Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-04-30
HUNTyS(A
WASHINGTON 1S 1iiii;TS
LETT ERSz
BY HARRY B. HUNT
NEA Service Writer

w ACflI4NO 4 O4Ns ApIll OU.-"
Whether to fight, and, by fighting,
perhaps disrupt the party, OF tot
compromise, and by compromising
"straddle" on patched-up plat
form that threaten to collapse from
the innate fIimsiness of the mater
ials used in its construction-that is
a problem that is giving Republican
leaders" who hope to have de-
termining voice in party parleys att
Cleveland, many sleepless nights.
If left to himself, President Coo
lidge would construct a platform
which would at least be safe and
symmetrical. While conservative,
it would be logical and we'll bal
anced.
But powerful elements within the
party, while acknowledging the
nomination of Coolidge to succeed
himself is inevitable and necessary,
do not concede it is either wise orr
desirable to yield to him full au-
thority in the shaping of party doe
trine at this time. To them, control
of the machinery and policy Of the
party is more important than any
one victory, and rather than sur
render their grip on the power they
now hold they would rather accept
a temporary defeat at the polls.
Willingness to accept President
Coolidge as platform writer as we'll
as candidate has been seriously in
terfered with by recent friction be-
tween White House and Senate.
This may be further intensified af-
ter the bonus and tax bills have re-
ceiyed presidential attention, should
he, as is considered by no means
unlikely, veto them.
Even the old guard group in the
Senate, backbone of the conserva-
tism Coolidge exemplifies, does not
relish the complacency with which
he has walked away with the party
as his own undisputed possession.
With mere "by your leave" he
has proceeded about both the presi
dency and his candidacy for re
nomination.
The leader" have been left with
nothing to lead. And it has made
them, privately, petulant - even
peevish!
@~
A member of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, speaking private
ly Of the situation, says:
1.-The trouble with the party, and
the government, is that they are
run by fear. They are influenced by
thd fear of what individuals or
small minorities may do or say. In
stead of chalking out a straight-for-
ward policy on fundamentals and
then hewing to the line, we put
out a platform which tries to pla-
cate everybody and pleases no one"
Democrats are observing that
the Republicans, long accused Of
operating under the influence Of
Wall Street." will still be in close
touch with the money power"
during the Cleveland convention.
The Republican National Com
mittee has taken over a whole floor
of the new Cleveland Federal Re
serve Bank building as headquart-
ers.
Chairman Adams and his assist
ants will be on the job there by
June 1.
A split in thee Ohio G. o. P.
ranks might be prevented, 1t is
suggested, by the nomination Of
Senator Frank B. Willis of Ohio
as running mate for Coolidge.
Willis fought the fight of Daugh-
erty in the Senate, during the battle
over passage of the Daugherty in
vestigation resolution, He described
the attorney general as cleean as a
hounds tooth" His nomination, it
is suggested, might help keep
Daugherty's friends in line, if they
are still holding resentment because
of Coolidge's method of dismissal.
The Japs, it seems now, got slant
n,rnl 49,. lc..l.;..c IL.