Evening star., 1924-06-08
B0RAH NOW limited
COOLIDGE'S CHOICE
FOR RUNNING MATE
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ing of the g. o. p. hosts present in an
attractive setting. There Is lacking
vital news interest which attended
previous national conventions, sole
concern at present being over the
vice presidency which apparently is
to be left, indeed. for the convention
itself to determine. Delegates and
committeeman read today the Wash
fngton dispatches describing Presi-
dent Coolidge as reiterating his de-
claration that he was not seeking to
foreclose the selection of a candidate
by announcing his personal choice,
thus leaving the field open
Harmony In Evidence.
The atmosphere of the gathering at
this stage, with but a few delegations
in attendance, is one of harmony,
more in the nature of a party love-
feast and ratification meeting, which,
of course. may be qualified should
clashing vice presidential candidates.
develop. The old time leaders do not
expect any real friction over the plat
form. when the platform comes to be
written, although there is much beat
ing of tom-t toms and loud shouting in
the preliminaries. in the presentation
>of proposed planks. When you see
an anxious looking person parading
the lobbies with a bulging breast
pocket you can tell by the cut of his
jib that he has a plank for the plat
form and is seeking a national COM
mitteeman to unload on him.
The vets are particularly in evil
dence and are the most noisy of all.
Well. your instinct will tell you just
getting a wet plank in the Republi-
can national platform. The extreme
drys are among those present who
would get the party out on a prohibi-
ton limb. Their disappointment is
assured. when the Committee on res
olutions takes up the platform they
will give both sides a hearing-and
the familiar welkin will ring.
KIan Fight Threatened.
There is a threatened fight for a
Ku ,Klux klan plank. but the pros
pect is it will be avoided. Although
the proponents and opponents, re-
spectively, are very intense.
Today some of the national COM
mitteemen, rejecting upon the hear
ingy yesterday before the committee
on the contest on the seating of dele
gates from the states of Arkansas
Texas and Georgia. were copcerned
over the feeling expressed in behalf
of the negro in the south and open
threat that if not given more rep
resentation in the party there is a
weapon of revenge in the hands of
negro voters in the border and north
ern states, voters who have migrated
from the south. The suggestion is
heard that negro may be included
in the seconding Of President Cool
idge's nomination.
The arrival of c. Bascom Slemp
next Monday is expected to auay fric-
tion caused by some CROSSED wires
in the Coolidge pre- -conyention man
agement when he gets in touch with
General Manager William M. Butler
1t is expected that he will bring
some suggestions of what the Presi-
dent desires should be adopted in the
platform. There is no doubt, ma
tional committeeman say, that Presi-
dent Coolidge's desires and suggested
inhibitions will be regarded on vital
points and policies.
Old Guard Slipping.
The passing of the old guard
might be the title of a picture of the
desperate efforts of that faction in
the republican management to hold
on to its slipping grasp Of power
This weakening is manifest in the
notable fact that this convention is
not to be controlled by the senatorial
old guard clique. in violent contrast
with the convention of 1920 and some
others, and that some of the old guart
are voluntarily retiring and others
are likely TO be missing in the reor-
ganization Of the management of the
party
There is a curious rumor in the
undercurTent of gossip. 1t is that
the selection of former Representa-
tive Mondell to be permanent chair
man of the convention was a surprise
to Mr.. Slemp and to the President
having been made by William NJ
Butler. This statement is received
with incredulity by the politicians
unless it was designed as a sop TO
the old guard, and even then it would
seem uncomfortable that upon such
an important matter the President
was not consulted.
La Toilette Causes Concern.
Gravest concern is felt by Repub-
licans in attendance upon the con-
vention of the news which is being
brought in by arriving delegates.
newspaper men and visitors of the
strength of Senator La Toilette in
the middle west and northwest.
All reports concur in their general
nature that should he determine to
run as an independent he will be a
serious factor in Republican calcula-
tions. One observer predicted that
in Illinois he could poll probably
the states further west he would be
dangerously strong. It is expected
that after adjournment of this con-
vention and before the Farmer-L.abor
convention in St Paul June IA, he
may issue a statement defining his
position.
Visitors to the convention are
charmed with the city and their sur
roundings. The city has some splen-
did hotels and although the visitors
are crowded with two and more in a
room they take it good naturedly.