Evening star., 1926-10-18
BUTLER IS HOLDING
EDGE OVER WALSH
Coolidge Issue Is Helping
Senator in Campaign in
Massachusetts.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BOSTON, Mass, October 49,
There are two ways to play the
political game a fortnight before an
electlon--one is to exude confidence
anC scare the opposition into a break
down of morale, and the other is to
confess fear OF defeat and frighten
the stay-at-home voters Of ones party
into registering and voting.
The second of these is the course
being pursued by the managers of
the campaign of Senator William M.
Butler, chairman of the Republican
national committee, whose burden is
just twice as heavy as that of any
other senatorial candidate. For he is
not only making the race for himself,
but for President Calvin Coolidge.
Against him is former Senator David
L. Walsh, who made in 1924 phenom-
email run against Speaker Gillett.
Although Mr.. Coolidge carried his
own State by more than 100000 Mr..
Walsh lost out by the relatively small
margin Of $4,000.
If Mr.. Walsh is as popular today
as he was two years ago, he will win
Butler. while a stronger candidate
than Mr.. Gillett, is not hundreds of
thousands of votes stronger
popularity Is question.
But is Mr.. Walsh as popular as
he was two years ago? The friends
of the former Senator claim he is,
but privately many of them admit he
is not. Assuming then that he has
lost strength, again the question of
how much must be answered. And
this is the indeterminate factor in
the election at the moment.
Snnnnpfi tho thnnrIy fhof
Walsh has lost votes are two princi-
pal arguments. One that he was
entrenched in office and had actually
been in contact with the voters and
their group leaders almost continu
ouSly for six years and prior to that
was an active figure as Governor of
Massa chusetts, but in the last two
years he has suffered the disadvantage
of being out OF office coupled with
the supposed advantage of laying
low" and Withholding his candidacy
till the last moment. The other is
that the Republicans who voted for
Senator Walsh in 1924 could do so
and at the same time express their
confidence in Calvin Coolidge by a
direct vote for him. Today the Re
publican voters are asked to express
their support of Mr.. Coolidge through
a vote in favor of Senator Butler.
Every one admits that Mr.. Walsh
has always drawn largely from the
Republican party. He has had GER
tain troubles inside his own party
and has never identified himself with
some of the machine" elements that
have governed Boston's Democracy.
Labor Bears Grlldge.
Why should Republicans vote for
Senator Walsh for other than reasons
of personal belief in him. The only
issue of national Importance raised
thus far is the prohibition question
and Senator Buffers alleged oppOsi-
ton to labor. Here and there, too.
are laboring men who cherish against
Mr.. Coolidge the grudge of the police
strike days. so the ButlerCoolidge
campaign of today naturally alienates
a certain number of Republican labor
votes. Mr.. Walsh himself is not as
wet as the Democratic candidate for
governor, Col. CASTOR, but many of
the vets will express themselves by
voting the Democratic ticket while
some dry Democrats will be forced to
the support of the Republican ticket.
There are probably more wet Repub-
leans in Massachusetts than dry
Democrats. so the chances for gain
for Mr.. Walsh are greater by the ex-
change. This, together with a certain
section of the labor vote, will cOnSti-
tute the principal sources of Repub-
llcan strength from which Mr.. Walsh
will draw.
Basically. however, the Butler or
ganiza ton is comprehensive and COM
plete and is supported generously in
the editorial columns of most of the
States newspapers. If a vote were
TO be taken tomorrow. the race would
seem to be that of Senator Butler
by majority of around $4,000. but
1t is only fair to say that this is a
small majority as Massachusetts
ma jorities go and that the campaign
is yet young. To put it another way,
Senator Butler is confidently expected
to win by most neutral observers.
and the surprise of the campaign will
be if he is defeated. Compare this
with the fact that Senator Walsh
made such a remarkable run two
years ago and was on paper, therefore,
at least 100000 votes stronger than
a Republican nominee. and the reason
for the reversal in sentiment can be
traced to the fact that the voters are
being taught to believe that a vote
for Walsh is a vote against the favor
ite son of Massachusetts who sits in
the White House and who may not
win another presidential nomination
if the Bay State were to repudiate
him this Autumn.