Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-29
s25D,0lD OFFERED
FORG. 0.P. MEETING
San Francisco Preparing to
/ Bid Unprecedented Sum
for Convention.
BY ROBERT T.. SMALL.

Special Dispatch to The Star,
SAN FRANCISCO, Calf, March 29.
The city of San Francisco is pre-
pairing to bid the unprecedented sum
Of $3.50, 900. ''or SO much thereof as
may be necessary" to get the Repub'
iican National Convention of 1928.
The Democratic National Convention
was brought to the Golden Gate in
1920 for something like 100000 or
S125 900. The big pot of California
gold which is to be set SO temptingly
before the G. O. Z. elephant means
one of two thingS-either the Repub'
licans are more expensive to handle
than the unterrified Democracy, or
the cost of holding a national conven-
ton has doubled in the brief span of
seven or eight years.
II by any chance the Republicans
fail to respond readily to San Fran
cisco's more than generous invitation,
the Democrats will be asked to hold
their convention next year in this city
and the same sum of money Will be
posted The Democrats had won
derful time here in 1920. and many
would like to return, Then, too, a
quarter of a million dollars looks like
a billion to a lean Democratic war
chest, and there is no doubt that II
the San Francisco invitation eventu-
ally reaches the Democrats ii will be
difficult to resist.
Decision Rests with Coolidge.
So far as getting the Republican
convention is concerned. leading san
Franciscans who form a. non-politlcal
committee have been told that that
decision, like all others having to do
with the national party, rests entirely
with President Coolidge.
Republican leaders very frankly say
they can do nothing until Mr.. Coondge
makes up his mind or announces his
intentions as to another term in the
White House. If Mr.. Coolidge is to
be the next candidate, he will be asked
to designate the convention city or
will take that task upon himself next
year, Just as in 1924 he upset pre-
arranged plans to hold the convention
in Chicago and sent it to Cleveland.
Inasmuch as the President is coming
West this Summer to spend his vaca-
ton period, the chances are he Will
also want the nominating convention
held somewhere west OF the Ale
ghenies, but just how for west no one
seems to know.
1t is realized, of course, that if Mr..
Coolidge wants the nomination next
wear, the convention will be pretty
much of "a cut-and-dried affair, with
the platform as well as the ticket di-
rected straight from the White
House. Nevertheless, a number OF
cities already are in the running for
tie honor of entertaining the conven-
ton, and may be somewhat startled
by the size of the guarantee" San
Francisco has decided to set.
Ask About Favorite Sons.
r.,~la~r,ora soma ,,,apahorsr of the
San Francisco committee, which is
headed by Will H. Croker, Repubii-
can National Committeeman for the
State, are being Intercepted as to the
possible intentions" of some of Cali
fornia's favorite sons. Evidently,
there persists in the East the idea
that Senator Hiram johnson may
Jump into the fray at any moment,
and that he might gain some strategic
advantage by having the convention
in his own home town.
But it seems accepted out here that
Senator johnson has no such ideas.
There also has been the suggestion
from the East that Herbert Hoover,
Secretary Of Commerce, might be
brought forward as presidential can
didate. AS a matter of fact, he has
been very widely discussed in that
connection for long time past. Mr..
Hoover certainly would not think OF
opposing the President for the nomina-
ton. That is out of the question. So
the field seems to be cleared for Mr..
Coolidge so far as the Pacific Coast is
concerned. Still, il Mr.. Coolidge is to
be the nominee. great many Repub-
leans in the North and East probably
Will think the trip to San Francisco
needlessly long one to do very sim
pie thing.