Evening star., 1928-05-27
Reports That Hughes May
Enter Campaign Heard De-
spite His Withdrawal.
HOOVER FAR AHEAD
IN DELEGATES PLEDGED
Draft Coolidge Movement May Be
Met by Stronger Statement
From White House.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Within two weeks delegates TO the
Republican national convention will
have begun 10 assemble in Kansas City.
AS the day for the opening of the
convention. June u, draws near. the
crop of rlmorS increases. There is the
Tumor that President Coolidge will be
drafted and will accept the nomination,
notwithstanding his repeated assertions
that he does not wish TO run. There
is another rumor that Charles Evans
Hughes of New York. former Secre-
tary OF State, may be prevailed upon
TO become candidate. although he has
in terms more emphatic than the
President declared himself out of the
picture. The New York and Pennsyl-
vania leaders, rumor has it, are groom
ing Mr.. Hughes for the nomination.
A third rumor is 10 the effect that
President Coolidge will, before the con-
vention begins balloting, definitely de-
clare ne will not accept the nomina-
ton. Il is a period Of rumors, more
or less hectic.
Notwithstanding the rumors, Secre-
tary Herbert Hoover today stanos as
the leading candidate for the RepuDh-
can nomination for President, with the
greatest number of delegates pledged
instructed. or otherwise committed TO
him. Frank o. Lowden, with the back
ing Of most of the corn and wheat oeit
delegations, is second in the matter OF
delegates, while Senators Curtis OF
Kansas. Republican leader OF the SEN
ate; Watson of Indiana. Norris OF Ne
braska. and Borah Of Idaho have oele-
m them
Opponents Cite History.
The supporters Of Mr. Hoover insist
that he will be nominated promptly
Derhaps on the first ballot. The op-
oenents Of the Secretary OF Commerce
however, say he VIII be stopped They
point 20 the past national conventions
IN which candidates with the largest
rllrnber OF delegates have fallen by the
v-svSi0e. the victims of the pack. His
tory they say. viii repeat itself.
BUT il Mr.. Hoover is not 70 be nonai-
mated who IS 70 be choice Of the Re-
rublfczr party? With whom can the
rnnonents az Mr.. Hoover beat him?
President Cooiidge's indictment OF the
1EcNary-HauseTl farm bill IN his veto
rr7essare appears 70 line the adminlsfra-
fioy1 IN against any candidate VINO
fayorg that measure, tncluolng FRANK
o. Tsowden, Vice President Dawes, VINO
has insisted be Is not candidate: sen
ator Watson. Senator MOTHS. ano oIlels.
senator Curtis voted with the President
On tf1e attempt in the Senate 70 over
ride the veto OF the farm bill. Whether
this makes him logical compromise
candidate remains 10 be seen. He VoUeo
for the bill on its earlier appearance 10
4re Senate. The influence OF the ao-
rnintstration against any candidate VIII
i,e powerful In the convention.
One thing appears certain IN the log
Of uncertainty which has many he-
publicans In its grip. Unless Presioent
Coolidge takes himself oeflniately OUT
Of the picture with another statement
saying he viii not accept tne nonlaaa-
ton. he VIII be voted for by block OF
SelevateS On the first ballot. Most OK
the Hoover delegates from ONO,
2o in number, viii cast their ballots
Tcrr the President. il is said. There VIII
k,e celegates from other states VINO
Sjso viii vote for the President, unless
4S1ere Is an assertion that the President
yrII raot run. The belief stih persists
sn souae quarters that If the matter Is
3ut before the President ne VIII see u
rs a duty 10 the Republican party ana
accept the nomination. stLl osneIs
wiSFl 70 use the thought that the Presi-
Serf ysignf accent 10 prevent delegates
fayf,rIrg Hoover II the President u oat
Of the running from going 70 the
Secretary Of Commerce.
1910 Delegates Chosen.
yxceot for the % delegates who are
70 be chosen in the West Virginia pr'-
mary on Tuesday, the Republicans nave
named ali Of the / .0SS delegates 10 the
national convention. The Hoover people
are claiming Sis, the bo|den support
erg. 27z. II takes 545 10 nominate.
Szry Of the claims of delegates for Mr
Hoover and Lr. Lowden are disputed
But It is noticeable that the Hoover
managers have not included In their
claims any of the 10 delegates that
PENNSYLVANIA viii SEND ~ the conYen-
ta0n uEdef the leadership ot Secretary
Mellon. Mr. Mellon has declared that
Hoover appears 10 hll the bill more
nearly than any u he other announced
candidates, bUt beyond that he has not
gone.
The West Virginia primary holds
particular interest because II Is the last
ii the presidential preferential prl-
naFies There Hoover l. running against
Senator G0ff, fzy0riE son candidate
for fQe preference of the Republican
voters ard G0Y. Al Smith Is hooked
I'D with Senator jim" Reed for the
Democratic delegation.
fsnoBlc BF. Hoover win the preference
gogr ~ West Virginia ne gains just 3,
Hn4ch IN tie psychCi1gy " the situation
II he loSeg the effect wlIi be bad fol
HIN though not necessarily fatal hnc
4 Senator Reed should win over A
Smith Il viii be the first real cilssck TIA,
Mew York Governor naS met IN all tn
contests looklng toward the Demo
cratic nomination Perhaps this las
il not quite correct. tor from the re
turns from precinct voting in h0rtl
Carolina yesterday. 1t appears that tn
smith acuefeHts have lost control q
the county conventions which select th
ceiegatex " the STATE convention Wnici
ts turn eiloses the delegates ~ the na
tlonal convention.
The Hoover managers IN Webt VIZ
g{nls are predicting yic1ory tOr tLei
candidate Ia thai State The governor
Gore. hss declared foT him, ano Ia
Republican state organization is IN par
stJt5Dofting Hoover Senator o0ff IL Il
ne State. speaking Ia his own tsY0l
attacking M Hoover. tie has th
fayoflte~g0H appeal. although this
somewhat weakened ~ tils fact tia
for many years he lived outside ~ Wes
Virginia The railroad brotherhood
nave launched stin attack agalDs
Cgon declaring tast he "a sialkln
morse foT Vice President Dawes .
whom the bfoiheFh00ds are bitleil
oppose
GoY Al Smith. on tie Democrat