE
m MASSACHUSETTS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ieased Wire Service to The Journal.)
- (CnpvriObf


Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-Rob-
ert Lincoln O'Brien, editor of the
Boston Herald, had luncheon with
President Coolidge today-the first
of the editorial fraternity to sit at
the White House table under the
new administration. Mr.. O'Brien,
who watches Massachusetts politics
with an eagle eye from year to year,
brought tidings Of the situation
there.
There's a rather interesting sena-
torial situation in Massachusetts,"
said Mr.. O'Brien to the writer to.
day. If things had been normal.
Senator David 1. Walsh, Democrat,
would have been very hard man
to beat next year, and consequently
the Republican nomination would
not have been so earnestly sought
after. AS the nomination of Mr..
. Coolidge for president seems to be
fore ordained, there is feeling that
with a Massachusetts, man running
for the presidency, the local ticket
will be helped immensely. Everybody
in Massachusetts, seems to be pleased
that man from New England is
in the White House. and L believe
Mr.. Coolidge will carry the state
by an overwhelming majority-in
fact, a sweep as big as that which
Mckinley had over Bryan.
Naturally the people of Massa.
chusetts would like to see the Repub-
Ican nomination go to John W.
Weeks, secretary of war, if he wants
it. There was a feeling when Sena
tor Walsh beat Mr.. Weeks for re-
election in 1913, that the latter SUI.
fered an undeserved defeat 1t would
be poetic justice to restore him if
he wants the senatorship.
Two Candidates GrOOmed
"The friends of Louis Coolidge
predict that he will be a candidate
for the Republican nomination, and
that William NJ. Butler, Republican
national. committeeman from Massa-
chusetts, will be another"
There is no telling what the atti.
tude of President Coolidge will be
! towards the selection of a Repub.
lican nominee for United States sen.
ator in his own state. ..
Usually president is consulted
about such things. Mr.. Wilson had
much to do with the New Jersey
senatorial primaries when he was in
the White House and while Mr..
Harding outwardly refrained from
interference in Ohio, his close
friends did participate in the 1922
primaries there.
There has always been talk of
Mr.. Weeks returning to the senate
where he made a good record, leav-
Ing the majority Of his party asso-
states to vote for the federal reserve
act when the Democrats were in
control of congress, and otherwise
showing an independence Of action
which was widely commented on at
the time. Mr.. Weeks is also consid-
. Fred as the most likely successor to
Secretary of the Treasury Andrew
w. Mellon in case he ever decides
TO retire from public life. Mr.. Mel
lon is valued highly by President
Coolidge and practically everybody
IN the administration would dislike
TO see him retire but he has been
represented at times as desirious OF
leaving the arduous tasks of public
office for less active life. He has
hrge business interests to supervise
which have not been getting his
lime and attention. Probably no
man has made bigger sacrifices to
Ierve. the government.
Seen as Senate Leader
Mr.. Weeks is close to the new
president, Of course, as they were
associated in Massachusetts politics
Ind would be so in any cabinet post.
But he originally would have pre-
ierred the secretaryship of the
treasury when Mr.. Harding selected
bim for secretary of war. Mr..
Weeks was a banker before he went
INTO politics. There is also the pos
Dibility that Mr.. Weeks might aspire
20 the. leadership of the senate if
he returned to that body. There is
rho certainty that Senator Henry
Sabot Lodge will care to remain as
Republican leader. Mr.. Underwood
Ielinquished the Democratic leader
Jhip because OF the strain of the job.
Mr.. Weeks, if reelected to the SEN
lte, would be recognized in any con-
lest for leadership as eminently de-
Grable.
So the Massachusetts senatorial
Gtuation has possibilities in it and
before long the pilgrims from that
tate will be seeking Mr.. Coolidge's
bdvice as we'll as influence in de.
dding upon a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination.