Evening star., 1926-12-15
Politics at Large
By &. Could Lincoln.

Gays ago SalQ, In an interview dI the
Republican national headquarters, in
| New York City, ne believed Presi-
dent Coolidge would be the Republi-
can nominee for President in 1928
he voiced the opinion of 80 per cent,
| or perhaps an even higher percentage,
| of Republican members of Congress,
and of the Democrats, too. The lat
| ter, publicly at least, would deny the
second part of Senator WadsWorth' S
| prediction-that if nominated Presi-
| dent Coolidge would be reelected, no
matter whom the Democrats put up.
The Democrats have not been signally
successful in their contests with Mr..
Coolidge.
Not a little discussion is heard Of
| the possibility of the Republican nomi-
nation in 1928 going to former Gov.
| Frank o. Lowden of Illinois. But
no one really believes, up to this time
/ at any rate. that Mr.. Lowden or any
| one else could wrest the nomination
| from President Coolidge If he is a
candidate for denomination. Possibly
Mr.. Lowden's name is being used as
an entering wedge by some who
would like to see the nomination go
elsewhere than to Coolidge If Presi-
dent Coolidge should determine not
| to be a candidate to succeed himself,
i tHeU V1T. IOWuclI WOulu nave
q good chance for the nomination,
though even this is open to some
| doubt. He has made himself solid
with large number of farm organiza
| tiOnS in recent years. His approval
of the principle Of the equalization
| fee in farm relief legislation has gone
! far toward cementing the regard of
these organizations for Mr.. Lowden.
But Mr.. Lowden was an odds-on
| favorite for the nomination in 1920
and he failed. He failed because of
an injudcious use of money-to say
| the least-by his supporters in Mis-
souri, With charges of Republican
slush funds likely to be an issue in
the next campaign, and of slush funds
in Illinois. Mr.. Lowden's own State,
| the story of 1920 Is not likely to be
| overlooked by Mr.. Lowden's oppo-
nents. This Is the view taken by
some of the Senators and Representa-
tives from Western States, where Mr.:
Lowden Is supposed to be strongest.
| X X \
! According to some of the reports
sent out from Washington, President
| Coolidge sustained his first defeat of
the present session of Congress when
| the Republican members of the House
ways and means committee tabled all
/ DIOpOSdlS IOi LdA JcSlSiUIi VI 1C0uC-
| ton, including the Presidents recon-
mendation for a temporary tax reduc-
| tion the first half of next year. A
| little reflection, however, may bring
| a different view. President Coolidge
in his annual message to Congress
| pointed out how the taxpayers might
| receive the benefit of the 1888 ,000, 900
surplus of taxes expected June go
1927. He suggested that the taxes
payable in March and June of next
year be lowered to the extent of this
surplus. All taxpayers were to ben
eft. Does 1t hurt Mr.. Coolidge in the
eyes of the voters and the taxpayers
TO have this suggestion turned down?
Or does 1t hurt the Congress which
| will not agree to such a tax reduc.
ton? The President is found in the
attitude of holding the cup Of tax re
duction to the lips of the taxpayers
and Congress in the act of dashing
the cup aside. 1t Is true that the
Democrats are clamoring for reduc-
tiOn Of the tax rates in existing law.
But they could not conceivably reduce
them below the surplus, and the Presi-
dents plan, If adopted, would be ex-
| actly as effective as the plan of the
Democrats for reducing taxation dur
ing the next year, and would leave 1t
open to Congress to determine a year
hence whether the permanent rates
should be lowered.
| X y X y
| Charles d. Hilles, Republican ma.
| tional committeeman from New York
| and vice chairman of the Republican
| national committee, Is intent upon
having New York City submit a bid
for the Republican national conven.
ton in 1928. He will try, he says
| to have New York launch q move
ment to entertain the Republicans In
1928. His idea is that the Democrats
having shown the world how not to
conduct a national convention in old
Madison Square Garden, the Republi
cans should give an exposition in the
new Garden Of how it should be done.
Doubtless a bid from the Republicans
of the Empire State will be heard
respectfully. The call Of the West
or Middle West, however, is likely
to be effective. If President Coolidge
is to be the nominee, as now seems
probable. there is no need to win the
East to him. It may be advisable,
however, to have the nomination con.
summated in Chicago. Kansas City
or some other Western city.
Republican members of the Senate
are awaiting with no little interest the
appointment of a Senator from ILL.
nois to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Senator William B. McKin-
ley. Republican leaders, anxious to
put through all the annual appropri.
alton bills and adjourn by March 4
without the necessity of a special ses.
sion next Spring of the Seventieth
Congress, resent the suggestion that
Col. Frank l.. Smith, Senator-elect,
should receive the appointment and
come here now. If Col Smith is ap-
pointed, 1t will lead Immediately to
a contest in the Senate over his TAX.
| ing his seat, and this contest may
make 1t impossible to avoid a special
session to complete necessary busi-
! ness.
Col. Smith must decide whether It
is better for him to make his fight to
be seated In the present session, with
| Republican leaders irritated because
| OF his tnsistence upon that course. or
to wait until the Seventeen Congress,
when Republican ranks are thinned
and the national campaign is only a
few months removed.
n X v X
Gov. Small of Illinois, the appointiye
power, must determine whether he
Will heed the warnings sent him from
Washington against the appointment
Of Smith or whether he will heed the
desires Of Col. Smith df Col. Smith
continues to insist upon being ap-
pointedl. If Gov. Small declines to ap-
point Col. Smith, unless Col. Smith
makes 1t clear he does not desire the
appointment. 1t will be regarded as a
slap at Smith and his friends. Gov.
Small, lit is believed, is anxious to be
a candidate to succeed himself as gov
ernor. That being the case, he would
scarcely wish to offend Col Smith and
| the element in the Republican party