Booms

December, January, February, March, April, May, June--seven months and a trifle more before the Republican National Convention, barely eight months until the Democratic Convention. Now is the time for all good politicians to lay their plans for advancement. Seven or eight months is none too much time on which to prepare for a National Convention. With an eye on the future national politicians are swinging into their stride.

Coolidge. The White House was the scene of a luncheon of first rate political significance. There was John T. Adams, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. There was Fred W. Upham, its Treasurer, still burdened by the deficit of the Republican Party contracted in 1920. There was C. H. Huston, Chairman of the Party's Ways and Means Committee. And with them were the expected " angels" of the next Republican campaign: William Wrigley, Jr., multimillionaire in chewing gum; E. T. Stotesbury of J. P. Morgan & Co.; Frank W. Stearns, wealthy dry goods merchant of Boston, long a backer of Mr. Coolidge; James H. Stanley, lawyer, of Denver, and Republican pillar in the West.

They lunched, and left without giving interviews. Chairman Adams later said: " I was there and I did not hear political questions mentioned. The President naturally wants to meet socially the various men who are connected with the Party organization and who come to Washington from time to time. In that sense every luncheon and every interview which Mr. Coolidge has with anybody might be called a political conference."

Meanwhile, it was understood, Secretary Mellon conferred with Republican leaders in Pennsylvania to have the delegation of that state to the next Convention go uninstructed. This is a direct blow at Mr. Pinchot, extra-dry Governor of Pennsylvania.

Pinchot. Following the conference at which Secretary Mellon rounded up the Pennsylvania delegates as uninstructed, Mr. Pinchot countered with another blow aimed at the Administration's enforcement of the Volstead Act (TIME, Oct. 29). The Governor wrote to the Secretary asking: "Will you let my state officers go into plants operating under Federal permits? Will you revoke such permits where my officers present proof of violations? " And the Governor added: " As Governor of this Commonwealth, in honor bound to use every power I have for the welfare of its people, I cannot remain silent if the Federal Government, under whose present activities these conditions have arisen, is merely to continue doing as it has done before."

Mr. Mellon's reply concluded with a reference to "the futility of unjustified criticism based upon an imperfect understanding of the facts."

During the week William J. Bryan paid a social call on Mr. Pinchot at Harrisburg, exclaiming: " There's an old phrase that is used to express hearty approval--' Strength to your arm!' That's the way I feel."

Lowden. The former Governor of Illinois, Frank 0. Lowden, quietly , nursed his boom, which may get him the Republican nomination if the other aspirants lock horns. At New Orleans he encountered Governor Parker of Louisiana. A reporter approached Mr. Lowden and asked about his candidacy. The gentleman from Illinois shoved out his hat. " See this," he demanded, " right in my hand--that's where my hat is--and it's going to stay there."

Underwood. Quite different from the submarine jockeying for position that goes on among his Republican opponents and Democratic rivals, Senator Oscar W. Underwood of Alabama is out in the open with his candidacy. He toured Texas, the supposed stronghold of William G. Mc-Adbo, and at Nocona made this speech:

"I have led the Democratic Party in both houses of Congress for years. I am a Southern man, bred and born. We are approaching the time when the Democratic Party must name the man to carry its banner in the next election. It has been 80 years since the South elected a President of the United States.

"I am going to give the South a chance to select a Southern man to carry the banner of Democracy. If you don't think I am the man to carry this banner, send your delegation to the Convention pledged for another Southern man, but let him be a Southern man."

One of the objections made to Mr. Underwood has been that he is not sufficiently Dry. But he declared himself for the enforcement of prohibition, saying: "No man shall say of me, if the authority shall be placed in this hand of mine, that men in high office are not trying to enforce the law."

Ralston. C. A. Greathouse, Democratic National Committeeman, furthered the boom of the present Senator and former Governor of Indiana by a modest disclaimer of Samuel Ralston's ambition coupled with an assertion of Mr. Ralston's worth: "I understand Senator Ralston's frame of mind and feel altogether safe in saying that he is not a candidate for the nomination and will not be a candidate. . . . The nation is heavily in debt and the only way to get rid of debts is to pay them. Senator Ralston understands the remedy of hard work and old-fashioned economy, and if the nation is educated up to that kind of an executive, the people may call him without regard to his personal aspirations."

McAdoo. President Wilson's son-in-law, William G. McAdoo, busily engaged in rounding up delegates to the Democratic National Convention, took himself to Manhattan. There he conferred with David Rockwell of Ohio, one of his pre-convention campaign managers, and received the assurances of Thomas B. Love, Democratic National Committeeman from Texas, that the Lone Star state would be solidly behind him at the Convention. Mr. McAdoo has the most votes lined up for the Democratic Convention of any candidate, but he has far fewer than the necessary 729(one-third). New York is adverse to his advances and he places his main confidence in the West and South, if Ford and Underwood do not make too much headway against him.

Ford. A third party Convention to nominate Henry Ford was called to meet Dec. 12 by the Ford-for-President clubs. It is most unlikely that Mr. Ford wants to run on a third party ticket, but he may permit a third party Convention just to impress the regular Parties with his strength. Meanwhile Eugene V. Debs, Socialist, declared: " I can think of no man less fitted for the Presidency than Mr. Ford "; Lloyd's of London insured a group of Manhattan business men against Mr. Ford's election in 1924--the premium $38,000, the policy $400,000, odds of 9 1/2 to 100; Henry Ford himself declared: "I'm for President Coolidge if he will enforce the prohibition laws"--an endorsement which Mr. Ford can always get out of with little difficulty.