Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-05-05
HUNJTySa
WASHINGTON f4 5T:iiiIiS
LETT ~ Y
BY HARRY B. HUNT
NEA Service Writer

WASHINGTON, May 5.-Therc's
more than appears on the surface
.in the selection Of Representative
Theodore Burton, former senate
from Ohio, to sound the G. o. P.
keynote at the Cleveland convention
June 10.
Burton was nat chosen because of
outstanding oratorical ability. lie
IS a ponderous speaker, with a
.husky, throaty voice that is hard to
follow. His speeches are inform
.auve rather than inspiring. He is
mot adept at pointing with pride or
viewing with alarm, unless he can
put his pointer on specific facts
ana figures. His speeches, even
then, rouse no one to enthusiasm,
though they furnish food for
thought in ruminatiye hours.
President Coolidge promptly dis
posed Of story that Burton's seleo-
ton had been made without his APP
proval. He himself, he says, sug-
gested the Ohio representative as d
proper and desirable choice.
The fact that Burton is a resi-
dent of Cleveland, where the con-
vention is to be held, and Of Ohio,
the home state of Presiaent Hard
ing-who except for the interyen-
ton of Fate, would be the nominee
again this year-made the selection
Of an Ohioan and a Cle9elander par
ticularly happy, Coolidge suggested
All very true, doubtless. Bug
keynoters for national conventions
are selected on practical ather than
sentimental grounds. And granting
that this sentimental reason exists
in the case of the Burton selection
there was a pieceofp ractical poll
tics involved that played a muca
greater part in the decision. For
instance:
Ohio is debatable ground this
year. 1t is one of the pivotal
states. The "a Buckeye electors may
throw the decision for or against
Coolidge for reelection.
Meanwhile, the position of the
party in the state is not happy.
There is an intrastate battle raging
between rival groups backing rival
candidates for the head of the state
ticket. This cuthroat fight over who
shall be the Republican candidate
for governor threatens to gum m
the race of the Republican candi-
date for president in that state
should any one of the factional
leaders now involved be nominated.
And right there's where Burton,
las keynoter, comes in.
y
The recognition of Burton as
party leader in Ohio, by choosing
him to set the pitch for the national
campaign, is directly intended to
boost him into the spotlight as a
man behind whom all the partv's
factions in\ Ohio could unite for
governor
As head of the state Republican
ticket, it is figured, Burton would b
a big help toward pulling Coolidge
out of the state with majority
The nomination of a gubernatorial
for many of the factions
now at war, however, would distinct
ly handicap the national Republican
ticket in the state and might make
a difference of As in his total cleo
toral count.
And much less margin than IS
is likely to decide the result.
SIS
Burton, bachelor, was 72 last
December. He is one of the senior
sages of Congress and set the pre-
ceedent running for and being re-
elected to the House of Representa- J
lives after having served in the q. |
5. Senate.
Burton's withdrawal as candidate /
Tor reelection to the Senate in 1914 /
paved the way for Warren G. Har- /
ding to succeed him in the Senate /
md win ultimate promotion to the /
As keynoter this van.
and gubernatorial candidate - he
may help Coolidge to retain that
,ffice.
Success, even on moderate