New Britain herald., 1928-06-13
ed to be convinced the occupant

cd 10 De ConXlnced the occupant would run anyhow, although few days later another statement popped out of the White House tending to the earlier statement. The senator, of course, eA- plained that what he was prepared to say on the subject was reflection of his own opinion, and so forth.
 Then he continued making Cool idge speeches wherever an audience cared to gather and listen. Then Messrs. Butler. Roraback, Hills, Mel lon, etc, picked on him as the con- vention keynoter. feeling sure Mir. Fess was the right man to deliver a slam bang speech a-la-Coolidge and start the inevitable stampede as an- swer to their prayers.
 Meanwhile the state primaries bristled over Ohio and poor Mir. Fess and his state allies found themselves on the outside looking in. As the keynoter, however, he had to con- tinue preparing his speech, doing so with the expenditure of much mid night electricity and tall thinking.
 Then, to cap the climax, on the morning Of the convention opening the skids began to slip from under the draft Coolidge situation. Fortu- nately. the astute MT. E'ess had t keynote speech prepared that would fit any emergency. It lauded the President as the greatest personal and political force in the world" but instead of a stampede for renomina- ton that the statement might have helped to bring about it merely got cheers and stamping of feet. This was because the mornings develop ments had been so contrary to Mir. Fess's fond hopes. Even the stalwart administration ade-kick, Mr. Mellon, had that day "come out for MT. Hoover instead of sticking to Mr. Coolidge, az had been anticipated by the small ring of party manipulators who thought they really had a chance to manipulate.
 The speech, therefore, was re- cital of Republican achievements, with perhaps the greatest emphasis on the party's financial statement. The underlined announcement that the nation stood for pleasant rela- tions with all foreign powers but al dances with none of course got a big hand The reference to farm relief was a delicate pianissimo with the foot on the soft pedal, there being a little cadenza added to the effect that nobody need be in doubt about the purpose of the administration s farm policy.
 The E'essian keynote was an ex. ample of the weaknesses Of keynote speeches. Of fiery phrases there were few, If any: of oratory nothing worth mentioning. The address was of a type easily forgotten. It was inferior to that delivered by Theodore F. Burton in Cleveland four years ago But in the case of Senator Burton the situation was less obscure than with Senator Fess; he at least knew which way the political eat was to jump and could pump the air according ly. Mir. Fess was handicapped by the changing program. It was pretty diff iicult for the champion pro-Coolidgo orator 10 be compelled to note the
 of the man whom he had belie> ed
 unable to get the nomination and
 whom he had fought in the Ohit
 primaries. From this standpoint thu
 keynote was not badly cracked. l
 at least was a genuine unadulteratet
 Republican generality document.
 Nutmeggers who heard Senate
 lfess deliver 8 speech before tn
 Mckinley Association in Hartfor,
 about ten years ago were not Nastl,
 impressed with his oratorical pow
 CTS: yet since that time he has firur
 cd as quite spell-binder in Ohio
 This probably came about becaus
 of his undertaking adherence to tn
 staunchest of the staunch in the va.
 of Republican lore and he naturall
 has gained recognition as . stand hy of the parfy