Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-08
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Calvin Coolidge's statement, in his
latest magazine article, that he was
told" he should have been nominated
at Kansas City, had he not directed the
leaders of several State delegations not
to vote for him, is not likely to go I'M
challenged Now that something else
can be told" the fact may be chron-
icled at this late day that had Coolidge
permitted his name to 60 before the
convention he would have provoked a
knock down and dragout reminiscent
of the Roosevelt fisticuffs at Chi
cago in 1912. The Hoover people at
Kansas City were in no mood for any
eleventh-hour I-choose- latter -all-to-run
business from the Coolidge camp. Hoo
yer was in the field with close to clear
majority of the convention. Hundreds
Of his delegates were pledged and in
structed for him. No sudden White
House impulse would have denected
them from the purpose with which they
came to Kansas City. 1t is extremely
doubtful that they could have secured
release" from Hoover. The double
crossing" charge would have been leveled
at Coolidge with a vengeance. He might
have forced his denomination, as TAFT
did, but another revolt within the G. Q.
p. would almost certainly have ensued
and brought Smith victory in 1928
strongly within the realm Of probabili-
ties.
It is a solemn fact that up to within
o few hours of the convention Secretary
Hoover was without any positive aSSur-
ance that he would not have to wreStle
with President Coolidge for the nOmina-
ton. Hoover held it to be uncomfortable
that Coolidge would run again after
the Presidents consistent statements to
the contrary. But there was not in the
Californian's possession any direct, cast
iron~or categorical pledge to that effect.
It is q further solemn fact that the
delegation from Mr.. Coolidge's native
State of Vermont sought in vain, on the
eve Of Kansas City, for some guiding
word from him as to his wishes and
intentions anent the impending con-
vention, and failed to get it. The Hoo
yer managers-Work, Good, Brown,
Newton, Moses, Lenroot, Mrs. WILLIE
brandt and the rest-were aware Of the
uncertainties which President Coolidges
silence had injected into the situation.
They never had the slightest intention
Of letting it wreck the unconmonly
well geared Hoover machine. They
were ready for fight and calmly con-
fident Of winning it.
+ \ X X
Mrs. Henry L. Stimson, wife Of the
Secretary of State, Is not likely to take
uu her residence In washington until
next Fall. She paid the price of resi-
derice In the Philippines by suffering
an impairment of her health. Until she
has become reacclimatized in the United
States, Mrs. Stimson will not attempt to
shoulder the heavy social-ofncial re-
sponsibilities which rest upon the wife
of the Secretary of State. Col. Stimson
himself is in fighting trim. Life in the
tropics evidently failed to AFFECT him.
Perhaps his preliminary siege In Mica
ragua hardened him for Manila. The
Secretary of State Is an ardent horse
man and plans to keep himself In
shape on the bride path.
Herbert Hoover isn't very strong for
decorative effects, but ne has ADDED
another flag to the single one--the
stars and Stripes -which President
Coolidce kept In his private office at the
WHITE House. Just back Of the Presi-
dents desk there are now mounted not
only the national colors, in beautiful
siIk edition attached to brass stand
ard. but also the official nag Of the
Chief Executive of the United States, q
field OF blue embIazoned with the
spread-eagle and Union shield and
bearing across the top of those symbols
the thirteen stars representing the
ORIGINAL states. One Of the reasons
Hoover is said to have laid up the U
S. s.. Mayfiower IS his dislike of the
formal ,dummery to which he would
have had to submit every time he was
piped over her side.
X = 4 =
vice President Curtis evidently In
tends that Dolly Gam shall be recog-
nized not only sS bis hall sister. hut.
&. .saess.s ..en.s, sssss,.stssss,yssl.