Evening star., 1927-09-11
Pre- Convention Campaign Is
at StandStiII, With Lead
erS in Doubt.
SLEMP DOUBTS "CH00SE"
INDICATES FINALITY
Sees Hoover as Very Strong il
Name Is Put Forward at
Party's Convention.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

paign is in a state of suspended ami.
nation. The reason for this il simrle.
Leader after leader Of the Republican
party has publicly announced that he
does not consider that President Cool.
idge has eliminated himself from the
presidential race by his II do not
choose" statement. During the last
week Charles Evans Hughes, former
Secretary of State, and G. Bascom
Slemp, former member Of the House
and secretary to the President, party
leaders in the North and South. have
publicly expressed this view of the
situation.
AS leader after leader of the G.. o. p.
has declared himself in favor of the
denomination of the President. It has
become increasingly apparent that
unless the President makes it crystal
clear that he will not have thes nomi.
nation and make the race under any
circumstances. the chances are he will
be renominated. Responsible Repub-
licans say that while they have abso.
lutte faith in the sincerity of the PreSi.
dent, his 10-word announcement from
the Black Hills has served to cloud
the situation rather than to clear it.
Can Clear Situation.
President Coolidge returns to the
White House tonight. He may or
he may not take the occasion of his
return to Washington to interpret
further has own statement. Nothing
fnff
preferential primaries are held early
next year, the first in New Hampshire,
The fact remains, however, that with
so many Republicans continuing ia
insist upon his denomination, the
President himself is the only person
who can interpret to all the people
his Il do not choose to run for Pres.
ident in 1928" He may, if he wishes,
say that he does not desire to run
because he prefers not to disturb in
any way the precedent which has linn.
tied so far Presidents of the United
States to eight years in the White
House. Most of the Republican
leaders are unit in saying they do
not consider that another term for
Mr.. Coolidge would be third term"
in violation of the third term ira,
dition. Most of them also say that
they do not believe that the country
would in any way be harmful or dis.
turbed by violation of that tradition,
If 1t was a third term for Mr.. Cool,
idge.
Already leaders Of the party in n
number of the States have expressed
the view that delegations to the Re,
publican National Convention next
year should go uninstructed, so that
II occasion should arise they would
be in position to vote for the re.
nomination Of President Coolidge,
This is true in Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut, New York and other States
of New England and the East.
Many Expect Refusal.
With the opinions of Mr.. Hughes
and other prominent Republicans be-
fore them, thousands Of the rank and
file will feel that silence on the part
of the President will give consent
to his being drafted, it is said. 1t is
not expected, however. that the Presi.
dent will say at any time, that while
he does not choose to run for Presi.
dent, he can be drafted. But If he
does not intend to permit himself
to be drafted, the expectation is
growing that he will say definitely
that he will not have the nominal
tion nor make the race If he be nom-
mated
There are those who not only be.
lieve the President does not wish the
lutely will not have 1t. They are
confident that sooner or later he will
make this clear by a further an
In the meantime none Of the other
Republican presidential possibilities
has thrown his hat formally into the
ring. Former Gov. Frank o. Lowden
of Illinois, put forward as the friend
of the farmer because Of his support
of the McNary- Haugen farm relief
bill, has more nearly approached the
position Of an open candidate for the
than has any one Of the
rest. Mr.. Hughes has declined firmly
to say what he would do in case the
President were entirely out of the
picture, basing his refusal on his be.
lief that the President has not elm
mated himself so far. Secretary
Hoover of the Department of Com.
merce is saying nothing. nor is Vice
President Dawes or Speaker Long.
worth or any of the others. Friends
of Hughes and Hoover, Dawes and
are busying themselves, 1t
is true, in various States for one or
the other. Discussion of their quail
fications and ability to win the cleo
ton is under way. But there is still
an inclination in most quarters to
hold off until President Coolidge
speaks in unmistakable terms.
SIemp Doubts Finality.
Mr.. Slemp, who returned to Wash
lngton yesterday, said that he did not
believe that the Presidents Black
Hills announcement was final.
1T would have been easy for Presi
dent Coolidge to say i won't rum
said Mr.. Slemp, land my interpreta-
lion of what he said is not that"
Mr.. Slemp Is one Of those who
believe that if President Coolidge
makes 1t clear that he will not run In
my event Charles Evans Hughes 10
he logical candidate Of the party for
he nomination. He added, however,
hat he believed 1t would be an open
light in the country at large with
Hughes, Hoover, Dawes, Lowden and
Aongworth in the running. Illinois. he
aid, doubtless would decide upon
ither Mr.. Lowden or Mr.. Dawes and
lot attempt to put forward two candi.
iateS at the convention.
Mr.. Slemp said that undoubtedly
dr. Hoover would be very strong
andidate for the nomination IL his
lame is put forward. The people of
Sew York, he said, will urge the nomi.
lation Of Mr.. Hughes both because Of
lis outstanding position and their be.
lef that he could win the state