DOES HE MEAN IT?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 222, 8 December 1927, Page 11

DOES HE MEAN IT?

COOLIDGE’S REFUSAL OF NOMINATION MANY UNCONVINCED By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 9.8 a.m. NEW YORK, WedjY£R*. CHARLES E. HUGHES has issued a statement saying that he will not be a candidate for the Presidency, and that he is keenly disappointed at Mr. Coolidge’s refusal to run. Mr. Coolidge had on Tuesday advised the Republican National Conmittee that the Republican Party should proceed to select another candidate for the Presidential election in 1928. The President’s definite views are set forth in a single paragraph, issued from the White House in a confidential form, in an address to the National Republican Committee, which is meeting in Washington to select a city for the National Convention next year. Mr. Coolidge said; This is naturally the time to be planning for the future. The l-arty will soon place in nomination a candidate to suceed me. In order to give time for mature deliberation, I stated to the country on August 2 that I did not choose to run in 1928. My statement stands. No one should be led to suppose that I have modified it. My decision will be respected. After I had been eliminated the party began, and should continue, vigorously, the serious task of selecting another candidate from among the numbers of distinguished men who are available —A. and N.Z.

STILL MUCH DOUBT

CONTROVERSY GOES ON OPPOSITE OPINIONS NEW YORK, Wednesday. The statement made to-day by the President, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, that he stands by his earlier statement that he does not choose to ne a candidate for the Presidency next year, in spite of first impressions, does not appear to have definitely settled the controversy as to whether he will be a Presidential nominee. Both political comment and the views of leaders in all parts of the country show dis. greement on the point. The Topeka (Kansas) “Daily Capitol” says there is a very powerful and a pretty well organised movement in the country to put his nomination forward. The San Francisco “Chronicle ’ says: “We think Mr. Coolidge has made it strong enough, so that his un-called-for boosters must quit.” “SITUATION CLARIFIED” The New York “Times” says the President has not only clarified the situation, but given a great impetus to the Presidential campaign. This will move forward, on the conviction that Mr. Coolidge, of his own will and for his own reasons, has taken himself entirely out of it. The Albany “Knickerbocker Press” says it will not be Mr. Calvin Coolidge for President in 1928. The Washington “Post” says: “In spite of the evidence of the sincerity of the President's personal wish to retire, the qu' lion may be decided, not by him, but by the people of the United States. There is no evidence that they wish him to retire.” The Republican members of the Senate, Messrs. C. Curtis and'W. E. Borah, have interpre.tated the statement as definitely eliminating Mr. Coolidge from the Presidency. “NOT ELIMINATED” The chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee, Mr. W. R. Wood, said: “The statement merely says he does not desire to be a candidate, but does not say he would nor Except nomination as a duty to the party.” Mr. S. D. Fess, a Republican member of the Senate for Ohio, said: “The statement does not entirely eliminate Mr. Coolidge from consideration for re-nomination.” One of the immediate effects of the President’s statement was that Mr F. B. Willis, a Republican member of the Senate for Ohio, announced that he would now be a candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination. The Secretary of Commerce, Mr. H C. Hoover, who is regarded as certain to become one of the foremost figures in the nominations at the Republican Convention contest, declined to com ment. The Vice-President, General C G. Dawes, another prominent figure, recently said he would not be a candidate for nomination. Mr. Coolidge’s statement caused a brief flurry on the Stock Exchange. There was considerable selling for profit taking, but most stocks quickly recovered. —A. and N.Z.