Evening star., 1925-08-22
P|NCHOT'S MOVES
WATCHED BY PARTY
Governor Believed by Many
10 Have Eye on White
House in 1928.

READING. Pa, August 22.-The
political observer finds on the trail Of
Gov. Clifford Pinchot's triumphal
tour of inspection" of the Keystone
State some very definite ideas as to
the aims and ambitions Of this one
time star member of the Roosevelt
tennis cabinet.
Gov. Pinchot's friends, and he has
some stalwart ones, are desirous only
of seeing him succeed in anything he
undertakes. They would be happy to
have him as governor again. They
would be equally happy to see him
go to Washington next year as
United States Senator.
Seen As Caesar"
The governors political opponents
see in him a new Republican Caesar
who would feed fat his ambitious
fires at the expense of the lean and
cautions Coolidge. Nothing will con-
vince a large proportion of the Penn
sylvania electorate that Clifford Pin
chot has not set his eyes on the
White House. They believe he is
looking to the senatprship race next
year merely as a stepping stone to
the higher honorS OF the Presidency
Pinchot has become so confident and
bold in his general political attitude
that some believe an overwhelming
victory is the senatorial race against
Senator Pepper might lead the gov
ernor to contest with President Cool
idge the nomination in 1928, which
most Republicans are ready to con-
cede to the occupation OF the White
House at the present time.
Ever since Mr.. Coolidge became
President two years ago some of the
keystone Republicans have been in
clined to array Gov. Pinchot against
him. Two years ago they said Pin
chot took the anthracite coal strike
situation right out from under Mr..
Coolidge's nose. Mr.. Coolidge was
new on the Job at that time, however,
and was more than willing to let
Pinchot wrestle with the troublesome
and treacherous problem. Pinchot,
taking a leaf out of the book of Theo-
dore Roosevelt, in whose footsteps he
always has sought TO guide his life,
called the operators and miners to
Harrisburg. waved the big stick, -
and brought compromise which was
largely a miners victory.
May Clash With Coolidge.
The anthracite situation is ripe fol
a new move and it may bring a sig
nificant clash between Pinchot and
| the President. This year Mr.. Coolidge
is not new in the White House. This
year Mr.. Coolidge is following the
course of the broken negotiations be-
tween miners and operators. Already
Mr.. Coolidge has announced that he
will return to Washington at any
time: if necessary, to deal with the
fuel situation involving the pepole of
| the eastern half of the country,
Gov. Pfnchot also is Watching the
situation keenly. and as the anthracite
situation affects Pennsylvania vitally
he may claim the right of eminent
| domain to deal with it himself. At
least he may want to take a first
| fling at 1t.
Some Pennsylvania believe the
national administration has its eye on
Mr.. Pinchot and his political maneu-
verings. President Coolidge, contrary
! perhaps to general belief, is one of the
keenest politicians ever in the White
| House. He has spent his entire adult
| life at the political game and has held
| office virtually from the time of his
| majority. Mr.. Coolidge can scent a
| political battle from afar, and even if
some of his advisers appear on the
surface to be amateurs, they, too, can
tell the direction of any significant
| breeze.
administration Ready.
1t may be that the administration
| may feel called upon almost at any
time to put Gov. Pinchot in his place.
| If Washington becomes convinceI
| that Pinchot is inclining his way to.
| ward the White House it may throw
all of its weight into the senatorial
primary next year in favor of Senator
Pepper and against the ambitious Key.
stone chief executive
Perhaps Mr.. Pinchot will be able
to convince the Coolidge adherents
that he is not looking to 1928, that
his ambitions will wait until 1923. at
which time there is a pretty general
| opinion that the President might be
ready to relinquish the office. II
Pinchot should be elected to the Sen
| ate next year his term at WASHINGTON
| would run through 1892 and he would
! perhaps be in better position to con.
| test for the nomination.
But the governor is an unsual poll.
tician: he is feeling his oats and no
| one knows just what is in the back
| of his rather wise and aristocratic
| head. +. T. S.