Evening star., 1928-05-22

Speculation az to the significance Of
Secretary Melons statement naming
Hoover as the hest qualified OF Repub-
lican candidates for the presidential
nomination, but calling for an unin-
strtcted Pennsylvania delegation. takes
a major place in all political discussion
during the closing weeks OF the pre-
convention campaign. Many observers
think the statement assures the nonii~
nation OF Secretary Hoover; others md
confirmation of the belief that Mr..
Mellon really hopes that President
Coolidge finally win be drafted. and
with that end in view keeps the 7e
Pennsylvania delegates unhampcred by
instructions
That the Pennsylvania delegation
did well to hold itself unpledged to
anv candidate" ia the contention of the
Pittsburgh Post -Gazette Republican,. !.
which argues The popularity Of
President Coolidge has been demon
strated and the greatest asset of the
party In this contest IL his record
Should the convention be unable TO
agree promptly on any OF the candl-
dates whose names are presented TO
II. threatening to spread disharmony.
then the logical and wise course would
be 10 draft Coolidge" The Scranton
Times tDemocratic) voices the view:
THE eastern group. OF which Mr.. Mel
Ion is one. wants either President Cool
idge renominated. or. II that cannot
be- then MIR. Hughes. The present
strategy is directed to that end.
A different conclusion is reached by
the Minneapolis Tribune fRepublicarl 4,
which states. THE inference We draw
from Mr.. Melons statement Is That
If. at the time the Kansas City
convention opens, Mr.. Coolidge Ii
stil al firmly opposed aa ever to the
Idea OF becoming the Republican 1928
candidate, Mr.. Hoover viii receive the
Pennsylvania delegations Endorsement
From this 1t begins to look as II the
prospect that any candidate opposed TO
the Coolidge policies would win the
nomination is slight, indeed" The
South Bend Tribune independent Re-
p,iblicanl believes that In case the
President holds fast TO the determine :
tton tn return to the less trying acliVi-
ties Of private life. the Mellon inffu-
ence on the convention is likely TO
be too strong for the allies who are
trying to put Hoover out OF the rum
ming"
TO the youngstown Vindicatof
(Democratic) 'the conclusion Is un-
avoidnble that Mellon Is honestly for
Hoover. Coolidge Is for Hoover and
that HnoVers nomination on the Re-
Dnblican ticket Is now as certain as is
that of Gov. Smith on the Democratic" +"
The Little Rock Arkansas Democrat
fDemocratieI contends that "the pub
lic feels, and has felt for weeks, that
the remainder Of the Republican pro"
gram will be simply series of gestures,
eliminating In the Kansas CITY con-
Venti0n, The usual steam roller and the
grand climax when the voter VIII ne
given the glorious assurance That Cool
idee prosperity will remain with as
because Mr.. Hoover II the nominee"
Certainty Is expressed by the Bangor
Commercial lRepubliCani THE rank
and file OF Pennsylvania favor Mt,
Hoover, as do The large majority OF
Eastern Republicans, And IN the pres"
ent field where could Mi Mellon g. IN
preference 10 HoaVer2" The Chhreston
Evening Post independent Demoaratiel
declares that ito all intents and nlf~
poses Hoover may be accounted ~ nav
Ing won the Republican nomination
There may be considerable hlanlfi~
eanGe.H the Columbus Ohio state
journal iRepuhlieenl suggests, I'm the
fact that shortly after MI, MELONS
announcement Mr., Hoover went m on
fishjnR trip. rs II the preliminary
night we're about over and he could
afford TO rest 40 for the bigger one 10
follow This Oklahoma city Okla
hOman findependenll feels sure al
least that having said IN formal and
Definite manner that Hoover Il the beat
Of The available candidates, " n ex-
tremely unlikely that Secretary Mellon
could find any excuse A. All for siipf
porting a candidate less worthy and
less capable
The favor with which he specified