The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Will Lose Control Of Repub-
 liCan Situation At Once Un-
 less He Exhibits Some
 Kind Of Firm Leadership MESSAGE TO CONGRESS WILL BE LAST CHANGE Must Wipe Out Apathy Or Admit He Is Unable To Re- main At Head Of Repub- Iican Political Procession
By RAYMOND CHAPTER Lensed Wire to The Age-HeraI'


 WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-In his message to Congress next week President Coolidge will have to show the same kind of firm leadership that he used in the Boston police strike or he will lose control of the repub- lican situation at once-both in Con- gress and in respect to the contest within his party for the presidential nomination.
 The coveteous glances which Sena- tor James E. Watson of Indiana is casting toward the White House, and his declaration that if he runs 1t will be because he thinks he can win, are disturbing close friends of President Coolidge, because they are symptoms of a condition. Senator Watson is only a little more outspoken than number of other republicans of na- tlonal prominence. They are think ing along similar lines, but have not yet said so publicly.
 o o o
 Coolidge Is Slipping.
 The truth is, and the writer has had 1t from so many sources that 1t cannot be questioned, that Coolidge ndS been SitBpIHS IOA W U AACitNAA7s His decline began when he let Gov ernor Pinchot settle the anthracite coal strike.
 It was encouraged when Coolidge failed to seize the opportunity offered by the White House conference of governors
 There was keen disappointment among the Presidents friends that he did not utilize that occasion for a master stroke which would have made him, instead of Governor Pinchot, the popular dry champion.
 Since then the President has done nothing to rally his followers and demonstrate his ability to keep at tho head or tife political peScession. Has One Chance Left.
 He has one chance left. That chance will come one day next week when he delivers his message. It will be within his power then to wipe out the apathy which has been develop ing covertly among the republican powers.
 Even then. unless Coolidge's mes sage is so strong as to remove all doubt as to his ability to lead his party into battle. rival candidates will go ahead quietly so as to be ready to take advantage of any op- portunity. This applies especially to conservatives like Senator Watson, former Governor Lowden of Illinois and Senator Wadsworth of New York. Watson is seriously considering be- coming a candidate, but his final de- cision will not be made until he has sounded out a number of his friends here. Lowden's friends are pressing him to keep Illinois from going to Johnson. Wadsworth could take most of the New York delegation with him. Heavy Damage Threatened.
 The situation in Congress is equally unsatisfactory from the White House point of view. In both houses the ntiadministration republicans, placed in a powerful position by virtue of the slender republican majority, are threatening all sorts of damage un- less they are placated by important committee appointments.
 Coolidge intends to lay program before Congress for enactment before the party conventions, But the pro gressives are strong enough to block anything they choose. Coolidge must either compromise with them or ap- peal to the democrats for help. Both Alternatives Obnoxious.
 These alternatives are equally ob- noxious to the President. Concessions which would appease the progressives would go counter to the administra- ton progranh Progressives want the Esch -Cummins transportation act re- pealed. They want higher surtaXes instead of lower ones. They want the soldier bonus. They want certain high tariff schedules cut. Coolidge would be equally embarrassed if he asked the democrats for help. It would be fatal maneuver just before a ma tional campaign.
 Coolidge has just one way out. He can deliver such forceful and in- spring message that the folks back home will climb on his bandwagon. If he does that, the politicians will fn