Evening star., 1927-10-05

Conunued from FIRST PaSel
Former Senator Butler of Massa-
chuSettS, chairman of the national
committee. who has been conducting
the informal party meetings in Wash
ington since Monday, sat at the Pres
ident's right. and former Senator
Richard Ernst committeeman from
Kentucky, sat at his left. The conver-
Sation during the meal was informal
and of a general nature. The Presi-
dent began a conversation with those
nearest him. but he made no attempt
TO assume the hosts privilege of di-
recting the conversation nor did he
give any evidence of having anything
particular on his mind which he de.
sired to announce.
Several Discuss Conditions.
Being men of almost a single
thought, at least for the moment, Re
publican politics-the guests found
conversation easy with their neigh.
bors about the large table. AS might
be expected these group talks were
mostly political. at least to the extent
of expressing views as to conditions
In various sections. and the presenting
Of observations as to sentiment and
the like. If the Presidents car caught
face gave no indication of it. More
over. nothing he could have heard
prompted him 10 make any comment.
While the majority of these guests
have come to the conclusion that the
Presidents Il don't choose" statement
OF more than two months ago was in
tended by him to definitely eliminate
him from the 1928 race, there was
faint hope on the part of some that
he might take the occasion of today's
breakfast gathering to elaborate. if
only just a little, upon that brief
statement.
These committeeman, since coming
to Washington, have been l--aneuver-
ing to get something out of Chairman
Butler of a more specific nature re-
garding the Presidents attitude
toward another nomination in the
event it is forced upon him, but they
have been unsuccessful. 1t is now
the consensus among these leaders
that probably the chairman. despite
his long intimate acquaintance with
the President. knows nothing more
than they do themselves. They feel
at least that the President has not
unbosomed himself to Senator Butler.
II was said by one committeeman t.
day that the President has given SEN
nothing to add to his Black Hills
statement, end that he has no inten-
lion of making any further pronounce
ment in the form of an elaboration.
As Is customary when political lead
ers gather to discuss party affairs.
various rumors and reports are float
] ing around. but what is more ap-
parent than anything else is that
these men are simply hounderlng
around for the present with no fixed
idea of just what they are going to do
in the matter of the party's next
standard bearer. 1t also is apparent
that these committeeman are not out
wardlv advancing the interests of any
one OF the several who have been
! mentioned in connection with the next
] party nomination, and that practically
all of them are considering the ad-
visibility OF sending as many unin-
Structed delegates to the convention
as is possible. This is taken to mean
that these leaders want the conven-
ton to be in good shape to put across
President Coolidge If the opportunity
arrives or else 10 have personal con
troll Of their respective State dele.
cations TO swing as they see nit.
Jninstructed Group From Here.
Edward +. Colladay, Republican ma
of Columbia who was at the Presi-
dents breakfast party today, said
afterwards that the Districts dele
gates 10 the next convention will go
Eninstructed.
The others who were at this break
fast were: Chairman Butler and former
,SScator Ernst. William NJ. Hodges of
Colorado. treasurer of the national
committee; Roy A. West of Illinois.
secretary; former Senator Pepper Of
Pennsylvania {. Bascom Slemp OF
Virginia. former secretary to President
Coolidge; David w. Mulvane of
Kansas. Joseph 3. Healing. Indiana
DIR. Z. B. Clements, Missouri, George
w. Bean, Florida; Charles A. Rawson
Iowa; Joseph w. Tolbert. South
Carolina; Representative J. VIII
Taylor, Tennessee, and Hamilton F
kean of New Jersey
Although these men went away dis
appointed that the President indulgeG
in no condolences they were unani
nous in agreeing that the White
Jiouse culinary department ranks
high. The menu on this occasion VIZ,
very similar to the ones on those ec
casions when the President has his
morning conferences with memberi
Of the Senate and House. IT consisted
of cantalonpe. oatmeal. bacon and
scra mbled eggs, hot cakes and sau
sage, preserves, maple sirup. toast ant
tea and coffee.
Senator Curtis Of Kansas. Repub
lican leader of the Senate, who ha
been mentioned as possible favor
ite son candidate for the Repubiicsi
nomination, called upon the Prssiden
later, hut he said afterward that poll
tics was n0t. touched upon. He sai'
rs object In calling was4< a1esen
Judge v ellis Of Porto Ric4T