Evening star., 1927-09-07
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

The shadow of Charles Evans
Hughes has been cast over the Repub-
lican presidential situation ever since
President Coolidge's announcement
that he did not choose" to run for
President in 1928. Mr.. Hughes has
just returned from Europe. What he
says regarding the possible use of his
name in connection with the nomina-
ton of the Republican party next year
will have tremendous bearing on the
convention campaign, which al
ready is underway. If he follows the
lead of President Coolidge and dellv-
ers a clear-cut statement eliminating
himself from consideration for the
nomination, the field will at once be
narrowed. If he makes no such state
ment. or If he should say that he is in
the hands of his friends. he will con-
tinue to overshadow the situation.
Everywhere, in all parts of the coun-
try, the Republicans have with one
breath admitted that Mr.. Hughes
would be a strong candidate for the
nomination. Many party leaders have
insisted that he would be the candi-
date.
u X X
Before he left this country to go to
Europe, Mr.. Hughes issued a brief
statement declaring that he was for
the nomination of President Coolidge,
first, last and all the time, and added,
for emphasis, that he himself was too
old for the presidency. If he adheres
TO the latter part of his statement, he
will disappOint many of his friends
Long before President Coolidge made
his famous 10-word announcement
TDJ~ - 111A nn6
ing Republican politicians declared
that if Mr.. Coolidge were to take him
self out of the race, Mr.. Hughes would
be the choice of the party. There has
been nothing so far to indicate that
these politicians have changed their
m nds If Mr.. Hughes should reiter-
3te his desire to see President Coolidge
nominated. that. too, might have ef-
feet.
Mr.. Hughes is entirely satisfactory
to the East and the North. IIe has
not been involved in the controversy
of the last few years over farm legis-
lation, which has injured Secretary
Herbert Hoover of the Department of
Commerce and his chances for the
nomination in the West. There is
nothing against Mr. Hughes and
great deal in his favor. He has an out
standing reputation as a man of great
ability and integrity.
x x X
So far as being too old to run next
year for President. Mr.. Hughes sup
porters declare that is all bosh. They
see him at 65 years of age more vigor-
Gus and better able to carry on the
work of President than other men ten
1,@ eli nd
next year. he would enter the White
House lust short of 81 and his term
of office would expire when he was
lust short of II. He is more than a
year the Junior of former Gov. Frank
o. Lowden and but little older than
Vice President Dawes, who have been
prominently mentioned for the nomi-
nation. Mr.. Hoover, on the other
hand, is but SO years old, the youngest
of the big four" whose names have
occupied the headlines since Mr.. Cool
idge stepped aside and threw the race
omen for the Republican nomination
Most of the Chief Executives of the
United States have been near the age
of Mr.. Hoover when they were elected
TO Office.
With Hughes out of the race.
should he so determine. the contest
between Mr.. Hoover, Gov. Lowden
Vice President Dawes, Speaker Long
worth and other Republican posslb1ll'
ties would become even more active.
New York. with it's delegation of go
at the Republican national conven-
ton. would be a prize indeed. Mr..
Hughes. il he became a candidate,
would have this delegation unques-
tionably. The chances are that Mr..
Hoover would benefit more in New
York State than would any other
candidate if Hughes takes himself
out of the picture. Lowden and
Dawes make no particular appeal to
the East. But Mr.. Hoover has in the
past not been strong with the poll
ticians. His strength has lain par
ticllarly with the voters. The poll
ticians. however. have a vast amount
to say about the delegates who attend
national conventions. 1t remains to
be seen whether Mr.. Hoover in the
last eight years has overcome the
prejudice of the politicians.
Republican politicians are like other
politicians They want a man with
whom they can win. Mr.. Hoover's
availability will be considered. there
fore, largely from that, point of view.
The Republicans wish to win, and to
win with a man whom they believe
safe" No member of the Coolidge
cabinet has been more active in the
present administration. There is
every reason to believe that If Mr..
Hoover becomes President. the ad-
ministra ton of the Federal Govern
ment will continue along the lines
which have dominated during the
Coolidge administration.
X ~
Former Senator Rice w. Means of
Colorado is quoted in a New York in
terview as predicting the nomination
of Senator Frank B. Willis of Ohio as
the nominee of the Republicans If Mr..
Hughes declines to be a candidate for
President. Republicans have turned to
Ohio many times for presidential tim
her. The late President Harding hailed
from the Buckeye State, the choice or
the 1920 convention after the famous
Lowden, Wood and Johnson deadlock.
Senator Willis is militant dry. He
has demonstrated his strength in his
own State on several occasions. 1t
has been predicted that he would have
the Ohio delegation, if it should come
to a struggle for the delegation be-
tween himself and Speaker Nicholas
Longworth, regarded as a wringing
wet. But at this writing it does not
appear likely that the Republicans will
turn to Senator Willis rather than to
Hoover or Lowden or Dawes. Senator
Means may have had in mind the ad-
visibility of the nomination of dry
by the Republicans if the Democrats
are to nominate Gov. AL Smith of New
York as their standard bearer. 1t has
been the custom for the Republicans
to hold their Republican national con-
vention prior to that of the Democrats.
And until the Democrats have finally
voted on the presidential nomination
it will be difficult to say whether or
not Gov. Smith will surely be nomi-
mated. Furthermore, Hoover. Lowden
or Dawes would be satisfactory to the