San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
Old Line Politicians Don't
Believe 1t Will "Stick"
as an Issue.
MAY BE ALL WRONG
Other Observers Say Demo.
Gratis Will Keep Scandal
Alive Until Fall.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

NoPsilSHt' ls-fB py SonSol. Press ASS n.
Washington, ID. C., March L.
The refusal of Attorney General
Daugherty TO resign at the height of
the political clamor against him has
so heartened some of the old line Re
publicans that they are asserting
anew today their belief that the Tea
pot Dome will cut no figure in the
forthcoming political conventions. or
in the presidential campaign which
follows.
They say that "the amateur" poll
texans have become unduly frighten-
cd. The old liners do not credit
the American people with thinking
about any one thing for any great
length of time and they are thanking
their stars that the Teapot stuff
broke when it did instead of waiting
until a month or two before the cleo
ton. These old school politicians
have had so much experience with
their public, have so often laughed
in their sleeves that they are conf
dent once more of their ability to
divert attention from the scandals Mt
Washington and get the people "all
het up once more over the League
of Nations or the threadbare tariff
or something of that sort. These old
liners have not even begin TO draw
upon their bag of tricks as yet. They
are saving up for the party plat
forms.
Coolidge His Own Manager?
President Coolidge's refusal TO be
swaycd by the clamor to act at this
time admittedly has saved an en-
barrassing situation within the Re-
publican party organization. Stand
ing firm, the President has renewed
the talk that he is TO be his own
campaign manager in the coming con-
test for the nomination and for pos
sible reelection. 1t has been freely
predicted in Washington that Mr..
Coolidge sooner or later would have
to take on some '"old heads" in his
personal organization to augment and
steady the efforts of those now in
charge. The Presidents two closest
political representatives are William
NJ. Butler. nominal head of the Cool
idge campaign. and Frank w. Stcarns,
Il Boston merchant. Although a re-
cent member of the Republican ma
tional committee, Mr.. Butler has had
comparatively little national politi-
cal experience. Mr.. Stearns has had
none at all. a.a-.l tn"=.- $50 rirIN
If one half of the reports which
have emanated from the White House
this week. are true, the Coolidge or
ganization came extremely close to
open clash with the national or
ganization. Such break would have
been an obvious setback 10 the Cool
idge campaign. Members of the Hard
ing wing of the party have been
watching the situation very closely
and have announced their intention
to defend the late President against
any slurs, intentional or otherwise.
Impartial and independent observ-
ers do not see how the politicians
can possibly keen the Teapot Dome
out of the controversy. The theory
that because some Democrats have
been touched with the oil brush. the
Democratic party will seek 10 avoid
the issue, apparently is all wrong. for
the Democrats both in and out of the
Senate are doing their utmost TO press
the hearing and to bring out the
"dirt" no matter where it may be
found.
In Democratic circles you hear it
on all sides that the Teapot Dome has
given the Democrats their greatest
chance in four long years. Even the
Republican politicians who have been
reporting to the President say that
they find the people everywhere talk
ing about the Teapot. The thing has
caught the public fancy. The very
name of the oil reserve field has
hclned TO spread the interest. The
name appeals TO the women. IL the
reserve were called the MiccouSkee
or the Tuscarawas dome it woull not
be nearly so popular, but there is
teapot in every home.
Shoot at McAdOo.
The Democrats who are insistent
upon the featuring of the oil inquiry
as n campaign issue. naturally are
those who oppose the nomination of
Mr.. McAdoo. They say that if the
Democrats are to win on the oil L.
sue, they cannot win with anyone
who has been even remotely con-
nected with the principal figures in
the present inquiry. Mr.. Mc-tdoo
still is paying the penalty of having
been the first and leading horse in
the field for the Democratic nomina-
lion. He has been the shining mark |
TO shoot at, and his opponents have |
been exceedingly busy in bringing up |
the reserve ammunition.
Some of those observing the ac-
Invites of Senator Jim Reed of Mis- |
souri, believe that he is beginning TO !
Jake his own campaign for the nomi-
nation seriously.
The friends of former Governor |
Cox are heartened by some of the re-
lotions to his recent announcement.
The governor is not a gutter, they
'ay.
All sorts of dark horses are be-
inning TO paw the air. so altogether
he Democratic race will bear a lot
# watching.