The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-06

The writer happens to know. He
was once assigned to interview Mr..
Coolidge at length, right after he be-
came Vice President. Mr.. Coolidge
talked freely. on a number of sub
1ects, contrary to expectations. When
the interview wasf finished, the Vice
President asked to see the copy be-
fore it was published.
1t was taken around to his office
with some misgivings, largely because
he had talked so freely Mr. Cool
idge studied the manuscript in de-
tail He made two changes in the
copy-cut out the Silent" in Silent
CAL in the two places where it had
been used.
Then he explained that he liked
to have folks cali him "Car' but he
hated this Silent" business.
President Is Conservative
They speak of the uncertainty as
to President Coolidge's views on pub
lie questions. AS Vice President he
had to be silent. publicly. Yet to
those in Washington who have talked
with him informally there is no great
uncertainty as to where he stands.
The outstanding feature in Cool
idge's makeup is that he stands
somewhere on any question, and nei-
ther person nor thing can change him.
He is conservative in all matters,
public affairs. personal habits. his pri-
vate and public remarks, and every
thing He is far more conservative
than was President Harding. because
the late executives reactionary ten
denotes were often tempered by his
deep feeling for his fellow humans.
Often Mr.. Harding's heart overruled
his mind.
President Coolidge's heart never
overrides his mind.
Typical New Engiander
The new President is a typical
movie" character from rock-ribbed
cid New England He would At. like
a peg, in Way Down East" You
would never catch him sparing the
rod and spelling the child. He would
set his thin lips and mete out pun
ishment in the good old Puritan way
Hence, If the anthracite coal contro-
versy grows into a strike, look for
President Coolidge to treat labor like
a child Expect him to treat industry
like a parent. Labor ought to be
grateful for its employment, he be-
Leves. Also. he thinks that property
owners have the same responsibilities
as parents.
President Coolidge is more con-
cerned with property rights than over
human rights That Is because he
thinks tina most human benefits arise
out of private property rights.
When the world court issue comes
up. look for the new President to
champion It even more unfiinchingly
than did his predecessor. Mr.. Cool
idge thinks entry into the world court
is our duty.f And he will not bulge
from duty as he sees 1t. Mr.. Harding
thought the same of the world court.
but sentiment often tangled with
sense of duty.
Weeks Close to New Chief
Secretary of War John w Weeks
is probably closer to President Cool
ldge than any other man high in po
htical power here. They are fellow
New Englanders., have fought and
bled together in politics. flguratively
speaking.
Weeks now has the opportunity to
become the Harry Daugherty Of the
Collidge Administration. handling po-
litical patronage. 1t may be his lot
to build a Coolidge political machine.
Weeks is a Thoroughbred reaction
airy. Also, like Daugherty, he is a
sick man much of the time.
It will be hard for Weeks to build
Coolidge machine without taking
over the Harding machine of the
Middle West. New England, lacking
the political vitality of Ohio. Indiana
and the Middle West, is a poor place
to build Even the venerable Henry
Cabot Lodge is slipping up there in
New England.
So 1t would not be surprising to see
New England Middle West combi-
nation for the management of the Ad-
ministration. New England, through
Coolidge, controls the patronage. The
Middle West, through Ohio. Indiana
and neighboring political machines,
has the votes.