Evening star., 1925-08-23
The President and State Fights.

President Coolidge's stamp of ap-
proval will be eagerly sought by many
Republican candidates for office in
coming elections. both this Fall and in
the congressional and gubernatorial
contests next year. How far the Presi-
dent will allow himself to be drawn
into factional and local rows remains
TO be seen. Judging. however. from
the political acumen which MIR. Cool
idge has displayed in his public career.
il Is unlikely that he will allow his
administrator to become an apparent
issue in an election that is really being
fought out on local issues that have
little or nothing to do with the ma
tional problems confronting the ad-
ministration.
Dispatches from the Summer White
House at Swampscott indicate that the
Republican leaders of New Jersey are
seeking the aid of the President in the
race for governor. Senator Edge,
State Senator Whitney, the Repub-
lican nominee for governor, and Edwin
c. Stokes, chairman of the Republican
State committee, have made a pill
grimage to Swampscott to discuss Jer-
sey politics with the Chief Executive.
Indeed. it was reported some time ago
that Senator Edge would seek to en-
list Mr.. Coolidge in the coming fight.
In the contest for Governor OF New
Jersey, however, the wet" and dry"
Issue bobs up again. with Whitney,
the Republican candidate. standing for
law enforcement. while the Democratic
nominee is regarded as the liberal"
candidate. Furthermore, in the Re
publican ranks there was a consider
able split over the same issue prior
to the primaries, with Senator Edge
supporting a wet" candidate for the
nomination and Mr.. Whitney cam
paigning vigorously on the other side.
For the President to mix in this State
row does not appear the part of wis
dom.
1t is vitally important to the admin
istration. of course. to have a Repub-
lican Congress elected next year. if
the last two years of President Cool
idge's administration are to be effec-
tive from the legislative standpoint
A Democratic House or Senate would
make the passage of administration
measures impossible. For that reason
President Coolidge might well seek to
throw his strong personal influence to
this or that Republican candidate for
the Senate or House. But 1t has not
always proved polite for the Chief
Executive to interfere in congress
sional elections. President Woodrow
Wilson had his fingers badly burned in
1918, when he called for the election
of a Democratic Congress in the midst
of the World War.
The desire for presidential support,
however, may play it's part in the han
ding of administration measures at
the next session of Congress. Senators
and Representatives who face close
fights in State and district, remember
ing the popularity of the President
With the people, may think twice be-
fore they oppose him on measures
which are part of the administration
program.
The administration is entitled to sup
port from its party in Congress, if
party means anything and platforms
are to be regarded beyond the mere
scrap of paper" stage. Not infre-
quently the cry is raised that the
Executive is dominating" or seeking
To dominate, the legislative branch of
the Government. But if the people
have elected Chief Executive, stand
ing on a platform of legislative ac-
ton. and he seeks to put that program
into effect, the people have right to
expect the party in Congress to sup
port the President.