Evening star., 1928-06-11
CONVENTION OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. June i0.--By
common consent Kansas City Is the
Queerest convention on record No one
can recall a situation In which both
rank and file were so universally up In
the air. II is President Coolidge's in
vincible silence. maintained at least
until the eleventh hour, which produces
a state Of affairs wholly without prece-
dent. The master OF the White House
may think that four successive renunci-
ations Of the crown should suffice TO
indicate his infiexible purpose The cold
truth Is that they have done so. save in
the opinion OF a persistent and stub
born minority OF doubters. Hoover's
n1agnificently organized phalanx. when
ever It's spokesmen talk for publication.
Danish TO the realm Of the inconceiv-
able the thought that the President
can be stampeded into acceptance OF
denomination. In the backmoSt recess
of their consciousness they do not adj
NIT that Coolidge as yet has irrevocably
faded from the picture.
~ &E%
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler is now
the dean OF Republican convention at
tendants. He mounts 10 that eminence
with the passing Of Chauncey M. De-
pew. The president Of Columbia Uni
versity lis participating in his twelfth
successive G. o. p conclave. In the
conventions OF 1880 and 1894, DIR. But
Ter functioned as a reporter on the old
New York Tribune. Since 1888 he has
sat regularly as delegate from New York
state Nowadays the scholar Of Morning
side Heights Is accompanied as a coad-
tutor and lieutenant by his brilliant
daughter, Sarah Schuyler Butler, her.
self an alternate delegate at large. Be-
tween them. father and offspring COM
prise as potent political pair as
Kansas City now shelters. They trail
with the Manhattan Island end OF the
New York G. o, p which sees death
and damnation for the party In 1928
il 1t pits Hoover against AL Smith.
4 y
John l.. McNab, San Francisco
lawyer, who win place Herbert Hoover
In nomination, has always personified
the Republican branch OF his well
known California family. His late
brother, Gavin McNab. was for years
the most powerful Democratic figure ON
the coast and received credit for re-
electing Woodrow Wilson President In
1916. John L." Ia famed throughout
his State as a fervid, spectacular orator.
He Is tall gaunt and In the middle
mites. During the TAFT administration,
McNab was United States district at
torney for northern California. His
friends predict a whirlwind OF enthu~
siasm when he turns the batteries ot
his el0dnence loose on the convention,
even though they'll belch In a pro-
nolnced Scotch accent. McNab's forte
Ia hts power 10 sway audiences by car
fying conventions He has come 10
Kansas City under the shell OF
griev0us family tragedy. His college,
boy son was recently killed In an auto
mobile accident.
William II. Castle. Assistant Secretary
of State, is on hand, apparently 10 get
the committee on resolutions the right
steer on foreign affairs. The q. o. r.
plans 10 make vigorous campaign use
0f the Coolidge Kellogg achievement
In the international realm. In 1924
the Republicans had the results Of the
Washington armament and Far East
cfn conference 10 their credit. In 1923
they will "sLar" peace with Mexico the
new arbitration treaties with various
powers, and the Kellogg program for
Remuneration Ot war as the bright feath~
ers In tins administrations cap. In
tefyention In Nicaragua will be unquali-
fledly defended.
"
Gov. LoWden had a pretty stiit three
quarters of an hour with the eonyen~
| ton correspondents who interviewed
him en- fnasge When he arrived In Kan
saE City on Saturday. No public man
ever faced a more determined array Of
Interrogation points. The Iliinoisan Was
yollbility itself on farm politics. but
on other Issues, regarding which the
seribes sought light and leading, L0wden
| did his best 10 sqnirm and Wriggle,
| The eyes and ears 0t 1870 900 900 Amer
leans refused Ia be baiiied. Before the
governors ordeal was over he had been
pretty effectualiy nailed down as nn
advocate of prohibition Law enforcement
| which is more than Bofah ever got
out Of him and AS believing that either
Coolidge or Hoover nomination
! would be utterly unacceptable 10 the
McNarysHaugen farming country.