Evening star., 1933-04-07
BY DOLLY GANN.

United States Senate.
In the course of my brotl,ar's prog
fess also rose in the u Id. M
interest in politics grew with the years
especially after became Charles sec
retary. When he became a Senator
was sure he would go higher, and
intended to be ready to take a part II
his political ascent.
Yet my first effort to direct destin.
my own initiative My brothers wifi,
Anna, by then helpless invalid, salt
q few days before the Republican Ma
tional Convention of 1924:
Dolly, / think Charles should b,
President. You ought to go to Cleve
land and see that he is nominated"
"But my DEAR" said, "it's not pos
sible this year. Mr.. Coolidge has mad,
good In the White House. The party
cannot name anybody else"
''Well then, Charles should be vlct
President" she exclaimed.
That might be arranged, I admitted
She insisted I start at once for Cleve.
land.
For months friends Of Charles had
urged him to run for Vice President
He replied that he was not q candi-
date. Charles was then whip and as
sistant leader of the Republicans ir
the Senate.
Coolidge Wanted Him.
On one occasion brother was at the
White House when the discussion
turned to the convention. Charles
mentioned requests that he make an
effort for the vice presidency and said
he did not desire the Office unless the
President and administration officials
wished him to have it. President
Coolidge replied:
II want man for Vice President
who is q regular Republican and big
enough to be President. and you are
both"
To his friends Charles repeated that
he would accept the nomination If the
administration wanted him, but that
nothing should be done until his per-
sonal representatives arrived for the
convention: These were my husband
and myself.
Ny husband is a Democrat. That a
Democrat, who had held post in the
Attorney Generals Office under Wood
row Wilson, should attend a Republican
convention as political manager for his
brother-in-law, Republican Senator,
caused amusement in Cleveland.
We hastened to the convention. Other
aspirants had launched campaigns long
in advance It was anybodys fight. The
vice presidency was the main subject
of controversy, as nomination OF Mr..
Coolidge was certain.
There was a threatened bolt Of the
La Toilette following. Administration
leaders began contriving ways to avert
1t. to prevent third ticket from split
ting the Republican strength. After
this threatened bolt the favorite plan
among many leaders, including william
M. Butler, Massachusetts,, National
Committee chairman, was to nominate
for. Vice President q prominent Pro-
gressive like Senator Borah or Judge
William s. Kenyon, Iowa, and retain
the Wisconsin allegiance. Charles
chances depended upon the collapse Of
this plan. He was regular Of regu-
lars.
Making our start for Charles candi-
dacy with the Kansas delegates, my
husband and were greeted with sur
prise. Wilbur Hawk, delegation chair
man, had formed no opinion. He had
not suspected Charles was in the race
j. N. Tincher became our active aide.
David w. Mulvane, national committee
man from Kansas, exclaimed:
The devil you say! I saw Charlie
q few days ago and he didn't tell me
anything about running for Vice Presi-
dent"
Kansas Didn't Know.
Several Kansas delegates were for
Gen. Charles G. Dawes Two or three
favored Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord,
Possibly, excepting Tincher, not one
KanSan knew until we appeared that
Charlie was in the running. We quickly
let them into the secret.
/ spent the two days preceding the
convention talking to delegates. I at
tended informal meetings of the Kan
sans and saw delegates from Oklahoma.
In Washington my brother was known
as a friend of the old Indian Territory
He had helped have it opened The men
l saw remembered and Joined Kansas
in supporting him
Mr.. Butler, Coolidge campaign man
ager, was directing things in czar- like
fashion. He helped arrange a caucus
OF delegations from Kansas, Nebraska.
Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and
South Dakota. A vote was taken and
Charles was decisive winner. This
added to our confidence.
But when time for nominations was
near our activities were suddenly
halted by the statement that President
OF Mr.. Borah. My husband Billy and
I, hopes dashed, went to our hotel fol-
a few hours sleep. We had hardly
dozed of when violent pounding on
our door was followed by Mr.. Tincher's
shouting
Get up! Get up Borah has de-
clined to run. We are still in the game. >
We turned out in a hurry. wished
Charles was with us. The afternoon
before I had talked with him by tele.
phone
Charles, you may be able to wir
If you will come out" said. Il don1
think we can win without your helr
in person" He told me his wife hac
become very ill.
Dolly" he said, 'I would not leave
Anna now to be President"
When the Borah plan fell through
Butler turned to Kenyon, but the reg.
ulars refused to stand for him. Ther
Butler got behind Hoover. Efforts b!
administration leaders to enlist supper
for Mr.. Hoover were continuous, bu
under cover.
When Things Looked Good.
Meanwhile the convention nominatet
Mr. Coolidge for President without de
lay. The opinion then that Charlie
was so prevalent that my husban'
was invited to a seat on the platform
A number of delegates commente
jocllarly upon the spectacle Of Dem
ocrat nominating Republican for tn
Vice Presidency.
Balloting for the vice PRESIDENTS
nomination began. The leaders sud
denly decided to concentrate on Low
den, despite his repeated refusals
run, and enough votes were cast to e1
feet his nomination. on the secon
ballot. His spokesman immediatel
read a letter written by Mr.. Lowde
beforehand, declining nomination. RI
cess was ordered.
have always thought naming NJ
Lowden was q move to gain time. TT
administration managers knew he woul
not accept. They wanted a recess
coalesce their forces.
Nnuu fI,ofv y,Ion fn name HO6vp