Evening star., 1927-12-07
Field Narrows,
With Coolidge
Out of Race:
PARTY THROWN
INTO CONFUSION
HilIes Is Silent on
Ex-Secretary's
Statement.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The East has lost its two promi-
nent Republican presidential possl-
bilities-President Calvin Coolidge
and Charles Evans Hughes OF New
York.
While Republican leaders today
were mourning the statement OF
President Coolidge to the Republican
national committee finally eliminat-
ing himself, Mr.. Hughes gave out a
statement in New York which ap-
parentlv has taken him no less et-
fectually out of the presidential race
of 1923.
The effect of the two statements,
one by the President and the other
by Mr.. Hughes, has been to throw
the Republican ranks, momentarily
at least, into confusion.
The names of Hoover, Lowden and
Dawes, the three other Republicans
most prominently mentioned in con-
nection with the presidential nomlna-
ton, were on the lips OF many.
Field Narrows to Three.
Unless there should be change,
il appears that the nomination will
eventually go to the Far West, with
Secretary Hoover of the Department
of Commerce, or TO the Middle west,
with either Vice President Dawes or
former Gov. Frank 0. Lowden as the
choice of the Republican national
convention next June. :,
Mr.. Hughes declared unequivocaily
that he was not candidate for the
presidential nomination. He added
that he stood by the statement he
issued last May, in which he said: /
81 do not wish my name to be used
in any contingency. am too cid to
run for President, and ! would
neither seek nor accept the nomlna-
tion."
His statement today was as follows:
'.I ari not candidate in any sense"
I am keenly disappointed by Mr.. Cooi'
attitude toward the candidacy is con.
cerned, I stand by the statement l
made last May. have nothing to add
to it."
Coolidge Definitely Out.
The great majority of the members
OF the Republican national committee,
as they assembled today to select
city in which to hold the party's ma.
tional convention next year, expressed
their conviction that Mr.. Coolidge. in
his statement last night, had definite
iy removed himself from consideration
for the presidential nomination.
Those members of the committee
who have been desirous of renominat-
ing the President-even by the draIt
method If necessary-regretfuily salo
that they felt that Mr.. Coolidge hao
taken himself out Of the picture.
The only contingency, which might
arise, they said, that would bring
about the nomination Of the President
would be a deadlock convention. pacK-
ed by a wave of popular feeling tnat
Mr.. Coolidge must be the partys
nominee.
The President said to the national
COMMITTEES at the White House last
evening:
This is naturally the time to be
manning for the future. The party
will soon place in nomination It's can
didate to succeed me.
s"To give time for mature dellbera-
ton, l stated to the country August
2 that I did not choose to run Tor
President in 1923. My statement
stands. No one should be led to sup
pose that I have modified it. My de-
sion will be respected
Eliminated, He Says.
'After l had been eliminated, the
party began, and should vigorously
continue, the serious task of selecting
another candidate from among the
numbers of distinguished men avail.
able"
The statement last night by the
President Immediately give great
impetus to the candidates. of other
Republicans who have been mentioned
for the presidential nomination. The
prediction was broadcast that far
greater activity would be evinced by
the friends Of Mr.. Hoover. Vice Presi-
dent Dawes, and Mr.. Lowden.
Willis Enters Race.
One immediate affect was state.
ment by Senator Frank B.. Willis OF
Ohio, casting his hat in the ring.
Senator Willis said:
Numerous friends in Ohio, and
some in other States, have been good
enough to mention my name in con-
nection with the Republican nomi.
nation for the presidency. If the
Republicans of Ohio feel that I can
creditably represent them as their
candidate in the forthcoming national
convention, I shall feel it a great
honor to do so.''
Senator Curtis of Kansas, the Re-
publican leader Of the Senate, hither
to has been the only formally an
nounced Republican candidate for the
presidential nomination. When he was
told of the Presidents statement he
said that he had been convinced for
some time that the President would
not permit himself to be nominated
and that he was definitely out Of the
"Otherwise," said Senator Curtis, Il
would not have entered the field"
other Republican presidential posi-
hilities include Senator Norris of Ne.
braska, who has had the backing of
the progressive group in the Senate,
and Senator Borah of Idaho.
Republicans OF the East who have
heen favorable either to the nomina-
lion of President Coolidge or Mr..
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