Evening star., 1926-12-09
SCHEM|NG AGAINST
i PRESIDENT IS SEEN
Political Moves to Occupy
Prominent Place in Short
H. Session at Capitol.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Politics will run the Nations busi-
ness a close race for attention IN ana
out of Congress at Washington TINS
Winter. Over many a major project
action and utterance at both ends OF
Pennsylvania avenue, the White House
end as we'll as the Capitol terminal,
the shadow of 1928 will loom. There's
nothing unusual in that sort OF situa-
ton. It's the history of every session
and political season preceding presl-
dental campaign. The Democrats Will
omit no opportunity to steer the snip
of state in their direction, in the
hope that they may capture its com
,nand two years hence. The Repubilc-
ans will so comport themselves that
O. grateful republic will be inclined TO
vote them in 1928 q renewal OF the
lease of power that the &. Q. +. has
held since March 4, 1921.
No single aspect of the situation that
will dominate politicians thoughts
during the lame duck" session OF the
expiring Sixty-ninth Congress excites
rs much curiosity as President Cool
idge's intentions. Whether the Presi'
dent does or does not aspire to sue
reed himself is the paramount puzzle
His closest counselors assert they are
as much in the dark as anybody else
Most of them expect to remain in the
gloom until the end Of 1927. They say
they will be surprised If anything de-
Velops during the present Winter that
Will give any reliable information on
his plans. The President has thrown
down the gauntlet to Congress on two
outstanding iSSues-taX reduction ana
farm relief If his views on either or
both Of those questions are disregard
ed, the average politician is ready to
consider that Mr.. Coolidge will not
seek denomination.
President Personally Popular.
This writer's observations in the
country at large would not indicate
that the Presidents prospects neces-
sarily would be endangered by any
''repudiation" at the hands Of Con-
gress. Undoubtedly, Mr.. Coolidge is
stronger with the rank and file of the
people than his party is, or that his
chief opposition in Congress, the Sen
ate, is. American political history is
full Of examples of presidential popu-
larity gained primarily because the
Chief Executive was opposed and dis
liked by Congress. Mr.. Coolidge has
''sold' himself to the Nation so ef-
feCtually on his economy and tax re-
duction program that he can stand
any number Of rebuffs from Congress
without seriously endangering his
status.
One disadvantage that might un-
horse him in national esteem is ac-
knowledged on all hands. That is a
serious business depression next year.
The American people have a passion
for blaming bad times on the party
in power at Washington. If bad
times" overtake the country in 1928
Mr.. Coolidge's administration might
be the political victim of them.
Meantime, the only serious opposi-
tion to the President within his own
political ranks is based on agricul-
tural depression. 1t is an open secret
that plans are actively under way to
capitalize that depression in the in
terests of men who have their eye on
the White House. Most conspicuous
in that group is former Gov. Frank
q. Lowden Of Illinois. Mr.. Lowden
Is the acknowledged candidate Of the
farm belts demanding so-called "sur.
plus legislation" at Washington on
McNary-Haugen lines. The Presi-
dents reaffirmation, in his message to
Congress. of refusal to sanction agri-
cultural legislation Of that character
Is bound to spur the Lowden opposi-
ton into fresh efforts.
Two Candidates Looming.
To this writer comes a circumstan-
tlal outline of certain developments
planned for the coming year. Sur
plus" bills will be launched during the
present session in both houses, but
not asgresslvely pushed. Farm lead
ers and farm politicians contemplate
rather the use of the floors in House
and Senate mainly as forums for ad-
Nertlslng their cause to the public at
large. The scheme. as reported then
is to make an intensive drive for ac-
tual legislation in the session begin
ming December, 1927, in the hope of
famming through the desired kind of
bills in the teeth of Coolidge opposi-
tiOQ on the eve Of the 1928 presiden.
tial primaries. in the Spring of 1928.
That, according to the information
herein under review, is where the
Lowden movement comes in. Its sup
porters claim. in consequence of a
Survey" that they will be able to
carry enough grain and cotton States
for Lowden delegations to prevent the
denomination of President Coolidge on
the first ballot. That is, to say, they
count on preventing him from having
clear majority on the opening roll
call in the Republican national con-
Vention. If that can be done, the
strategists who are working on this
Interesting hypothesis contend that
Mr.. Coolidge can be stopped" and a
Midwestern Republican-Lowden for
Choice-'put over" on succeeding bal
lots. Vice President Dawes figures in
these alleged maneuvers as the next
best Midwestern probability. For all
of these reasons. insiders are fore
shadowing that farm relief will be
loudly discussed but not enacted. at
the session of Congress just begun.
Copyright. 1926D