Evening star., 1926-12-09
PRESIDENT SEEKS
HARMONY IN PARTY
White House Breakfasts Aid
in Smoothing Out Legis-
Iative Paths.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge mas SET put OH
a definite program Of harmony within
the Republican party. The conferences
which he has been calling for break
fast at the White House are in line
with an effort on the part OF Mr.
Coolidge to develop united front Tor
the election in 1929. when the party
will be on trial again.
The shortness of the present session
Of Congress makes even more lmpera
tive the necessity for a smooth-work-
ing legislative machinery. The sum
moning of the chairmen Of all i'm
portant committees is expected to
bring about a personal relation be-
tween those chairmen and the White
House enabling them to consult the
Executive whenever the occasion war
rants While Mr.. Coolidge does not
wish ever TO be regarded as an EXecu-
tive who drives" Congress, he Is not
unm.ndful of the opportunity he has
to influence the course of his party
leaders
Mr. Coolidge shrinks from personal
display such as might he involved in
a reception on the floor of the House
If he read his message in person and
prefers to do his C0nferring at the
White House whenever it Is con-
venient for the members.
Visits May BE Interruptions.
On such Visits as other Presidents
have made to the Capitol, the hrst
few partook of a certain novelty, but
later they became to a certain extent
Interruptions. for a President could
not always determine in advance the
hour for his visit and frequently i'm
portant Senators were absorbed in
L., ,.tv h 1v~l1
they could not conveniently leave.
The breakfast conference idea has
been evolved as compromise. In the
early hours of the day members of
Congress are free from engagements
as a rule. During the luncheon hour
their presence is frequently needed on
the floors of Congress and they like
to he handy for roll calls In the
evening members of Congress have
engagement of their own. sometimes
weeks in advance. and it is not easy
for Mr.. Coolidge to bring them to-
gether when he wants them.
The Republican conferences-for
usually only Republicans are invited
are calculated to improve the moral
of the party >and to inform the Presi-
dent of the prospects for legislation.
The President feels that ne must de-
pend for counsel and guidance on the
Republican leaders and he wants them
to know ii. His method OF working
with Congress is somewhat different
from that of his predecessors. but the
objective is the Same-close accord
with the leadars-namely, the chair
men of committees.
Leadership on Trial.
Mr. Coolidges own leadership is on
trial in the short session Of Congress.
Between now and the time Congress
meets again in December. 1927, the
lines will be drawn for the 1928 politi-
cal conventions. Members Of Con-
gress have much to do with the selec-
ton of delegates for a presidential
nominating convention. In fact, In
many instances they choose and DOM
mate the delegations.
Whatever personal relations Mr..
Coolidge may stablish will to a GER
tain extent prevent the development
of an opposition to him. And whether
he decides to run or not. the lmpOr-
tance of having opposition postponed
until the last possible moment canrot
be overestimated from the viewpoint
of legislative progress. The President
is, therefore. helping his own political
fortunes as we'll as those of his party
as whole by endeavOring to develop
a close working arrangement on legis-
lation between himself and the leaders
on Capitol Hill.
tCOpyright. 1926.)