Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-08
COOLIDGE
PROPHECY SECUTED
G. o. p. Leaders Oppose Uni
versity Heads View Presi-
dent Will Not Run in 1928.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

DIR. Nicholas Murray butieI' pI00A
dent of Columbia University, is see
in things at night" in the view OF
Republican leaders in Washington.
DIR. Butler in New York predicted
last night that President Coolidge
would not be a candidate to succeed
himself and declared that no candl-
date on either Republican or Demo-
cratic ticket could be elected Presi-
dent next year without taking
stand against prohibition.
DIR. Buffers enthusiasm for the wet
cause apparently is warping his judg-
ment. The Republican party the
country over has been VIGOROUSLY
dry. Even in Pennsylvania the Re-
publican governor elected last year
was Endorsed by the Anti-Saioon
League. The only Republican who
ran for the Senate in 1926 on a wet
platform, Senator Wadsworth of New
York, was defeated because he split
his own party.
The Democratic party, on the other
hand, is widely divided over the pro-
hibition issue. So widely divided that
the approaching contest in the next
Democratic national convention makes
it doubly sure the Republican nomi-
nee win win.
Decision Anxiously Awaited.
President Coolidge's intimates as
well as his enemies are anxiously
awaiting his decision as to being a
candidate in 1928. If he has Indicated
his decision to any one, that decision
has not been made public. DIR. But
Ter was recently q guest at the. White
House. He makes no claim, however,
to inside information regarding the
Presidents attitude on the 1928 nom
nation. He merely insists that Presi-
dent Coolidges common sense is so
great that he will not raise the "third
term" issue in his own case.
DIR. Butler has undertaken to de-
fine a third term" He insists that
any one who has twice taken the
oath of Office as President has had
two terms as President. Under this
Interpretation, If Mr.. Harding had
died a week, or even a day, before
the close of his term, Mr.. Coolidge
would have had two terms. The
American people are not inclined
to split hairs. If they believe that
less than half a term is q whole
term, and are opposed to allowing
any man three terms in the White
House, then Mr.. Coolidge cannot be
reelected next year. But there has
been SO far no indication that the
American people will take this view
Many Declare for Coolidge.
DR. Butler. wet Republican, is the
only outstanding figure who has de-
clared that Mr.. Coolidge is not to be
.5nk - L..
the late Senator CumminS OF Iowa.
Other Republican leaders, including
the wet Senator Wadsworth of New
York and Charles ID. Hilles, Repub-
lican national committeeman from the
Empire State, to whom the party looks
for reorganization there, have all de-
clared Mr.. Coolidge is the logical can
didate of the Republican party next
year and that he will be reelected,
Leading Democrats visualize Mr..
Coolidge as the nominee of the Re-
publicans and sadly shake their heads
when they contemplate the situation.
Perhaps DIR. Butler finds it impos-
sible to visualize Mr.. Coolidge as a
wet candidate for President next year,
and DIR. Buffers prediction that only
wet can win demands another can
didate for the Republican party.
w AAOAO 40 IAAO party " IIilu all out
standing figure, a Republican known
to the people, who is a wet" if Mr..
Coolidge is to be discarded? DIR. But
Ter himself has received votes in Re
publican national conventions. But
no one ever remotely suspected he
would be nominated, nor do they now.
Senator Wadsworth of New York and
Senator Edge of New Jersey are the
most prominent Republican vets in
that body.
Senator Wadsworth could not carry
his State for the Senate, and it is
not likely he could carry it now for
President.
Others Now Mentioned.
If President Coolidge is not q can
didate to succeed himself, and it is
conceivable that he might finally de-
cline to be candidate, he doubtless
will have no little to say in regard
to his successor. That he would pick
an out-and-out wet seems improbable.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover has
often been mentioned as the Presi-
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