Evening star., 1925-08-25
Tax Program Acid Test.


II will presently be revealed whether
the President can lead Congress and
tame II to enact Coolidge policies, or
whether he will be shown up as i'm
potent to do aught but propose, while
a hostile House and Senate merci-
lessly dispose. The new taxation
program may be the acid test. If
the 1926 elections roll around with a
record of strong and successful leid-
ership to Mr.. Coolidge's credit, -
immense prestige of today is Likely
10 be enhanced.
Every man who runs for Congress
on the Republican ticket throughout
the country will be the direct bene-
fciary. If Washington this Winter
hears strange murmurings from the
West, therefore, they will be echoes
of the pious hopes that Cal will
weather his initial bout with a Con.
gress of his own. In him is his par
ty's trust. 1t knows no other at this
writing that compares with the back
up Coolidge" proposition.
Massachusetts, and California re-
Gently sent to Congress the widows
of deceased Representatives. Wis
consin may set the precedent of let
ting a son take a fathers piace in the
Senate. 1t has remained for Missouri
10 produce the notion that a late
United States Senator should be sue
ceeded by his surviving law partner.
Thus It is that Forest c. Donnell of
Webster Groves, Mo, Republican, is
taking soundings to decide whether
or not to become candidate for the
seat vacated by the passing of Sena-
tor Spencer. AS Senator Williams,
who was appointed to fill the unex-
pired Spencer term by Gov. Hyde, will
aspire to the nomination for full
term in the 1926 primaries, spirited
Donnell- Williams contest is In pros
pect.
Two groups of Missouri Republicans
induced Donnell to consider a race.
One consists of the staunch political
friends of Senator Spencer and the
other is a combination of ST. Louis Re-
publicans who engineered the recent
successful campaign of Mayor Victor
Miller.
The Mayor and Senator Williams are
not friends. Miller himself is cred
Sted with senatorial ambitions in 1928.
The suggestion is that he is looking
for a rural candidate who can defeat
Williams in 1926 in order that the
metropolitan ST. Louis field may be
clear for himself three years hence,
when Jim" Reed will be up for re-
election. Senator Spencers friends
have their axes sharpened for VIII
liams because the latter opposed
Spencer's election as delegate at large
TO the 1924 Republican national con-
vention. Donnell, besides his law
partnership link with Spencer, has a
strong organization and a personal
following. He is a former official OF
the Republican State central commit
tee and, as an expresident of the
University of Missori Alumni Associ-
alton, enjoys a Statewide acquaint-
ance among the graduates of the big
institution at Columbia
Democrats Active.
With the prospects of Republican
strife, the opposition Is sitting up and
taking cheerful notice. Two we'll
known Missouri Democrats are by
way of erecting senatorial lightning
rods-Representativ Harry B. Hawes
Of st. Louis and former Gov. Fred
erick Gardner. Charles NJ. Hay is an.
other Missouri Democrat who has SEN
atorial longings.
At present Representative Hawes is
the only one openly cunning for favor.
He is circulating a booklet in which
his long public career including mill.
tary, diplomatic, municipal and legis.
lative records, is sketched in fulsome
detail. The booklet stresses Hawes'
activity in Missouri highway develop.
ment. AS a member OF the State Leg.
ilatuSe in 1917 he rewrote all the