Evening star., 1928-06-13

KANSAS CITY, June l3.--Just Wten
and how Calvin Cooiidge's formal and
final refusal to be drafted reached
Kansas City is one OF the convention
stories yet to be told. Whom did the
President choose TO intrust with mes
sage destined to immortaIize him per-
haps more than any other single act
In his career? Was 1t Butler. was 1t
Mellon or was 1t Sanders? Whoever
physically brought the fateful tidings,
a good many psople think 1t was Sena-
tor Fess who was appointed medium Of
giving them public expression.
The convention keynoter. by gem
orally unnoticed little act at the very
end of his address, suggested that he
was about TO divest himself OF really
momentoug observation. Fess, up 10
that point, had accomplished the pro-
digious memory feat Of delivering his
speech without notes. Suddenly the
Senator put on his horn trimmed spec
tacles and read from tiny slip Of
paper. On it we're these words, Cal
vim Coolidge leaves office by his own
fiat. which appears 10 be final" This
observer Is anthoritatively assured that
Fegs' original draft Of the keynote ad-
dress did not contain the passage
quoted.
Butler Had No knowledge.
William NJ. Butler. national chairman
and Coolidge confldant, did not know
as late as Friday, June 8~~four days
from the opening OF the convention
whether the President would or would
not place an embargo on attempts 10
vote for Inn at Kansas City. Hoover
lieutenants, who sought light and lead
Ing from Butler on that score, had 10
content themselves with his regrets
that he could not eniighten them
They told him that j. Henry Rora-
back of Connecticut would undoubted-
" cast the delegations vote for Cool"
idee on the first ballot: that Senator
du pont had issued orders for the Del
aware delegation to do likewise; that
New York would vote at least so Of
It's total for the President and that Ver-
mont would follow suit Butler shrugged
his shoulders. He admitted there WAS
strong probability that this would
happen. He conceded there was no tell
Ing where Il might lead 10, But he was
helpless. He knew nothing,
An onest-to-goodness Hoover band
wagon took possession Of the streets
Tuesday soon after the Caiifornian's
nomination became certainty. 1t was q
circus calliope sort Of contraptlon, built
around a huge motor truck, It's sides
embellished with chronlos OF Hoover and
legend reading, There's room on
the Hoover bandwagon for you yet"
On the upper deck an orchestra and
quartet OF singers were perehed, The
band played popular Jazz tunes and the
quartet RECALLED the crowds With Hoo
yer campaign songs,
Two NOtables Meet.
Two famous conventionites met ac~
eidentalIy In the hotel suite OF Louis
b. Mayer. motion picture magnate and
ardent HooVefite. One was big Bit
Thompson, mayor OF Chicago, and the
| other was Mabel Walker Willebrandt,
| Assistant Attorney General OF the
United States. Big Bill" was a last
ditch Coolidge drafter. "PoTtia" a dyed
| in~the-wool partisan Of the Commerce.
chief Each was sounding the praises
Of his land herr respective fayoritee.
We'll, Mr.. Mayor" remarked Mrs
WilIebrandL. you may be able TO OUT
shoot as In Chicago, but you cannot
oiItgh0ut us In Kansas City" Mrs
Willebfsndt Ia the FIRST woman In The
| history OF the national conventions 10
norta1L committee on credentials Ger
| tain Eouthern contestants are finding
her sturdy specimen OF the sex once
described as the dangerous Of The
| species.
Mime Efnestine Behumann Heink
| who electrified the vast convention au-
| dlence with her rendition OF THE StAf
! guanQipd Banner" doesn't enjoy any
| particular favor with the H0DveF upper
dogs. The venerable songbifd gave an
| interview when she came 10 Kansas
| City last week, In which she said that
| II Coolidge weren't nominated for
| President, she'd be for Al Smith
| sGhnmann~ lt9ink explained That AIS
| human quality appeals 10 her
senator Jim" RAed isn't likely 10
think much ri his home town, now that
| Kansas city has beGame the cradle
! ri Herbert ii0overs destiny. Some
ts-1 t'ss2' It's poetic irony that HJim,s'