Evening star., 1928-06-12
Republicans Rsady to Choose.

Republicans in Kansas City today are
meeting to choose their candidate for
President. Their choice may be the
next President of the United States.
The national convention opens after
campaign of great and unusual bitter
ness. The leading candidate for the
nomination has been attacked savagely
and even unfairly by many of his
opponents.
II the honors go finally to Herbert
Hoover, some of his fellow Republicans
will have much for which to apologize.
They have raised the cry that Hoover
cannot win II he be nominated They
have opened gaps in the Republican
ranks in many States which will have
10 be closed If the G. o. P. is to be sue
eesstul in the November election. With
utter disregard apparently, of the effect
which their defeatist propaganda may
have ultimately thsy have charged
that the Midwest and Northwest States,
not to mention the States of the North
against Smith Of New York If he be the
Democratic nominee. Absurd though
this defeatist talk has been. it has not
been calculated to aid the party in the
coming campaign.
The delegates to the national conven-
ton, 1,O8e In number, will either make
their choice. or the choice will be made
for them by group Of political leaders.
There seems little doubt that the pre-
ponderance Of sentiment among the Re-
publicans the country over Is for
Hoover. He has the backing Of far
more delegates than any other candi-
date. II he Is stopped" It will be be-
cause OF combination OF leaders from
d few OF the Eastern States and the
candidates representing most of the
Midwest States. II he is stopped, the
convention win nominate either Presi-
dent Calvin Coolidge or a candidate
who has been in the background,
dark horse,
There is much at stake in the Kansas
City convention. II through the efforts
Of coalition, some Of whose members
have been unscrupuicus In their efforts
to prevent the nomination Of Hoover, q
candidate Is picked In smoke filled
hotel room In the wee, small hours Of
the morning. the people may reach the
conclusion that they have little or no
say in the choice Of their Presidents.
Untii President Coolidge issued his
now famous statement In the Black
Hills Of South Dakota last August, It
was generally supposed that he would
be the party nominee this year to sue
ceed himself. The President has on at
least three other occasions since his
original statement made 1t clear that
he does not Choose" 70 run. Had he
made no statement regarding the norni-
nation. It would have been handed to
him 'ion o platter" So strong Is the
hOid Of the President on his party that
he might have the nomination today, II
ne would. But the great majority OF
the Republicans have taken the Press-
dent ut his word Tricky politics ia so
foreign 70 the Presidents nature that
the Republicans in vast majority have
the nrm conviction he would not accept
the nomination II it came TO him. Nor do
they believe that the President would
place his party in lame position by
permitting the convention TO nominate
him merely to have him refuse TO run.
The national convention In Kansas
City 1 the nineteenth since the forma.
ticn o. the Republican party, In four
teen Of its qladrennial conventions the
q, o. r. has picked candidate who
later Was elected President. The RE-
puDlicars In the past have manifested
facility IN healing wounds made In pre-
convention campaigns. They have q
reputation for getting together" II
may be that they can reform their
hnes this year after taey have selected
. nominee. But certainly In the last
few weeks they have taken leaf from
the Democratic book Of Madison gquare
Garden. VIII the same intolerant spirit
maintain during the convention nov
cpeBiug7