Evening star., 1927-11-22
Chain Letters Disapproved,
but Executive Refuses to
Elaborate on Attitude.
G. o. P. LEADERS HOLD
"DRAFT" IS POSSIBLE
Capper Says Strong Movement Is
Seeking Reelection of Cool
idge in 1928.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge does not ap-
prove Of the circulation of a chain
of petitions calling upon him to run
for President in 1928. as reported
started in some sections of the coun-
try.
The attitude of the President was
made clear today at the White House
for the first time since he issued
his famous Il do not choose to run
in 1923" statement i'm the Black Hills
last August.
In discussing the chain letters
with callers today the President was
represented as voicing his disapprov
al with much feeling and expressing
the hope that the circulation of the
petitions be stopped.
Inference Is i'm Doubt.
The President, however, in his dis
cussion of the chain petition. while he
signified his dlsapproval of this move
ment did not say that he would
decline to run again if his party drafts
him. Whether or not he intended his
words to carry this inference is a
matter of conjecture.
Mr.. Coolidge has steadfastly re-
fused since the issuing of the Black
Hills statement TO discuss his de-
cision publicly and has declined re-
quests frCm friends and party leaders
to make an elaboration. 1t has been
his contention that his statement ex-
plained his position completely and
that it was expressed in language
simple and plain enough to be under
stood by all who read it and he there
fore did not feel called upon to in
dulge in any effort at elaboration or
amplification.
Request for Cessation.
During his discussion of the chain
petition movement the President indi.
Gated that his first knowledge that
such a step had been taken was what
he learned in reading this mornings
papers. 1t is understood, however,
that word already has gone from the
White House to those sections where
the petition is being circulated that
the President wishes a cessation Of
the movement.
The general belief among Repub-
Iican leaders who have been in Wash
ington off and on since the Presidents
return from the Black Hills has been
that the sentiment among Republican
voters throughout the country was
such as to suggest the ultimate draft
ing of Mr.. Coolidge when the time
comes to select a candidate for the
party. The consensus among not only
the party leaders, but intimate friends
Of Mr.. Coolidge. has been that. al
though it is the Presidents genuine
and ardent desire to retire to private
life at the expiration of his preesnt
term, if the demand for him TO
run again was sufficiently spontaneous
and overwhelming in numbers.
he probably could be prevailed upon
to put aside his personal desires and
shoulder the party's standard once
more.
May Carry Much Weight.
The reports of the starting of the
chain of petitions by those ambitious
and hopeful citizens who are anxious
for the President to serve another
term reach the White House close on
the heels of advces from various Sec
tions of the country Of a revival of
the draft Coolidge" movement, which
apparently ebbed for a time follow
ing the Presidents rebuke Of Senator
Fess for his constant advocacy of
nominating Mr.. Coolidge next year.
During the past week or so the re-
ports coming to Washington are such
as to feel very certain that the draft
Coolidge" movement is bobbing up
again probably with greater strength
and velocity than it had just prior to
the Fess episode. The President, how
ever. had done or said nothing per-
sonally to justify revival of the be-
lief that he is willing to make the race
Continued on Page 2. Column ~