Evening star., 1924-04-04
FAILURE TOSE[ECT
KENYON IS D|SL|KED
Progressives Disappointed at
Stones Nomination-Con-
firmation Forecast.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

disappointment in the ranks of the
"progressives' in Congress over the
failure of President Coolidge to nomi-
nate Judge William S. Kenyon of
Iowa to be Attorney General was not
concealed today.
While no doubt is expressed as to
the legal ability of Dean Stone, the
comment of many western senators is
that the President had an opportu-
nifty to recognize the progressive
movement of the west and did not ac-
cept it, To the iEsurgent wing of the
republican party the name of Kenyon
was more than that of an individual
it was a symbol of progressivism.
Dean Stone comes from the New
York city atmosphere of corporation
law firms. Progressive senators
found, for instance, on looking up
Who's Who that Dean Stone had
been connected with one of the firms
which is said to be among those en-
gagged from time to time by ]. z. Nor
gan & Co.
Has Liberal Tendencies.
But while Dean Stone has lived
among the corporation lawyers, he is
said to have retained a certain lib
eralisn, proof OF which is offered in
his attack on Attorney General
Palmer for the raids on alleged COM
muniStS known as reds That the
President has found a S125,000 lawyer
to serve the government is not quaS-
toned on Capitol Hill. But the rad
icalS in Congress were bent upon hav-
ing some one appointed who repre-
sented the spirit OF the west today.
Significant of this trend in the Sem
ate. for example, was the statement
of an eastern republican senator, up for
reelection this year, who, as late as 10
o'clock of the day on which the APP
pointment was announced, sent word
to the correspondents representing news
papers in his state to let it be known
that he favored Kenyon for Attorney
General.
Some Opposed Kenyon.
Had the President chosen Kenyon he
would, of course, have offended many
regular republicans, who think it is
time to stop catering to the western
insurgents and that flirting for their
supp :ort will not avail Mr.. Coolidge any
thing anyhow.
So far as the insurgent republicans
are concerned, who think Mr.. Coolidge
by training and viewpoint to be a con-
serVative, there is probably much truth
in the assertion that he would not
make himself a progressive in the
eyes of the weSternerS by one or two
conspicuous appointments. Their ar
raignment Of him is on other counts
than federal patronage.
Senator Lodge, republican leader,
who was at the White House today,
thought there would be no fight
against the confirmation of Dean
Stone. Probably not The western
republicans are not planning to carry
their insurgency that far, but Senator
La Toilette, who insists that he will
run independently only if Mr.. Cool
idge'S platform is conservative is
gathering ammunition for his mass
attack at the republican national con-
vention in June.
May Bring La Toilette Drive.
The primaries in Wisconsin, which
showed Senator La Toilette victor by
big majority, paves the way for
what may become a dramatic Situa-
tion at the Cleveland convention. The
Wisconsin delegates plan to make a
orlVe for a progressive platform, fall
ing in which they will announce their
dissent and carry the campaign to the
country with Senator La Toilette as
their spokesman and candidate.
What might have happened if the
President had named Kenyon is, of
course. conjectural, but at no time
since the beginning of the present
session of Congress did the insurgent
republicans appear to be as united in
their willingness to meet the admin
the movement for the appointment of
Judge Kenyon. The President has
appointed an able man and one in
whom he has personal trust He ig-
nored the politics of the occasion,
which his friends say ought to help
him in the long run.
Copyright. 1924)