Evening star., 1923-08-29
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER

II no conservative republican will
contest the nomination with him and
that only Senator La Toilette or some
ultra-progressive may undertake IT.
The party strategy as 1t is being de-
veloped from day to day and very
swiftly seems to be realization by the
leaders that tho best opportunity for
harmony and possible success at the
polls In November. 1924, rests in the
| nomination of President Coolidge
and carrying on of the Harding poll
icies and the pending plans for Iegis-
| lation.
The radical bloc in Congress may
try to throw monkey wrench into
the machinery of legislation, but the
best thing for the administration and
to do, 1T is felt by the leaders. is to
Keep on full speed ahead and dis
| regard the torpedoes."
Il y \
Departure of Senator Hiram John
son for California, on a prolonged
visit, started the politicians gossiping
| about his future attitude toward a
possible contest for the republican
| presidential nomination. His posi-
tion, up to the publication last week
| of a certain letter. written months
ago to a friend and intended by him
| to be confidential was one of uuies-
cence, to give President Coolidge an
opportunity to make record, before
setting out to contest his nomination.
But the publicity given that COM
munication and nature of its con-
tents may cause change in Senator
Johnsons course and policy. The
| effect of making the letter public ap-
pears 70 have been to put him on the
defensive In his own state, with the
! raising of Il question as to whether
he can get a solid delegation to the
national convention of 1925 Natural
w. an aspirant for the nomination
lacking the unanimous support of his
state would ordinarily be regarded
as IN poor case seeking the support
of other states. But it may not be
so with him.
Senator Johnson, in a statement
published in The Star, accentuated
the issue between himself and the
other faction of the party, not seek
ing TO mollify in any degree the caus-
tic comment upon them made in the
private letter. The politicians take it
that he has gone home to make open
Tor II showdown" as to where he
stands with California.
X X K
Senator Johnson is a fighter of a
very aggressive type. and politicians
would not put it beyond him. If he is
pressed too hard in his own state and
receives encouragement outside, to
tell the California republicans to do
their worst, and call upon the pro-
gressives of the country TO stand by
him. The politicians look for some
interesting developments in Senator
Johnson's case in the next few
months.
But developments must come soon
IF they are to be effective. The con-
vention is long way off, to be sure,
but the actual choosing of delegates
will commence within five months
and much of the preliminary founda-
ton laying will be done earlier.
x r.
What is the difference between a
Pinchot progressive and Hiram
Johnson progressive? The question
becomes pertinent by the dramatic
emergence of the Pennsylvania gov
ernor into the national limelight.
through President Coolidges inviting
him into participation in efforts to
settle the coal strike Both claim TO
be legateeS of Roosevelt. The colonel
probably was closer to Clifford Pinchot
than to the Californian. but the latter
ran on the bull moose ticket with
him and has wider acquaintance
among the progressives of the forty
eight states.
Gov. Pinchot has been mentioned
before as possible running mate for
President Coolidge, and he would di-
vide the progressive vote with Sena-
tor Johnson if the latter should ap-
peal for delegates TO the convention.
Cordell Hull, chairman of the DEM
ocratic national committee, in a state
ment issued by the committee today
points out some policies that may be
stressed by the democrats in 1924.
While reserving the point of order
that 1.-The democratic national conven-
| ton alone can define the issues for
democrats" he goes on to intimate
some campaign issues which he con-
siders likely to be raised. One of
the republican administration. domi-
mated by the old guard at all times,
| which has been aimless. unstable and
unable either to understand or to
solve most of the acute domestic and
| international problems
| Contrasted with those failures the
democrats will propose application of
! the great body of Intelligent. sound,
! liberal and progressive sentiment to
the prompt solution of conditions and
L rft l1A y,ts
economic. industrial and social well
\ fare of the people" Also 1.-The adop-
I ton of sound, economic and trade
policies. domestic and foreign, in con-
trast with existing wholly unsound
policies, or none at all, of the repub-
lican administration.
X x x
\ is taking on a more aggressive tone
iunder the repeated attacks of the
democratic national committee and is
lighting back" In a statement today
| it assails William G. McAdoo for a
statement he recently made. No in
| dependent or neutral writer could fol-
| low all Of the allegations and retorts
of the two committees even by plac-
| ing the responsibility on the authors.
| There Is not enough asbestos on the
market. But it is possible to give a
| general idea of the drift Of the war
fare.
oublican national committee says:
| "Running true to democratic form,
William C. McAdoo, active candidate
| for the democratic nomination for the
1 presidency, issued a statement few
days ago in the state of Washington
| that is mass of Misrepresentation.
| First. it charges that the Esch-Cum- :
| ,,;ns act pasSed by a republican Con-