The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-17
(. 0. P. MACHINE
 TO BE MARSTAY
 OF DRIVEN WEST
Distribution Of Patronage Has Built Up Strong
 Organization
BL THOMAS L. STOKES. Ru naEnA Wann An Ace HnEnlA

tBy Leased WHe b0 Ak6-EAeE4A1-l
 WASHINGTON, July 16.-In combating the progressive drive of Senator La Toilette and the Lib erally-toned campaign of John W. Davis, Coolidge forces will rely pri- marily on the organizations they have built up to hold what they can in the western and northwestern agricultural states, for which all three will wage vigorous battle as it is likely to be decisive ground.
 The distribution of patronage for the last three years has given the Republicans strong-welded state organizations. Word has gone out to these organizations to start the wheels. Lines for the defense have been frightened.
 On The Defense
 For the Republicans will be on the defensive. Democrats and Pro gressives will capitalize the agrarian discontent in the west and the northwest arising from dissatisfac- tion with the administration. But they lack the organization of the Republicans.
 2 Though the organiZatio will be the mainstay of the administration bat tie in the disaffected sections, Coolidge campaigners will have their line of talking defense. To the charge that the administration has failed to give farm relief. they will answer by pointing to the extended operations of the war fi- nance corporation and the establish ment of the .12 intermediate credit banks.
 President Coolidge. himself. is not likely to go into the far western states for any of his speeches. The few ad- dresses he will make may take him to Chicago and St. Louis. but probably no further. The principal reliance as far as this phase of the campaign is con- cerned will be placed on General Dawes. who will make a series of speeches. in his vigorous way
 As leaders canvass the situation. they are coming to realize that this battle in the west is going to be intensely inter esting. and perhaps significant La Toilette is stalking his main drive there, and Republicans and Democrats are anxious to get all shey can, to increase their own electoral total. but principal ly to keep the progrsesives from cap turing enough of those states to throw the election in ehe house.
 Events Help
 At the present time. events are turn ing around to help the Coolidge forces. | Prices for wheat and corn have jumped. | Conditions are improving. Some farm ! CTS are reported to be back on the mar ket for luxuries. Republican leaders | here Wednesday were very optimistic | as the reports came in. They are hope | full that it will prove permanent. In that case. they are predicting that it | will break the back of both progressive | and Democratic campaigns.
 But Democrats and PrOgreSSives say they are not greatly disturbed over the sudden market rise They insist that they are passing their campaigns on broader lines than mere appeals to dis content due to financial distress among the farmers. and point to the fact that the grain prices have already begun to break as the spectators take their profits
 Sitting here at the helm, directing quietly the work of organization, Presi- dent Coolidge received encouraging re- ports Wednesday from leaders in vari- Ous sections, all predicting success in l November
 Business Already Decided
 Senator Brandegee. of Connecticut, | calling at the White House. stated that | New England was safe for Coolidge. l Diseussing the general situation, Bran | degee said that business would follow | Coolidge rather than Davis. as the i business interests had decided on Cool l idge before the Democrats nominated | Davis, being uncertain beforehand what | tLs Democrats would do. In concen- tr ting on someone to defeat La Fol ] lette, the choice has been for Coolidge, | he said.
 Carmi Thompson. Republican leader in Ohio, who calle, on the president, | declared he was much pleased with the situation in Ohio. He predicted a Cool idge victory on the ground that La Fol ! lette would draw much of the labor l vote. normally Democratic.
 Raymond Benjamin. former Cali | fornia republican sta chairman and far western Harding -hanager in 1920. | declared after a conference witt Co5I- | idge that the Pacific Coast tes are | certain to go Republican this year. He ! said that the supporters of Hiram | Johnson were behind Coolidge. La Fol lette, he said. will not Ee able to draw enough Republican votes to th.ow any of the Pacific Coast states, or Idaho. l Nevada. Utah. or Arizona into the |