Mr. Coolidge Again
IS MR. COOLIDGE to lead the Republican attack a third time? To this question his laconic self has, of course, given no reply. Nevertheless there is abroad a general assumption that the next...
...Fortified with this reserve of energy, Mr...
...It is supported, however, far more firmly by the simple popular feeling that there is something essentially sacred in political precedent...
...Coolidge's person or the chances of political victory...
...Wilson...
...Certainly it is time to do some vigorous thinking about this issue, quite independently of Mr...
...Many more would feel that the departure from third-term precedent would not be serious now, but might be invoked calamitously as an example in the future...
...Besides, there are plenty of signs that the party has made up its mind about a program of economy, protection and foreign relations which it proposes to cling to resolutely...
...Coolidge has not satisfied the economic) expectations of farm communities, but quite as certainly the Democrats in Congress have failed to suggest expedient remedies...
...The tradition that no man shall be invested with the supreme executive office during more than two terms has never been seriously challenged, Mr...
...It reposes, of course, upon our national conviction that any approach toward monarchies or dictatorships would be antagonistic to the spirit of our institutions...
...The most prominent Republican in Congress, Senator Borah, would steer the party straight toward "dryness"—a course it must seek to avoid at all costs...
...Coolidge has come to represent dignity...
...Here one fact immediately leaps to the fore...
...It is a serene, conservative program which is aided far better by dignity than by brilliant leadership...
...Roosevelt's stand in 1912 being a forlorn hope without the slightest possible chance of success...
...There is no doubting the fact that the eventualities of the world war made the states of which Chicago is the nucleus as solidly Republican as the Civil War made the South Democratic...
...The one thing that might have wrecked his prestige —the Mexican situation—has been handled with great political adroitness, however far from satisfactory the real course of events may be...
...Coolidge, provided he assented to the nomination...
...The MiddleWest may seek to promote the candidacy of somebody like Governor Lowden, but it will do so realizing full well that after this gesture of agricultural protest the real business of voting must be taken up seriously...
...Nevertheless there is abroad a general assumption that the next nominating convention] will propose his name, and that he will not be unwilling to bow to its acclaim...
...The President has, however, gratified every wish of the Middle-West for political isolation from Europe and for resistance to the policies of Mr...
...It is strengthened by the fact that Mr...
...Coolidge has no immediate political rival...
...But all estimates of the political future must reckon with indications of actual voting strength...
...In the President Republicanism has, therefore, a candidate singularly free from offensive angles or distressing irregularities...
...That for the Middle-West would be synonymous with support of Mr...
...Coolidge at present stands an even chance to carry every state that may legitimately be considered doubtful...
...Taking all things into consideration, that nomination would look like victory—were it not for one supremely inconvenient fact...
...This assumption is based primarily upon repeated statements by men close to the direction of Republican affairs...
...The drift of political sentiment was not apparent during the struggle to develop a liberal and agrarian movement, but it is quite obvious now...
...For many conservative persons, a break with this "tacit agreement" would be almost equivalent to repudiation of the Constitution...
...What about the third term...
...That may be largely a sentimental factor, but it is paramount and against it no Democratic candidate, however attractive, is) likely to succeed...
...The desire to nominate him will be great and perhaps irresistible...
Vol. 6 • May 1927 • No. 3
