The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-05
{Official City, State and County Newspaperl
Skirmishing Begins


Skirmshing Begins
With nominating conventions OF the nepuois"'
and Democratic parties about thirteen months as
tant skirmishing has started for the 1928 contest
Some interesting political episodes have character
lied the prelimnaries. These may or may not nave
direct bearing on the party selections for the
presidential office Politicians are wont to place
great emphasis on issues, principles and develop
ments. While they propose. the voters dispose IN
a manner quite disconcerting and often at oe-
cided variance to political prophecy
Coolidge and Governor Smith of New York are
the outstanding leaders of the two great parties OF
the republic. Lesser lights flash from time 10
time, as the roll Of favorite sons is called, but
boiled down, the party leaders know that Coolidge
and Smith may enter the next national convention
if they desire, with gocdly bloc Of votes. Not
enough necessarily to nominate them but sufficient
to exert more than ordinary pressure upon the or
ganization of these quadrennial events Coolidgc
and Smith are at the antipodes polltlcally having
little in common except a sterling Americanism.
Tammany trained Smith Coolidge's opponent
would furnish the voters many thrills.
Nicholas Murray Butler, president Of Columbia
a pedantic politician, insists upon injecting the
uuor and the third term issues into the 1928 cam
paign. Coolidge, he contends must face this COM
bipation of political trouble Butler is wet as an
April shower and is as violently opposed to "thrd-
tcrmcrs" as was the immortal Washington tie has
very definitely placed Coolidge in the category OF
such candidates.
The Butler-Borah prohibition debate, recently
held in Boston, very definitely challenged the two
dominant parties Of the nation All issue which
is most depressing to the politicians. Those who
shane party destinies hardly recovered from thel.
dcspondency over the menacing wet issue, when an
obscure lawyer threw political grenade through
the columns of the Atlantic Monthly. This brought
a religious issue into the preliminaries OF 1878
touching the qualifications of Governor Smith t.
lead his party to presidential honors.
Few campaigns have been launched amidst 81
many terrifying issues. In comparison to hquo
and religious questions, farm relief is not at al
disconcerting. Joining wet with religious issu
is as so much INT under party steam-rolle
which usually functions one hundred per cent
most conventions.
A third development is the whispering cam
paign" against silent CAL because Of what is re
ferred to as his "thrd-term aspirations" Coolidge
like Roosevelt, broke the tradition that vice pres
ident who succeeded to presidential office coul
not be elected president in his own right. Wi
Coolidge succeed in participating in three terms
president, an honor denied Roosevelt and othe
statesmen? A nation will watch that development
with more than ordinary interest. 1t will enlive
the Republican convention and lift it above tn
dead level of ratification rally.
McAdoo's bitter struggle against Governor Smlt
ut the last Democratic national convention mad
the political wseacres shake their heads and sa
"Smith is through" New York. however, late
boosted him into the gubernatorial chair by eve
greater majorities, and. the vigorous way in whic
Smith routed the harpies of intolerance increase
his political prestige beyond the borders Of the en-
pine state. Again the prophets under estimate
Smith 3. hold upon the people
The bslyn organization openly at work in beha
Of any presidential candidate is that seeking
soEdify the agrarian discomfort OF the middle we
in behalf Of Lowden, who refuses to commit hlr
self on the presidency. But Coolidge's friends,
well as those of AL Smith and McAdoo, are n
inactive. Favorte son booms for political effe
only have been launched more or less vigorous
for Senator James Reed of Missouri, Govern
Donahcy Of Ohio, and Others Coolidge is not ii
cussing his political future. Many seasoned pc
ticans are doubtful whether he will seek reno'
nation But, If he is not trying to accompii
such an end, he is doing nothing to curb a decid
movement to renominate him.
4 Many senator's have declared opeNl4S for Co
idre,s renomination. Chairman Butler Of the
publican national committee, plans . nation-wi
survey 81 political conditions. This nformati
wiz reveal the sentiment OF the leaders who pl
CONVENTION delegates, and should reveal their
action toward Coolidge's denomination
Whatever the political fates may have in sto
TIE stage is set for . most spirited pre-convcnti
campaign ii both parties
s ~ IT, Il eanr,aa If Jimmy Thomas