Evening star., 1924-11-14
9UTLER'SP0S|T|ON
PUZZLE TO MANY
Presidents Friend and Man.
ager May Have to Tread
Cautiously in Senate.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

What will William NJ. Buffers po-
lion be in the United States Senate?
= III he be the administration spokes-
an, the man to whom those seeking
{, point of political contact with
resident Coolidge Will flock?
Certainly no other manager has
lone to the Senate in recent years
Immediately after 4 successful cam
@s!gn. Nor has any chairman OF the
republican national committee been
tting In the upper house OF Con-
-ess. though. to be sure. Cordell
i!ull has been in the House Of Repre-
a~ntatives during his term of office as
atrman of the Democratic national
committee.
There is no precedent by which to
sIuge the future. But certain things
nay be taken for granted. In the
t."st place, the appointment of Mr.
s;utler by the Governor Of Massachu-
-"tts Is no mere fultillment of presi-
Genital wishes. Mr.. Butler has for
5pme time been anxious to go to the
senate. He might have been the ad-
illustration candidate in the Repub-
an primaries this year when Speak
II Gillett was chosen to oppose the
It-election Of Senator Walsh.
Mr.. Butler, however. had taken
hold of the pre-convention campaign
II President Coolidge and gave up
senatorial ambitions to stick with
MS chief
Whatever sacrifice was involved
then has by the hand Of fate been
nffset now by his appointment to
"fiice as the successor to the late
Senator Lodge. Mr. Buffers vote
setting capacity is the subject of
some differences of opinion in New
england, as he is not the spectacular
election is held to choose a successor
20 Senator Lodge in the regular way
Mr.. Butler may be found in the
,abinet
May Yet 60 to Cabinet.
Just now with the Secretary of
Var, John W. Weeks, coming from
massachusetts. the President did not
EEL like violating custom by having
40 men in the cabinet from his
Wn State. Mr.. Weeks himself may
etermine to enter the senatorial race
ONE day or to retire to private life.
which event Mr.. Buffers entry
ITO the cabinet might occur.
The whole thing will depend TO
pme extent on Mr.. Buffers expert
ice in the Senate in the next year.
is opportunities to rise to a position of
'mmanding influence and power are
Gst as great if not greater in the
enate than in the cabinet. At the
epublican national convention in
teveland last June Mr. Butler came
to violent collision with the "old
Iard" by issuing orders and instruc-
ons which. however we'll inten-
oned, went against the grain OF the
.teran politicians.
That experience may have discour-
;ed him from essaying the role of
'litical leader, for the sensitive
IS Of few political chieftains in a
.tional convention is a mere incl
mt compared to the attitude of the
odern Senator toward any one who
ays the part OF leader. Individual
m has developed to such point
at it is doubtful whether an AL
Itch Of yesteryears could manage
he present day Senators.
Senator Butler could not very we'll
.come a legislative leader. as he is
wv in Congress itself and. like most
.wcomers, would have to be going
school most OF the time in con-
ressional practice. His speeches
'obably VIII be few. for the same
ason. Nevertheless, like Will Hays
id Harry Daugherty. the new Sen
or from Massachusetts Will be in
instant touch with the White House
questions of appointment No one
,ows as intimately the obligations
Cured during a presidential On
st as the campaign manager. 9th
Senators will find it convenient TO
insult Mr.. Butler and to seek his
Operation.
Were he disposed to play politics
the Oldfashioned way. dispensing
ices to the constituents of those
nators and members Of the House