Evening star., 1923-12-26
OKLAHOMA C. 0. P.
BREAK PREVENTED
President Assured by Sena-
tor HarreId Patronage
Plan Is Satisfactory.

The White House has reason to
feel that it has been successful in
preventing a break in the republican
ranks in Oklahoma, and that COM
plete harmony will prevail shortly
among the leaders OF the party in
that state.
This was the impre ssion gained by
those who talked with the President
today-those who are taking a more
than ordinary interest in the conduct
of this presidential campaign. To
them it means that Senator John Rar-
reid OF Oklahoma has agreed to for
get his disappointment at the Presi-
dents turn-down Of John 3. Meserve,
his candidate for the vacant federal
Judgeship in Oklahoma, and will, in
dorse any candidate upon whom the
republican leaders of his state can
unite for this choice bit of patronage.
HarreId Sees President.
Senator Harreld was one of the
Presidents first callers today and
after half hours conference he said
that, while he though a mistake had
been made in not appointing his can
didate, he assured the President that
the latter could count on his support
in the future and that he would do
his part in restoring the desired unity
of leadership in Oklahoma. He said
also that he now would willingly
agree 10 any one the other party lead
ers would settle upon for the judge
ship. 1t is understood, however, that
the senator has received q promise to
place Mr.. Meserye in some other high
federal position.
There was no mistaking the pleas
TFa]r
of attitude had upon the White House
and the Presidents lieutenants assist
ing in the marShaling of forces for
the coming republican national con-
vention. The sudden f1are-up In GER
| tain quarters of the Oklahoma lead
ers last week as a result of this va
cant judgeship naturally caused wor-
| ry among the Presidents campaign
managers, inasmuch as there was
| hint that Senator Harreld might de
| sert the Presidents ranks and en-
! deavor to send an anti-Coolidge del
| egation to Cleveland.
Coolidge Is Refreshed.
President Coolidge today looked
rested and otherwise benefited as
result of the short vacation of yes
terday. Although he had made no en-
| gagements for today, he was at his
| Office early after a half hour stroll
| about the downtown streets, and the
| greater part of the day devoted his
time to disposing of the great mass
| of papers that accumulated during
| the past few days.
The President has taken up the
question of extending the coastwise
shipping laws to the Philippines. and
| today asked Chairman Jones of the
Senate commerce committee TO sub
nit memorandum setting forth his
recommendations.
| Besides his conference with Senator
Jones, who drafted the major provis-
ions of the merchant marine act Of
1920, the President conferred today
counsel of the Shipping Board.
The merchant marine act provides
that the coastWise laws may be eX
tended TO the Philippines by presi
Dental proclamation whenever ade-
quate American shipping facilities
are available for the trade. In the
event of such an extension only
American vessels could engage in
trade between the Philippines and the
United States.
Believe Facilities Ample.
Senator Jones believes that faciii-
ties now are adequate for such an eX-
tension, and this view also is taken
by the Shipping Board. The proposal
was considered during the Harding
administration and was rejected on
the ground that such an extension
might violate some of the treaties 10
which the United States is party
| Mr. Coolidge several weeks ago
indicated that he might take the same
position, pointing to MEMORANDUM
sent to the White House by the State
Department opposing extension. Since
then it has developed that the state
Department has formulated no
opinion on the question and that the
memorandum which 1T forwarded 10
the White House was prepared by
| Vice Chairman Culbertson OF the
! tariff commission.
Shipping men for several years
have held that the shutting on OF the
Philippine trade to vessels carrying
foreign flags would be a powerful
impetus in the upbuilding of an
American merchant marine III the
Pacific, and the President, 1t IS
Understood, has approached considera-
ton of the matter from that angie.
May Plan NeY Policy.
The President also invited Senator
! Jones today to prepare a menoTaH-
dnm of his views as to a new policy
for administration of the govern
tment-owned fleet. The President
iplans to use the memorandum IN the
partial reorganization or the snip
ming Board, which must be MADE as
The result of the action of the Senate
commerce committe in rporting ad :
versely the nomination OF Edward
Farley Of Chicago, now chairman OF
the board.
I others who saw the President TO-
day were Secretary Hoover OF the De
partment of Commerce and y. I.
Gregg of st. Paul, Mimi, member
jof The agricultural board Of that
state, who discussed agricultural