Evening star., 1927-08-14
RY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

TIME Republican pre-conventon campaign
President Coolidges announcement
l. that he did not choose to run for Presi-
dent in 1928 was the starting gun It causht
the field bar one, totally unprepared. That
ooe was former Gov. Frank Q. Lowden OF
illinois, an expected candidate for the pfesl-
Dental nomination against Mr.. Coolidge himseH'
But as far as has been learned, the PRESIDENT
took no one into his confidence regarding his
plans for next year. Many of the presidential
possibilities therefore, were caught fatfooted.
None was on his toes. Some of them even
now will be slow to get off. But already there
are signs that the race is on.
There is a plethora of material for the
Republican nomination for President, although,
had the President said nothing he could have
had the nomination with little or no trouble.
The very number of possible candidates, to-
Sether with their individual strength and
weaknesses may deadlock the next Republican
national convention, just as the convention was
deadocked in 1920 with Lowden. johnson and
Wood playing the stellar roles. 4 deadlock in
1928 would result some of the most astute
Republican leaders say, in the nomination OF
President Coolidge. This is denied by others,
lust as stoutly. But unless the President should
let it be known that he would refuse the nomi'
nation and decline TO run il nominated IN
4lnmistaken terms the chances are that the
deadlocked would result in stampede to
Coolidge.
To-day the race for the Republican nomina-
ton is anybodys. The names which loom the
largest are Charles Evans Hughes Of New
York. Herbert Hoover OF California and Frank
o. Lowden of Illinois, with Vice President
Charles G. Dawes also of Illinois. probably on
parity with the others But this does not
come near exhausting the list of presidential
possibilities. The Senate boasts its group OF
favorite sons. including both Curtis and Capper
of Kansas, Willis of Ohio, Borah of Idaho,
Norris of Nebraska, Edge OF New Jersey,
Watson of Indiana. and possibly Hiram Johnson
OF California, il he should recant his renuncia-
tion of presidential ambitions. Speaker Long
worth is the shining light Of the Republican
party in the House and is expected to get into
the race--indeed, is said to be already In 1t.
New England may put forward another COVER
nor for high honors. Gov. Fuller, whose popu-
larity in the Bay State has made him great
vote getter there and whose handling of the
SaccoVanzetti has recently made him
center of public attention. There are those
who would include Secretary Mellon OF the
Treasury Department in the list of possibilities
for the Republican nomination. as the choice
of the great State OF PENNSYLVANIA.
1f Mi. Hughes does not put his foot down on
the movement to nominate him, he will be
possibly the most formidable candidate of the
lot. 1t is secret that many of the most
influential men in the party, men whose busi'
ness il has been for years to round up delegates.
look with favor on the nomination of the former
Secretary OF State. former Associate Justice
Of the United States and former governor of
New York. Not long ago reports were pub
lished to the effect that Mr.. Hughes was the
choice of President Coolidge for the nomination
in the event that Mr. Coolidge himself was not
to be a. candidate. At that time Mr.. Hughes
gave out a statement declaring that he was