Evening star., 1927-12-07
REPUBLICAN LEADERS STUNNED
BY PRESIDENTS WITHDRAWAL
Committee Amazed, But Majority Accept
Decision as Final, While Others See
Hope in Convention Deadlock.

When President Coolidge announced
! to the Republican national committee
| yesterday that my decision will be
respected" thus for his part eliminat-
| ine himself from consideration for an
! other term as President. his message
| fell upon the ears of amazed COM
mitteemen who slowly filed out of the
east room of the White House while
| they looked at one another for as
| surance that others had heard as they
| heard.
The Presidents amplification to his
| famous II do not choose to run"
| statement, issued in the Black Hills
| last Summer, left the great bulk Of
| the committeeman feeling that moth
| ing remained but to abide by Mr..
| Coolidges warning that "it is time
| to be about it's task of selecting an.
| other candidate.
President Slips Away.
| 1t was all over in a twinkling. Com
| pletely amazed, the members, never
| theless rose as Mr.. Coolidge finished
| speaking. The President silently Slip
ped away to the seclusion of his pri-
vate quarters.
The committe members slowly left
| the big reception room. Downstairs
they were helped into their coats
while they remarked to each other
that they now knew definitely that
the party must turn to other men
available for the nomination. They
started out along the long covered
pergola leading to the east entrance
| to the White House, where whatever
| musings were engrossing them were
shattered by a volley of questions
from a large group Of newspaper men
| who demanded details Of the meeting.
Chairman Butler Of the committee,
close friend of the President, who
| has predicted on occasions that an
| irresistible draft movement would
claim Mr.. Coolidge. came tardily,
| chin in his overcoat collar and hands
thrust deep into his pockets.
Il won't say anything he
mumbled as he almost climbed into
the wrong automobile in his con-
| fusion.
Ernst Answers Queries.
Behind him ran former Senator
Ernst of Kentucky, hurrying to get
into the chairman's automobile be-
fore it swept out of the White House
grounds, but Ernst did find time 10
shake his head and snap at persist
out"
The committeewoman from Iowa,
Mrs. T. P. Hollowell, followed, re-
marking how closely she had come
to weeping as Mr.. Coolidge read his
statement. She had noted the touch
of mournfulness" in the Presidents
voice. it's finality, the way 1t seemed
to her to say, ''good-hy." The ampli-
fcation came as too much of sur
prise; 1t had made her heart beat
more rapidly.
And Mrs. Alvin r. Hert Of Ken
lucky, vice chairman Of the commit
tee, had felt the same way about 1t.
"It was too sad for words" she said,
land a great surprise"
After them came Committeeman
Hamlin of Colorado, Rawson OF Iowa,
Williams of Oregon, Sullivan of
wyoming. Hilles of New York, Null
Vane of Kansas and Mrs. Mccormick
of illinois, saying, II told you So"
Slemp Unconvinced.
Then came George Wharton Pepper,
the committeeman from Pennsylvania,
who felt that whatever doubt exist
cd no longer exists" and just behind
him c., Bascom Slemp, still uncon-
yinced as he was on August that the
President had not definitely closed the
door to his nomination in the event he
was drafted.
Mr.. Slemp, who served as the Presi-
dents secretary, declared:
1.-THE strongest part of his state
ment was that which declared my de-
cision must be respected l think the
statement was an invitation to his
friends to refrain from presenting his
name as a candidate.
From other members Of the national
committee came these views: e: A:
McCloud of Nebraska reiterated that
the statement eliminates Mr.. Coolldge
absolutely"
said Hes out"
E. S. Kingsley Of Vermont and
Hamilton F. Kean OF New Jersey were
not SO positive. -,
"It doesn't eliminate Mr.. Coolidge"
said the Presidents fellow Vermonter.
"It does leave the field wide open for
all candidates. His statement makes
his declaration of last August much
stronger"
Doesn't Want to Run.
Mr.. Kean said the Presidents state
ment made it plainly clear he does
not want to rum" But whether ne
would accept the nomination, he added,
must be studied by me before L de-
eide on his views"
Mrs. Charles H. Sabin of New York
declared that the reception given Mr.
Coolidge's announcement, one OF ST.
lence tinged with sadness, was great
tribute to the President. She said she
always had thought he was perfectly
sincere" about his statement OF last
| August.
DR.. o. Landstrom Of Montana de.
clared the statement clarifies the en-
| tire situation and shows definitely and
clearly that Mr.. Coolidge will not
rum"
Mrs. George H. Berry Of Montana
declared the Presidents announce
ment "shows clearly that he VIII not
| be O candidate"
Former Gov. Campbell of Arizona
said he believes there was no DOUBT
left in the minds Of the committee
that the President "has announced
definitely his decision not to be a
candidate"
DR.. E. B. Clements Of Missouri de-
| oIared. he would have to read Mr.
Coolidge's statement before he gave
an opinion on it, and G. L. Mallory OF
Arkansas declined to comment.
Vermont Knew His Stand.
"It was just what I expected" said
Mrs. George Orvis, committeewoman
! from Vermont. up in his own State.
we knew when we read his statement
| last Summer that he was out OF IT,
and today merely confirmed the be-
| lief"
v. T.. Highland and Mrs: Lenna
| Lowe Yost, who represents west vlr-
| ginia on the national commlttee, anu
| w. E. Skelly and Mrs. X. II. Hooa'
who renresent Oklahoma, were certain
| thew had heard a final verdict.
A group of Southern committeeman,
most of the negroes, showed
marked disposition to dissent from
the conclusion that President Coolidge
was out of the situation.
| s.IIo hoe told us again that he is not