Evening star., 1926-11-03

Coolidge luck has failed to function
for the first time in the Presidents s
career. That circumstance stands out
with crystal clearnesS from amid the
Republican carnage Of November z.
It dwarfs in significance the rising
tide Of "Al" Smiths fortunes, though
the two events may prove not to be
wholly unrelated. Throughout the
land citizens will ask whether Sena-
tor Buffers defeat in Massachusetts
means that Mr.. Coolidge will now not
aspire to succeed himself In 1928. The
question would have been raised in
any event. It became paramount the
moment the President hurled himself
personally and undoubtedly into the
Massachusetts fight. 1.-THE first
major mistake in Coolidge strategy"
was the prediction comment OF his
home State admirers. according to the
authentic Boston Transcript. What
they meant was this: had Butler sue
cumbed without the Presidents inter-
vention, Coolidge could always have
said that his aid might have saved the
day. His prestige would not have been
risked. Now that 1t was risked, and
availed nor the blow 1t has suffered
is undeniable.
David I. walsh's triumph in Massa-
ch,ysetts took the White House com.
pletely by surprise. Within 10 days
of election the President told Repub-
lican leaders that he was entirely
confident of Senator Buffers victory.
Mr.. Coolidge manifestly was con-
vinced that assurance would be made
doubly sure by his personal appeal
to Bay State voters. The overwhelm-
ing bulk of opinion Is that, in view
Of Massachusetts reputation of his
personal political lieutenant, Coolidge
will not be candidate for re-elec-
ton. No early announcement on
that score need be expected. 1t Is
subject on which the President will
keep his own counsel until the
eleventh hour. He may eventually
convince himself that, even though
| Massachusetts, had no faith in But
Ter, neither 1t nor the Nation at
large has indicated any lack of con-
| fidence in Coolidge. Time alone can
Insurgent controlled Congress may
disport itself In a manner to endear
the President to the country beyond
all present-hour imaginings.
Gov. Smiths feat in re-electing him
self by a colossal plurality and carry
ing the New York SenatOrshtp to vic.
tory along with him puts CAP at
the top of the Democratic heap with
vengeance. He will either be the
party's nominee for President in 1928
or decree who shall be. The power
and prestige now his have not often
been equaled by any political leader
in modern American history. The
Smith drive for victory at the next
Democratic national convention Will
be prosecuted henceforward with in
creased intensiveness. Behind 1t Is
an argument it did not have before.
Smith would have been formidable
two years hence, whether he had
brought about Senator Wadsworth' s
defeat or not. The governors double.
barreled triumph gives him almost ir-
resistible claims on national leader.
ship.
X X X X
Patriots with a passion for peering
into the beyond will do well to keep
an eye on Alben w. Barkley, senator.
elect from Kentucky. In him. beyond
| the shadow Of a. doubt. lies the posi-
| bility Of Democratic white hope.
He has retrieved an old-tima Demo
| cratic border State for the party which
had almost abandoned hope OF re.
| covering the Blue Grass country. He
| is a dry of the drys. He is one of the
darlings Of organized labor He is
young-49. He Is q Protestant. He
is an unconTnonly attractive speaker.
He is a. lawyer and former Judge
That he will be On the ! AS Demo