Evening star., 1926-05-17
HINT ONLY PRIMARY
AID FROM COOLIDGE
Senatorial Friends Get No
Formal ndorsement-Pep-
per'S Chances Uncertain.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

How much attention do the people
particularly those who vote-pay to
a hint from the White House? For
a hint is all they will get in the pri-
mary campaigns this year, and it's
on hint that President Coolidge
bases his hopes of reconstruction of
the Senate and House, with support
ers of his administration.
The first hint came in Illinois, when
the administration sent Secretary
Hoover to make a speech during the
campaign Of Senator Mckinley. But
Illinois didn't take the hint.
The second hint came a few days
ago when Secretary Mellon went to
Pittsburgh and delivered a speech in
support Of Senator Pepper, who is
having a hard fight to win in the
Tuesday primaries against Represent
ative William Ware.
And the third hint came today with
the announcement that former Gov.
Stickney of Vermont-a law partner
Of Attorney General Sargent. and
the lawyer intrusted by the Pres
ident with the arrangement of his
fathers estate-would be candidate
against Senator Dale, who has alien
ated the political affections of the
White House by voting to override
the Presidents veto on the bonus and
sundry other things.
Wants Coolidge Upheld.
Mr.. Stickney speaks of his reluc
tance TO enter the senatorial contest
and states that he is doing so only
because he wants Mr.. Coolidge up
held in the State of Vermont.
In all three cases the President
himself has not spoken. He has
known of the plans of his cabinet,
and he knew of the plans Of former
Gov. Stickney. But he has not come
out openly and asked for public sup
port. His belief is that the people
are wise enough to take hint.
The danger Of a direct statement,
of course, is that if perchance the
administration candidates do not
win. the result will be hailed. as it
was in Illinois, as a reputation of
Mr. Coolidge. And that would not
though 1928 is somewhat distant. and
the pendulum of popularity can
swing backward and forward many
times 'twixt now and then.
Mr.. Pepper is liked by the Presi-
dent. He has no particular objection
to Mr.. Ware. who is a powerful po-
litical factor in Pennsylvania, but
he would rather see Senator Pepper
retained. Yet the rumors that have
been waited here from the keystone
State are that Mr.. Pepper will be
lucky to squeeze through. and that
there need be no surprise If Mr.. Ware
wins by substantial plurality.
Pinchot Splits Dry Vote.
Gov. Pinchot is n third candidate
"a Iyh id 70 lro
from the dry side, so that the prohi-
bition vote will be divided between
Messrs. Pepper and Pinchot. while
the 'wets" range themselves with
Representative Ware. Under the cir
cumstances, the prohibition issue
may be the controlling one at the
polls, all of which makes Tuesdays
primary very important to the vets
and drys. especially since the vets
have been claiming ascendancy.
Even before the result is known
one might as we'll forecast what each
side will say. If Mr.. Ware wins, the
drys will answer that Pennsylvania
is a wet state anyhow and that the
vote of the drys was unfortunately
divided between two candidates. The
vets would proclaim 1t as the turning
Of the tide toward modification of the
Nolstead act. If either Senator Pepper
or Gov. Pinchot should win, the pri-
mary will be viewed as a great
achievement for the cause of pro-
hibition. The post election state
ments could be written now, which
means that on no side is there
crystallization of sentiment on issues
from which national differences can
be drawn. and the truth is the race is
clash of ambitious personalities.
Copyright. 1920