San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-07
Party Leaders to Confer
on Future Immediately
After Funeral.
SENATE IS A WORRY
Coolidge May Find 1t Un-
tractable Especially on
World Court.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

BY HOBERT Il. SMALL.
Copyright, by The San Antonio Light
Washington, d. c., Aug. lead,
ers Of the Republican party from all
nfections of the country already are
gathering in Washington for a series
Of important party conferences to be
held soon after the funeral services
for the late President Harding are
concluded. Many of the leaders will
60 to Marion for the interment on
Friday, returning Immediately to the
capital so that the conferences affect
ing the entire future of the G.. o. P.
may be begun by Monday next.
In way, these conferences will be
/. parallel to the "best minds gath
h ering in Marion after the election of
4 Mr.. Harding and prior to his inau-
guration. There will be more of a
party tinge to the Washington confer
ence, however, for it is realized that
the death of President Harding, al
most on the eve Of presidential cam-
paign, has confronted the Republicans
with unexpected problems, requiring
sound thought and mature Judgment.
Naturally, one of the first acts Of
President Coolidge was to announce
that he would forward in every way
possible the policies of the Harding adj
ministration. This statement was TAX
en- and should be taken at its full
value. 1t does not mean, however,
that Mr.. Coolidge will be barred from
having some policies of his own. And
it is in consideration of his course in
that direction that the party leaders as
whole are interested.
Senate May BE Untractable.
Mr.. Coolidge's first instincts are to
consult as far as possible with his col
leagues of the Senate in mapping out
his future political program. Like
Mr.. Harding, but all indications are
he will find the upper branch of Con-
Senate. Perhaps Mr.. Coolidge ex-
poets the support of the Senate rs
Mr.. harding, but all indications are
he will find the upper branch of Con-
gress over which he presided for more
uhpn two years, extremely difficult to
oeal with. The Senate, as at present
d constituted, does not go very much on
sentiment. And furthermore, there
are a number of political bees buzz
ing in the Senate. That will not make
1 some of the senator's pre-disposed to
meekly follow the dictate Of new
man in the White House who may
| cast his own New England farmers
/ hat into the ring before many moths
\ have passed.
4 President Coolidge recognizes that
4 the Senate will have much to do. with
/ his own career. That is why one of
I his first acts was to send for Sena-
! tor Frank Brandegee of Connecticut
4 and that is why his first Sabbath rest
4 was broken for a two hours confer
ence with the leader Of the Senate ir-
reconcilables. Brandegee has always
been one of the strong men of the
"battalion of death" He has not
7 talked quite as much as some of the
i Senators for he has no personal po-
/ litjcal ambitions to further, but he
has been an earnest worker in the
ranks against anything that would
4 commit the United States to any part
or parcel of the League Of Nations
or TO the world court, which is func-
1 tioning under the league. Mr.. Coolidge
knows the effectiveness of Frank
Brandegee on the Senate floor and in
the Senate cloak rooms.
The new President, although in
close association with the Senate ever
since March 4. 1921, has not made
and particularly close friends in that
body. He knew, however, that Bran
degee would tell him the truth; give
him as nearly correct estimate OF
the present temper of the Senate as
could any man in it. Brandegee is n
plain-spoken man. Some persons
might cal, him blunt. Mr.. Coolidge
wanted to know the Senate "from the
inside" Frank Brandegee gave him
- the nan in the STREET could CAP
}}fhe slow down."
Some Senators Not Parry Men.
Ii can be stated with all frank
ness that the Senate story is not an
altogether pleasing one to President
Coolidge. Neither is it reassuring 10
the marty leaders at large. The Re
nublicans in the Senate are torn into
many factions. This is because some
Of the senator's are individualists first
and party men second. Possibly some
0f tnem hight pidNt Htue pdEtN tNSu
further down on a consideration list.
Inc mere fact that the party is fac
ing a national crisis means nothing to
the individualists. They bad mapped
ont A course of action before Presi-
lent Harding died. They will follow
IF lust as closely under the new helms
man at the White House.
There is no doubt but that the
Senate leaders have agreed among
themselves to try to persuade Presi-
lent Coolidge to "soft pedal" on the
world court issue; they can truthful
tell him that so far as the Repub-
leans in the Senate are concerned.
he world court idea is not popular
md there is not the slightest chance
or n ratification of the Harding pro.
posals at the coming session. In
hese circumstances. pressure will be
,rought to bear upon Mr.. Coolidge 10
10 through the form of presenting the
world court proposals as framed by
Mr.. Harding and then to let NATURE
axe its course in the Senate.
Some of the senator's will go so
ar as to tell President Coolidge that |
he chooses to make the world cour: |
r. any other close form of interna- |
ional association. the outstanding pol |
" of the brief White House neriod |
hich lies before him. his administra
ion VII be upon the rocks. They |
sxa,urge that he dispose of the court |