Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-12
COOLIDGE MAY RUN
IF HE IS DRAF TED,
PARTY MEN ASSERT
Four Republican Leaders See
Hope of Nominating Pres
ident Again.
CONVENTION DEADLOCK
MAY CAUSE LANDSLIDE
Friends of Executive See Possible
Stampede for Him at
Meeting.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

s. Dak., August 12.-It is the
opinion Of four prominent Republicans
who have been with President
Coolidge during the past two days
hat, despite his announcement that
ne did not choose to run again and
expressions Of his de-
termination to retire to private life
at the expiration of his term. he has
not completely barred the door to a
Notwithstanding all the President
has said on the subject, these political
friends who have talked with him at
the Summer White House think that
he may choose to accept the nomina-
ton if it is forced upon him, even
though he does not choose to go out
after it.
1t was predicted by two Of these
friends that if the President insists on
out of the fight the .
convention next year will
be deadlocked and that it will be
broken only by his denomination.
Acceptance Possible, Work Thinks.
In this group of hopefuls was DIR.
Hubert Work, Secretary of the In
terror Department, who returned to
the Summer Capital yesterday. When
asked for his opinion of the Presi-
dents decision and the outlook for
1928, he said: president Coolidge
meant exactly what he said in his an
nOuncement; he wouldn't run from
choice. He didn't say he wouldn't &C.
cept the nomination.
Senator Simeon d. Fess Of Ohio
and Representative William E. Hull of
Illinois, both of whom are guests at
the Game Lodge today, expect the Pres
ident to be drafted into service by the
Republican convention.
Il do not think Mr.. Coolidge will
refuse If the nomination is forced upon
him." Senator Fess said.
Representative Hull stated that
President Coolidge will be renominated
in just about the same manner in
which he. was nominated for Vice Pres
ident in 1920. He looks for deadlock
which will drag along until some one
leaps up and places the name of Calvin
Coolidge in nomination. Then watch
the fireworks" Mr.. Hull remarked.
Mr.. Coolidge will be compelled to
accept"
This drafting idea also is held by
John S. Fisher. Governor of Pennsyl-
vania, who accompanied Secretary
Work to the Summer Capital. He
stated that the Presidents statement
does not preclude the possibility of
drafting him. He does not think the
President has put any bar against such
a denomination.
These Republican leaders, were unan.
lmous in saying that the country gem
orally is greatly disappointed that Mr..
Coolidge does not choose to run again. 1t
was inferred from what they said by
discussing the situation that, as mat
ters stand now, Republican leaders
and workers in a number of States are
already planning to go ahead and
either work for the instruction of their
delegations for Mr.. Coolidge, or else
work TO have the delegates go unn.
so as to be ready to vote for
the President when the proper time
arrives. 1t was explained that activi-
ties along these lines will also serve TO
hold in check other presidential booms.
Believe President Sincere.
1t was made plain by these friends
OF the President that the latter said
nothing to them during their separate
talks with him which could be taken
as a modification of his decision not
to run again. Each expressed the be.
lief that the President was absolutely
sincere i'll his statement and that he
wants to retire to private life, but
they positively refuse to accept the
idea that he is out of it definitely, at
least to the extent of turning down the
nomination If it is presented to him.
Secretary Work said that he in.
formed President Coolidge that "the
whole country was disappointed" and
that the President smiled and replied,
There are a number Of able men in
this country who could qualify for
The Interior Department head has
been travelling through a number of
States in the Middle West and North
west and during his visit to the Sum-
ner White House he acquainted the
President with his observations. He
said that in all the 40 years he has
lived in the West he had never seen
such abundant crops as he has on
MS recent trip. lie said the people
we're strong for the President for an
Dther term and that he heard prac
ically no talk about the McNary-
iaugen farm relief bill.
Discusses Insular Affairs.
The Secretary said he had dis
'ussed with Mr.. Coolidge proposals
o put the insular affairs of the coun-
ry in the Interior Department.
He had pointed out to the PreSi-
lent that these may. be transferred
rom one department to another by
executive order. and some of them
lad been. He reminded the Presi-
lent that Alaska and Hawaii are
n the Interior Department now and
he other insular possessions could
'e handled in that department with
he present organization. He IA
'ored so placing all of them except
he Canal Zone, which has an engi-
leering and defense problem which
would make it's continuance In the
Var Department advisable.
James J. Davis, Secretary of Labor,
Who is here to spend the day with
he President, is convinced that the
President. by his recent statement.
has taken himself completely out of
he running. He is satisfied that Mf. ,
Coolidge meant exactly what he said
md that he wants 10 leave Office in
Iarch, 1929.
Mr.. Davis admitted, while discuss
ng the subject today. that the Presi
lent's decision was a real shock and
hat there IS widespread disappoint.
nent. He said no one was expecting
he President to take such a position,
s it was believed by everybody that
lie would be a candidate to succeed
himself and that it was generally con-
eded. even by prominent members OF