Evening star., 1927-10-25
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
LUR|NG SENATORS
Five in Upper House Seeking
Support for Nomination
Next Year.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The United States Senate, which in
history sent only one of its members
to the White House, will have five
active candidates for the presidency.
| Three are seeking the Republican
nomination in the primaries in their
respective States and two are after
| the Democratic nomination. On top
of this is the candidacy of the presid-
| ing officer of the Senate, Vice Presi-
dent Dawes.
Senator Norris of Nebraska and
Senator Curtis of Kansas, Republican
leader of the Senate, are of opposite
schools of thought on public questions.
Senator Willis Of Ohio, Republican, is
one of the outstanding drys of the
Senate and in sense may be regard
ed as the candidate Of forces like the
Anti, Saloon League.
Senator Walsh OF Montana is also
a dry and is looked upon favorably in
side the Democratic party by the anti
Smith forces, who want to prove that
their objection to the New York gov
ernor is not on religious grounds.
Reed Is Only Wet.
Senator Reed of Missouri is the only
wet of the entire Senate group Cf can
didateS. His main argument is one of
attack on Coolidge policies.
Nearly every one of the senatorial
candidates has 4 special activity, which
will bring him into prominence during
the forthcoming session of Congress.
Mr.. Reed is at the head of a special
investigating committee inquiring into
| the Smith and Ware senatorial contests
in Illinois and Pennsylvania.
NF,. InI, -
Dome cases so vigorously that he
thinks he has an opportunity for dis.
closures Of public interest in the pub
lie utility field. He plans to introduce a
resolution to have special committee
appointed of which he would be the
chairman. Indications are that the
resolution will be fought which will
give Mr.. Walsh chance to speak at
considerable length in an effort to
force passage of the resolution.
Senator Norris is at the head of the
insurgent group Of Republican Sen.
ators who are interested in forcing ac.
ton on farm relief as well as other
matters of common interest to the
so-called radical group. The Nebraska
Senator is active in various contro.
versies, but there are indications that
he, too, will take a prominent part in
the discussion of water power and
public utilities, particularly because of
his interest in the Muscle Shoals and
Boulder Dam projects.
Borah Backs Norris.
Perhaps the most significant action
that has yet been taken on the Repub.
llcan side Is the aggressive attack
which Senator Borah has made on be.
half of Senator Norris in telegraphing
up behind Senator Norris instead of
former Gov. Lowden of Illinois.
II there was any doubt heretofore
that the Western insurgent group
We're going to desert both Lowden
and Dawes in favor of one of their
own favorite sons, the Borah tele.
gram removes it. The indications are
now that the insurgent group will
operate as bloc, not only on legisla-
tive questions, but in an effort to force
the nomination of what they consider
a progressive Republican.
Mr.. Coolidge's self-elimination state.
ment gives the insurgents an onnor.
tunlty they never before have had
namely to rally their own forces in
the West without having any particu.
lar candidate from the East to offset
their EFFORTS. The Eastern Republicans
are divided. Practical politicians of
the old school are apprehensive that
with the West split up and with the
East wavering on Coolidge, Hughes
or Hoover the opportunity for fac.
tionalism to develop which will not be
healed by the nominating convention
will be such as to make things uncom.
Portable in the campaign. To offset
this is the apparent strength of All
Smith, the Democratic aspirant, and
while his nomination Is calculated to
leave the dry South disappointed,
the practical effect might not be com.
parable to the sectional cleavages
which the Republican fight may bring
forth.
1t will be in the Senate, however.
that the first stages OF the pre.con.
vention battle will be fought. Besides
the conspicuous candidates there are
others who probably will try for
'favorite SON. support. Politics will
make the coming session Of Congress
Of extraordinary interest.
froDvr;0ht