The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-21
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY


chance of getting the nomination.
Mr.. Coolidge does not choose to
let politicians use him as a pos
sible candidate after he formally
has withdrawn.
With Butler of Massachusetts,
and Hilles of New York, chairman
and vice chairman Of the Repub-
lican national committee, trying
to revive another so-called draft
Coolidge" movement, the President
announces publicly that such
movement would "embarraSS' and
compromise" him.
Mr.. Coolidge did not name the
offenders, but he put the rebuke
in the form of a curt letter to the
chairman of the Massachusetts
Republican committee, where But
Ter is boss, and referred specifically
to New York, the Hilles' strong
hold.
Hoover supporters charge that
the Butterflies tactics disguise
an attempt to deadlock the Kan
sas City convention with unin-
structed delegations, and then
hand pick some dark horse can
didate like Vice President Dawes.
The Presidents letter is stronger
than his Il do not choose" edict,
and his subsequent withdrawal
statements to the Republican ma
tional committee and the Wyoming
State committee.
Reports have come to me-" said
the Coolidge letter, that some per-
sons in Massachusetts are propos-
ing to write in my name as a can
dictate Tor President at the prima-
rieS on April "a. Such action would
be most embarrassing to me. and,
while approaching the compliment
that is intended, 1 request that it
not be done.
MY name is being used in other
States in a way that is contrary to
my wishes. I have heard that in
New York it has gone so far as to
be claimed such use is with my tacit
consent.
In my own State, to give any
countenance to such a movement
would tend to compromise me and
lend color to the Misrepresentation
that apparently are being made in
other States.
Il am. therefore. sending you
this public declaration of my posi-
ton and requesting that such at
tenpts be discontinued
Mr.. Coolidge just had read long
stories in New York and other
newspapers describing efforts of
the Hilles-Butler group to use Al
Smiths reported gains in the Demo-
cratic race as an excuse for run
ming the President against his word
and will
THIS new White House move.
4 strengthening the candidacy
Of Hoover, who is seeking the nom
nation on a Coolidge platform, is
believed to have offset somewhat
the recent gains of the Lowden-
Dawes administration forces.
Though Hoover generally is con-
coded to be far in the lead, most
political observers think the Re-
publican nomination is in doubt
and may remain so until far into
the Kansas City convention.
If the President vetoes the
McNary- Haugen farm relief bill,
nc nyY1actaJ onI ic ,,rotD1o 70 800,
.lsromiSe his dispute with Congress
over the flood control bill, Lowden
may get enough protest delegates
to reduce Hoover's lead and throw
the convention balance of power to
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
with his Pennsylvania and other
delegates.
Hoover advocates claim Melons
support, and there are increasing
signs that this may be true in the
end, but Mellon has not declared
himself publicly and may not
make up his mind until the con-
vention.
While the President was writing
his letters, Sackett Of Kentucky,
was delivering in the Senate an
hours eulogy on Hoover as the
farmers friend. He was replying
to attack on the commerce secre-
tary by Senator Norbeck, Repub-
lican, South Dakota, and certain
farm organization officers. Nor
beck, a Lowdenite, said Smith
could beat Hoover.
n
DEMO CRATIC charges that
II Coolidge prosperity is largely
a myth. and that 100000 persons
are unemployed, are revived by
Senator Wagner of New York, Al
Smiths friend and aid. In a SEN
ate speech he pointed out that the
recent Labor Department figures of
1,874,O00 represented only the in
creased unemployment since 1925.
He introduced measures for better
statistics. for joint Federal and
State unemployment bureaus, and
announced preparation of a third
bill for long-term planning of pub
10