The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-09

Pres. Coolidge's Recent An
nouncement Brings Many
Explanations
(BY RODNEY DUTCHERl


Washington. Aug. 9.-(NEA)--The
net result Of President Coolidge's
remarkable announcement at Rapid
City has been to throw q whole crop
of political experts into utmost con-
fusion.
The president didn't say that he
wasn't candidate to succeed him
self. If he had there might be a
little less confusion. He said:
~ do not choose to run for presi-
dent in 1925"
That meant something, but it
might mean anything, and everyone
in Washington whose opinion was
worth seeking suggested different
explanation.
If one mans guess is as good as
another's, then the suggestion is
presented herewith that the presi-
dent meant to say in effect:
"The president will not participate
in any dog fight. If his kennel cant
lick the other kennels, he is not 60
ing to step in and dictate the result.
One reason is that he doesn't care
to risk being chewed up and the
other reason is that such q course
would be regarded as poor sports
manship."
Statement Carefully Worded
So carefully worded statement as
the one Mr.. Coolidge actually gave
and the fact that he refused to am
plify It in any way are strong indi-
cations that the president hardly
meant that he was definitely refus-
ing reelection. If he had meant that,
there was little to restrain him from
saying just that.
served the president on numerous
knew Coolidge we'll that the sident
was nervous man.
mot that" replied this prominent
person. "But he never seems at
ease. One gets the impression that
he isn't sure Of himself. He is very
easily embarrassed by conditions inn
mediately affecting himself, although
he has found from experience that a
policy of waiting and doing nothing
is the safest when 4 comes to issues
which are his official rather than his
personal concern"
Showdown Now Imminent
Did the situation in which Coolidge
recently found himself finally be-
come intolerable to him? Is he the
sort of man who must have full
and whole-hearted support of his
party or none at all? Did he feel
that the continued "third term" dis
cussfOn, the dissatisfaction of the
west and the flood areas, and the
obvious fact that many important
men in his own party would be glad
to get rid of him that all these
things placed in an uncertain position
against which he ought to rebel and
demand showdown?
- Is so, the Coolidge dignity has
been maintained and the showdown
is imminent.
Either majority of the party
leaders will break or they will stand
by the president. At this writing it
is probable that most of them are
completely flabbergasted. They may
have been hoping with all their
hearts that Coolidge would decline
to run for reelection, but the way
in which he did SO could hardly in
spire cautious politician with his
eye on the feed box to let out an
immediate whoop for another candi-
date: At this writing they continue
to express divergent opinions as to
just What the president means.
Move Strengthens Coolidge
clans on the fence to express regret
at the Coolidge withdrawal" and 60
on their ways rejoicing, but the
presidents stroke may actually
strengthen his position. 1t is much
harder to shoot at a candidate who
insists that the office must seek the
man, and if Coolidge is not nomin-
ated, the disappointment will be less
embarrassing than the crushing re-
buff of going after a nomination,
openly and failing to get it.
3 1t is. unlikely that Coolidge acted
without advice. It may even be that
he received strong hints from the
powerful forces behind the Republic
can party that there were stronger
candidates than he and that if the
party were to win in 1928 it must
be sure its standard bearer could
hold the great electoral vote of New
York against q candidate like AL
Smith. There have been rumors that
the forces referred to had decided as
much several months ago.