Evening star., 1924-03-16
COOLIDGE STANDS CLEAR
ABOVE POLITICAL HAZE
Continued from First Pase.)

should be deprived OF It. One by
one the men who were considered
potential candidates at the time
the field was supposed to be
thrown open to all by the death
Of President Harding have aban-
doned as impractical the idea Of
contestins with the President un-
til only one is left.
The action OF those potential
candidates who gavo up or did not
enter the contest at all was based
upon their belief that In the cir
cumstances 1t would be futile to
attempt to stem the strong tide
OF public opinion setting in the
Presidents direction. They were
cold-blooded politicians who prob
ably would havo not hesttated to
make the fght had they seen a
prospect OF winning.
Should tho public appear to be
turning away from tho President
there Is thought to be no doubt
that those who have been keep
ing hands off tho nomination
would quickly step into the lime
light, but as the days pass and
the President Is shown TO be hold
ing his own. the very fact that
they remain in camera is taken by
the Presidents managers az proof
OF their claim that the President
is gaining and holding his gains.
Politicians regard as significant
tho fate which befell Senator
Moses Of New Hampshire in being
left of the ticket as a delegate to
the national convention and gen.
orally think that 1t was unmerited
"a tragedy OF politics. Senator
Moses. as is well known, was the
first republican Of national prom
inence to declare that President
Coolidge was the logical nominee
OF the party for 1924. He took
that position before even the late
President was buried. He vision
cd all the circumstances Of the
situation which later arose and
now exists
But he wanted to go to the
convention uninstructed. and there
is where he slipped a cog. Tho
significance Of his omission from
the list is said to be seen in that
1t registers the existence OF suoh
a strong sentiment favorable to
President Coolidge that tho votere
hesitated to send any but instruct
ed Coolidge supporters.
There Is speculation whether
similar condition Is not arising in
Illinois in the impending pri-
m2riea Former Representative
Rodenberg was expected to be one
OF the eleven delegates at large,
but when the state was made up
his name was not among them.
The eleven delegates are unin-
structed. although known. with the
exception of one who Is a John
SON man. to be for President Cool
idge.
Mr.. Robenbers thereupon enter
Cd the race in the primaries, de-
claring outright as an instructed
delegate for Coolidge He will go
on the ballot under the caption
For Coolidge" and the other DEL
egates. with the exception OF the
johnson candidate will be mark
ed No preference" Politicians
are interested to see the outcome
OF this venture, recognizing that
the psychology Of the New Hamp-
shire incident would seem to be in
hts favor.
Mr.. McAdoo, in his campaign for
delegates In Georgia, is follow
ing closely tho limo he took I'D
after the disclosure Of his connec-
ton with the Oil interests, demand
for q housecleaning at Washing
ton, With the intimation that he is
tho man to do it
1t will be known this week
whether the Georgia democrats
agree with him in his conception
OF his responEb bility.
X
In the opinion OF influential
democratic leaders at the Capitol
there has been no clearing up in
the democratic outlook as to the
selection OF a nominee. The ma
jority belief is that Mr. McAdoo
~
no promising figure has arisen to
offer other than a choice among
those now In the running.
They have to make this 2sser-
tion so often they say 1t is be-
coming monotonouS.