Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-12
Drafting Mr.. Coolidge for 1928.


The drafters are on the job. Daily
reports come from leading Republi-
cans in various parts OF the country
urging that President Coolidge he re-
nominated notwithsta nding his state
ment that he does not choose to run
for President. Ohio. Illinois, Pennsyl.
vania and Colorado were heard from
yesterday in the persons of Senator
Fess, Representative Hull, Gov. Fisher
and Secretary Work of the Interior
Department. All of them were Wis
itors of the President in the Black
Hills. All of them insisted that he
is still available as candidate for
President, although admitting his sin
certify in declaring his personal dis
inclination to run for President next
year. And all OF them held him to be
the right man for the job.
If this chorus grows in volume as
time goes on, and is backed by the
demand of the rank and file. Mr.. Cool
idge may vet have to permit himself
to he drafted" or make a fat state
ment that he will not run for Presi-
dent under any circumstances. He
has yet to state publicly his reasons
for not choosing" to run for Presi-
dent in 1928. He has said nothing
about the so-called third-term issue or
whether that was an impelling matter
in his decision. nor has he declared
his determination due merely to per-
sonal inclination. Should the chorus
become too strong, Mr.. Coolidge may
feel called upon to amplify his now
famous statement: II do not choose
to run for President in 1928"
The potential candidates of the Re-
publicans for the presidential nomi-
nation-and there are many of them
have not vet become active. When
the pre-convention campaign gets un.
der wav, and when presidential pref
erential primaries are held in many
Of the States, the Coolidge drafters
may find that the public interest in
other presidential possibilities has be-
come 80 strong that Mr.. Coolidge's
voluntary retirement from the field
must be accepted.
On the other hand, ii is not difficult
to understand that the development
of group of strong contenders for
the nomination may bring about the
exact stage setting needed for the nom-
inatfon Of President Coolidge in the
Republican national convention next
June. A deadlock in convention, and
the Coolidge drafters will find it easy
to accomplish their purpose, unless. of
course, Mr.. Coolidge adds the extra
word.
Mr.. Coolidge has said that he does
not choose to run for President in
1928. Some of his admirers may sug-
gest that this does not mean he would
not choose to run for President in
1882 If conditions were right. No issue
could lie against him then Of a con.
secutive third term. He is a com.
paratively young man, being fifty-five
years old on his last birthday, July 4,
and in 1882 he will be sixty. In the
view of many, however. Mr.. Coolidge
is particularly fitted to keep the coun-
Try on an even keel in these days OF
material prosperity and development.
and is needed more now than he may
be four or five years hence.
The President must be credited with
all sincerity in his choice not to run
next year for President. There was
nothing to compel him to make a
statement regarding his position. By
the mere expedient Of keeping his
mouth shut the nomination could have
been his had he desired it. The draft
ers should keep this fact in mind
when they talk of forcing the Presi-
dent to run again.
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