Evening star., 1924-06-09
GRIP OF OLD GUARD
LOST AT CLEVELAND
Senate Leaders of Party Taking
Orders From Massachu-
sets Men.
COOLIDGE HOLD IS COMPLETE
City Reflects Character of New
England Conservatism.
BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.


CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 9.-The
Coolidge forces are teaching the old
crowd here to have faith in Massa-
chusetts. The whole cast and at
mosphere OF the place is New Eng
land The old guard which has been
running the Republican convention
for thirty years is here, badly sub
dued. 1t is getting its orders from
Butler Of Massachusetts, aud its news
from the reporters. The old guard
has surrendered command and is glad
enough to save it's face by running
errands for the Coolidge crowd. The
change has taken place in the last
twenty-four hours.
Last week it seemed as though the
senatorial machine that nominated
Harding would nominate Coolidge
and write his platform. 1t is evident
own platform and accomplish his own
nomination By Coolidge. one means
the Coolidge forces in charge of his
campaign. Manager Butler is the
Mark Hanna of this convention. He
is taking orders from no one. and the
charge of the United States Senate.
Lodge, Curtis, Watson. Lenroot and
Smoot, have to breath on meter
read by Butler and take out a sun
shadow.
Not Like Old Times.
Naturally a convention dominated
BY newcomers is a different affair from
Republican conventions that have
been assembling for the last twenty
hye years Here 1t is Sunday night,
when ordinarily bands are playing.
through the hotel crowds and rumors
OF deals and combinations are max
ing the air electric with excitement
Today closed with only ono item of
a vice presidential candida.-. 1t is
hard to imagine d Republican con-
ventlon where any news about any
vice presidential candidate Sunday
night would cause a flicker of ex-
citement but so completely has the
massachusetts reserve cast a chill
over the ordinary Republican ardor
that the marching clubs do not dare
venture out.
Bands All Hushed.
The bands are hushed and rumor
is paralyzed One can walk through
any of the hotels in town without
ernnds eu,np1ns IL into cas any one; There are no
various rooms sit erthroned the man
ayers OF the convention, Butler Of
Massachusetts,. M the king maker; Am
bassador Warren late of Mexico City
and Toxic. who is writing the plat
form, and Theodore Burton, who is
tuning up his keynote.
1t IS evident from those who have
seen the three wise men that we are
going to have rather a different con-
ventlon than any Republican conven-
no doubt of the conservatism OF the
convention But the conservatism will
be different brand from that usual
ly spread upon the pages of history
by the conservatives who massed in
1912 under the leadership of Root and
Smoot and the Republican national
committee. There has been a revo-
luton, but it has been a revolution
inside OF the conservative wing of
the party. The President is going to
nave ms way with every important
declaration and, curiously enough, he
seems to stand against the American
Protective. Tariff Leagues declaration
on the tariff A number of planky
nave been favorabfy considered by
Sherman Warren of the resolutions
committee. all of which indorse the
flexible tariff and several of which
denhitefy promise revision downward
instead Of upward.
Attitnde On Leaxue.
There are definite indications that
the convention will be led into a
softened and chastened atmosphere
ABOUT the league of nations 1t must
De RENE mhered that Coolidge in Bos-
ton, and governor, welcomed Presi-
dent Wilson from Europe with a
speech indorsing the league Of ma
tions 1t must also be remembered
that Coolidge is trying to get a world
court established which recognizes
the league of nations and there can
be no doubt that both in the keynote
and in the platform reference to the
league of nations will lack the ha rsh-
ness which characterized orthodox
Republican utterances in the last two
years: Otherwise, the platform will
be calm cautious and conservative, a
renection OF the Coolidge attitude to-
ward political issues
Element OF Chance.
The withdrawal Of Lowden. if il
really is final withdrawal. and some
statesmen feel that it is merely
diplomatic step in a genteef filtration.
has put a certain ladylike pet into
the pre-convention crowd There is
now an element Of chance ahead in
the proceedings, but it is really dim