Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-29
TENDENCY To KEEP
COOLIDGE IN FIELD
ALONE ST|RS COP.
Republicans Begin to See
Need of Wide Open Race in
Order to Get Campaign
Funds
IN DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service To The JoQru;
NCoUvri-ht. 1928


WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-Repub-
lican leaders grouped together in
what is known as the ways and
means committee" are meeting here
today and tomorrow to discuss plans
for the financing Of the Republican
party in the forthcoming presiden-
tial campaign.
Money raised now is not supposed
to be used in the interest of any
particular candidate, but in order to
give the party momentum on the
day the Republican national cOnyen'
ton chooses the candidate for the
presidency.
Murmurs Of discomfort ara heard
with reference TO the alleged tenden-
cy of the Coolidge people to close
the race against any other contend
ers. One of the leaders here has
told Fred w. Upham, treasurer of
the Republican national committee,
that he believes it mistake to have
the present administration receive
commitments for delegates at this
stage of the proceedings, and give
the impression that it is unethical
for anyone else to announce a can
didacy.
Wait Coolidge Platform
1t is a fact that the would be candi-
dates are holding back in Difference
to President Coolidge, because the
latter has not yet had an opportu-
nifty of addressing congress and an.
nouncing his legislative program,
which of course, is his platform for
the nominating campaign. Some of
the friends Of the rival candidates
are crying out hat the race is be-
ing closed against them, and that
a nomination dictated by the White
House. is not an expression of the
free will of the party.
Those who are in a position to
speak for President COoIidge's cause
insist that they, too. would feel it
mistake if anything were done to
bring about what could be called a
dictated nomination and that moro
prestige and value would inure to
nomination received after everyone
had had a chance to make a cam
paign than under the opposite kind
of circumstances.
The difficulty, however, from the
viewpoint of candidates other than
President Coolidge, is that the stua.
ton is largely psychological. Poll
ticians in various parts of the coun.
try who are able to influence the
naming of delegates think they see
the odd guard" f1ocking to Coolidge
and they get on the band wagon.
Others who are not so numerous,
but a great deal more cautious, do
not commit themselves at all at such
an early date, but wait to see how
political affairs shape themselves.
L.,
yet expressed enough views on any.
thing to enable opponents to Judge
whether he has sensed the true
wishes of public opinion or whether
there is a chance by differing with
him to bring public opinion 20 their
side.
Early Pledges Discussed
The value of commitments and
pledges given by politicians early in
the game is approached on every
side and it is rumOred that friends
of former Governor Frank LoWden.
of Illinois, are going around asking
for second choice votes in case the
convention should become deadlock.
ed on Coolidge. Mr.. LOWden himself
was in town a few days ago end
disclaimed all connection with pres
idential politics and so far as the
White House ia concerned il has not
heard of any Lowden movement as
yet. There is talk of activity on the
part of the friends of Senator Hiram
Johnson, of California, though he,
TOO has not announced himself as
a candidate. Governor Pnchot's pc
litical lieutenants are said to h &c
tive, but it is unquest'onab!y true
that until a formal announcement
of candidacy comes from some rival
of President Coolidge Inc ice VII
not be broken for the otL-r 1a~.3,
dates.
1t is an advantage for The in.
cumbent to have the opposing can
didates delay their announcements
as long as possible, and while this
cry Of closing the doors against other
candidates is being heard, the Cool
dee people, Of course. insist that
no conscious eGogt in that direction
is being made.
Before many weeks, an announce
ment that the race is free-fOrall
may have to be made by some intiu
entail Republican in order to attract
the necessary financial support for
the party as a whole and to insure
the right kind of spirit before the ma
tionai convention is held. ~The ru.
mors of discomfort may vanish, but
for the moment they are working
in the direction of opening the race,
something some of the Coolidgs
friends say they would welcome.