Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-01
COOLIDGE HALF Way
) IN ELECTED TERM.
Politicians Eagerly Apprais-
| ing His Strength for 1923
After Farm Bill Veto.
BIZ FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


This week is notable in politics for
two events. 1t marks the expiration
Eof the Sixty-ninth Congress and wit
Stlesses the ending of the first half OF
Calvin Coolidge's elected term as
president of the United States. Poll
s,icians find it too early to estimate
accurately the effect of Mr.. Coolidge's
sMcNary- Haugen veto upon his presi-
;dential future. That it insures him
formidable opposition for renomina-
ton in the next Republican national
convention Is admitted on all hands.
But there are decidedly diverse opin-
ions as to the ultimate influence Of
the President agricultural policy
upon his political fortunes.
1.-The Coolidge opposition is building
Its hopes on the belief that the Presi-
$dent--if a candidate-cannot be re-
nominated on the first ballot. 1t is
calculated, in other words, that the
ELowden or Dawes corn-belt delega-
stions from II or more Midwestern
and Northwestern States, plus other
s"favorite son" votes from other
States, will aggregate more than a
1majority of the 900 odd votes In the
convention. II the Coolidge total
thus falls short of a majority on the
first roll call, the combined opposition
figures that the convention thence
forward will be a free-for-all.
Democrats Hopes Raised.
II the President should emerge the
!, victor of a convention contest. leaving
|the Lowden- Dawes farm forces van
squished. it is the present expectation
of Democratic leaders that a rift
would be caused in the G. .. p. COM
parable to a Smith McAdoo feud in
their party. Some Democratic au-
liberties assert that Republican man.
ayers, including probably Coolidge
,:chieftains, must be so aware of the
/; dangers in such a contingency that
they would not let it arrive. They
: would. in other words, according to
I. Democratic reasoning, scrap Cool.
4 idge" and nominate a Republican less
likely to split the party strength.
Another angle providing food for
4 consideration is the Presidents appeal
Z to the farmers over the heads of
<their alleged spokesman. There was
no more significant passage in the
y McNary-Haugen veto message than
Z: AIR Coolidge's reference to the fact
I that the White House was inundated
7 with. evidence that farmers them
selves. as distinguished from their So
Ncalled leaders at Washington, dis.
approved of the surplus bill
1t is now being seriously suggested
/: that the Lowden-McNary-H augenites
may not find it so easy as they think
at will be when they actually begin
TO TIL the political soil in an anti
ECoolidge sense. The President believes
& that down among the grass roots"
Z or the farming country the people are
with him and not with the men who
nave essayed to speak for them in
J washington this Winter.
BE Coolidge Still Strong.
Mr.. Coolidge enters upon the final
zap OF what his supporters call his
hrst term still intrenched in public
y esteem. His slipping" is confined to
q the agricultural regions. Elsewhere
J even Democratic antagonists concede
the Presidents strength remains
formidable. 1t could doubtless be seri.
oously Slapped by widespread or con.
lnuous economic depression. Rut
tnis 10 not in sight. The visible. signs
or the, times are in Mr.. CooIidee's
savor' II they are perpetuated into
! 1913 most Republicans and many
democrats are OF opinion that a po-
Htical miracle would be necessary tn
i defeat the Presidents ambition to s,,c.
ceed himself, always provided that
/. ne does reaspire.
AS TO Mr.. Coolidge's intentions. lit
ue OF no giimmer may be expected
{ IN the immediate future. MANY con-
siderations will affect them. He will
measure carefully, ard on the basis of
good deal of first-hand Information
Z gathered by reliable scouts. the third.
term proposition. He will know he
Iore many months are past Just how
the McNary Haugen veto has i'm.
4 pressed the West. He will, as the
year unfolds. have a pretty accurate
I hne on the economic situation
whether times are to remain good or
/ whether the business cycle is to be
turned In an unfavorable direction.
The President has not accumulated
friends or support during the session
OF Congress about to end. Both
House and Senate have fiouted him
ION a number Of occasions, in foreign
Z and domestic affairs alike. But. for
all that. congressional leaders are
& ready to acknowledge that Calvin
Coolidge is unquestionably stronger
With the country at large than Con
gress Is. They are prepared to make
q another admission-that he is the
shrewdest politician of them all. un.
magnetic and Unconditional though he
4 be, and that the time to eliminate him
I1rom the picture is not yet
D fConyrpht 1907