Evening star., 1928-08-04
COOLIDGE PREDICTS
/ VICTORY IN WEST.
President Believes Agricul-
/ turaI States Will Be in
Hoover Column.
BY ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.

CEDAR ISLAND LODGE. BRULE
RIVER. Wis, August 4--There is now
no doubt in President Coolidge's mind
about the West going Solidly for Hoover
and Curtis next November.
What miSgivings he may have had
hnmedia ely followlng the Kansas City
convention. as a rest OF the rumblmgs
cf dlSsenSion among Republicans in the
So-calleo agricultural sections Of the
West. because Of dissatisfaction with the
lack Of anything like a definite promise
regarding farm relief, have now entirely
disappeared.
Repa~ts he has been receiving at the
Summer White House regarding the po-
htical situation throughout the West
have convinced him that there is no
need for further worry about that sec
tlcn. He contends that the ticket is
safe there.
Interested i'm East.
This fact has been learned from a
rnoSt responsible officiad source. This
same authority is responsible for the
additional information that the PreSl-
dent IS now giving his attention 10 the
Ess; Although he is not known to be
entertaining any alarm about the Situa-
tion In the East and in the So-caiied
border States. il is known that ne Is
giving painsjakine care 70 the study ol
fhe reports he is receiving from these
normally Republican States where the
Democratic nominee is reported to be
gaining ~round.
Although he has not yet committed
himself regarding the situation In the
East. ii is felt very certain by those
who know him we'll that because OF ms
great familiarity with politics IN that
section that he has never shared the
fears OF raany of party leaders about
the East. He has been concerned prin-
cipallv about the Middle and Northwest,
where Hoover was supposed 10 be none
too popular and where real revolt on
the part of Republican agriculturallstS
had been threatened.
The President also has been repre-
rented as possessing sufficient knowledge
Of what Herbert Hoover intends to say
in his acceptance speech regarding farm
relief to cause him 10 feel very certain
now that when the nominee makes that
speech he is going TO make many friends
IN the agricultural section and that he
will add greatly TO his popularity.
The President believes HooverS speech
along With Governor Smiths fiat reiec-
fion Of the equalization fee principle
contained in the much-vetoed McNary-
raugen bill. will cost the Democratic |
nominee many votes In the agriculture |
sections.
While Mr.. Coolidge has said or done |
nothing to indicate or even hint that he /
will take any real part. active or other |
wise in the campaign to elect Hoover /
and Curtis. he has made il obvious that /
he is not bit Indifferent to all that is +
going on.
The President has let 1t be known /
than Postmaster General News appre- |
hension of SI00 900 900 deficit in the |
Postofflce Department has led him TO /
fear that an increase in postal rates /
may be necessary. He has not made up /
his mind. however. and probably will /
not do so until after he has conferred |
with Brig Gen. Lord. director of the |
budget who is due to arrive at the !
Summer White House next Monday /
morning for one-day visit.
The possible postal deficit and the |
means of putting this service on a
better financial footing will not be the
only subject 10 be discussed with Gen.
Lord. The President viii go over the
entire list OF preliminary estimates of
appropriations for the various depart
nents and bureaus of the Federal
Government and the government Of
the District of Columbia The President |
viii have his pruning knife ready and !
when Gen. Lord leaves he viii have |
corrected copy Of estimates.
The probable postal deficit and in |
crease in rates would, the President be- /
lieves, be directly attributable to the /
action Of Congress in overriding his /
vetoes disapproving bills which raised |
the departments expenses materially. /
This has occurred IN more instances, /
notably when the veto OF the pay raise I
Eas oYerridden in 1924 and at other /
times when salaries Of lower class !
postmasteYs were raised The President |
understands IL TO be mandatory for the /
Postmaster General TO fix rates on cer- |
tain classes of mail matter SUFFICIENT TO |
adjust the postal revenues. and Is now !
waiting 10 obtain data from Mr.. New
regarding such possible action.
Recalls Boyhood Story.
In addition to the large wali-eved
pike presented to Mr.. Coolidge up on
the iron range Thursday. his office is
now decorated by two glass cases con-
tanning respectively stuffed American
red fox for an American fisher Martis
rEnnanti the fisher, glsring from
behind the glass. recalled a boyhood
sacry 10 hfr. Coolidge when he displayed
the stuffed animals 10 friends yester-
6ay He said that when he was a lad in
New England wizened trapper as
sured him he was going 10 catch a
fther. and sell the pelt for $40 In
order 70 buy a set Of false teeth for his
wife
Fse was successful the President
commented.