Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

w YHEN is candidate
n When is a candidate not a candl-
With the field wide open for both
the Republican and Democratic nominations
for President, none of the possibilities has
boldly thrown his hat in the ring The "candi'
dates continue to emulate the shrinking violet.
But none of them desires to blush unseen
For many months it was believed that the
Republican nomination for President in l9ZS
foreclosed The Coolidge shadow obhteF'
ated all sign of other candidates..
But President Coolidge has stepped
aside. He has given a demonstration OF When
a candidate is not candidate. More imam Two
weeks have gone and no Republican has pro-
claimed himself, publicly at least. candidate.
or even gone so far as to say that he is in
receptive mood, with both the time and the
inclination. Yet it is clear to any VINO VIII!
take the trouble to look beneath the surface
that the candidates. of several leading Repub-
licans actively going forward. 1t is equally
clear that the candidates. Of prominent Demo
Gratis for the presidential nomination are well
under way. Indeed. the Democrats have been
at it longer. far longer than the Republicans,
because there has been figure overshadowing
all the rest, as President Coolidge overshadowed
the Republicans.
Gov. All Smith of New York has asserted
again and again that he is a candidate for no.
Office but is attending to his knitting chief
executive of the Empire State. Senator Jim
Reed Of Missouri Gov. Donahey Of Ohio, VIII
liam Gibbs McAdoo of California. Gov. Richie
of Maryland, all express surprise when it is
publicly suggested they candidates for the
presidential nomination next year
Apparently none of the possibilities" is
going out boldly to proclaim himself candidate
for the nomination. The Office must seek the
man. This may be good politics for the time
being, but it is not difficult to understand that
before long the man must seek delegates TO
the national convention or he will be distinctly
out of luck, whomever he may be. This is true
with regard to both parties.
Perhaps a Republican or Democrat will in
the future cast his hat into the ring
publicly. No one doubts that privately there
already bakers dozen hats in the ring.
1t might be good move however, to get the
jump on the rest with an open announcement
of candidacy, instead Of the gum-shoe tactics
SO far employed. At all events by next March,
when the first presidential preferential primary
is held in New Hampshire, to be followed in
quick succession by primaries in many other
States, some of the names must come before
the voters for approval.
Some Of the possibilities" are old stagers
at the game. They have been candidates for
the presidential nominal ton in the past AT
least one Of them, Charles Evans Hughes of
New York, was his partys nominee in 1915.
But as early as 1908 when he still Governor
of New York Mr.. Hughes was the candidate of
large number Of Republicans for the nomina-
ton which finally went TO William Howard
Taft That was 20 years ago. Later he was
appointed by President Taft to the Supreme
bench, and served thereon until he became
candidate again in 1915.
Frank o. Lowden, former Governor of
Illinois, the farmers friend, doomed large in the
picture in 1920, and Secretary Hoover of the
Department of Commerce had plenty Of popular
support for the Republican nomination in that
year, but no delegates.
Among the Democratic possibilities" Gov.
AL Smith Of New York, and William Gibbs
McAdoo son-in.law Of the late President
Wilson, have been prominent, too prominent
many think. in the last two Democratic national
conventions the first Of which nominated
Jimmy Cox Of Ohio, and the second, John w
Davis of New York. So far, there has been
nothing said about the possibility of either Mr.
Cox or Mr.. Davis becoming the party standard
bearer next year.
x X X
A possibility" becomes candidate for the
party nomination through the activities Of his