Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-09-26
COOLIDGE SHOWS
POLITICAL SENSE
APPOINTMENT OF SLEMP AS HIS
SECRETARY GIVES HIM AN
ASTUTE ASSISTANT.
CABINET DECLARES FEALTY
Republican National Committee Men,
bers Seem Privately Determined
That the President Shall Be Nomi-
mated Next Year for Another Term.
By EDWARD 3. CLARK

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK
Westinghouse. Bascom Slemp of
Virginia, one-time representative in
congress and all-time astute Repub-
lican politician, has taken up his du-
ties as secretary to President Coolidge
Virtually all of the cabinet officers
of the President have declared their
fealty to him not only as members of
his official family but indirectly as sup
pOrters of any progressive ambition
which he may have. Several assistant
secretaries in the various departments,
sub-chiefs of the cabinet, likewise
have declared allegiance.
The Republican national committee
seems to be all set in its private de-
termination that Coolidge this year
shall be Coolidge next year. Of course
the members of the national committee
cannot declare themselves officially as
favorable to the nomination of the
present chief executive, but if their
hearts are right, other things probably
will be right. The politicians say no
president ever had a brighter outlook
for denomination than Mr.. Coolidge.
has today. OF course, clouds can come
into the political sky as we'll as into
natures sky and there may be thun-
ders and lightnings ahead but there
is no Washington forecaster today
who is willing to take any other than
a fair-weather view of the future.
What the Politicians See.
The politicians here seem to think
that they see signs from the Middle
West Of change of heart among the
followers of the greater radical leaders
in their sections of the country. They
see also, they say, a disposition on the
part Of the "Amarica First" leaders to
accept the President as one of their
own. Some of the Republicans who
do not look favorably upon the "splen-
did isolation" OF the isolationists seem
to be content with the thought that if
the President shall press the world
court membership proposal, he may
later be willing to so further afield in
international affairs, especially as one
year from next November he may be
given the voters leave to go it on "his
own" for four years.
: Mr.. Coolidge seems to be something
of a politician. Apparently he real
lied that benefits might accrue from
tying unto himself the cabinet officers
who came to him by inheritance from
President Harding. Several of these
officers are politicians of the true type.
Three of them are especially valuable
in campaigns in their respective parts
of the country-Weeks, Daugherty and
New, although the latter's influence in
his home state in Indiana is perhaps
not what it was. Harry New, however
is a politician who knows the pOliti-
clans and whose activities in the past
have given him the experience which
aid in the present and may continue
to aid in the future.
Weeks Supports Coolidge.
John w. Weeks is from Massachu-
sets, and Massachusetts like the rest
of New England today seems to be
back of President Coolidge in any am
bition which he may be nurturing
Once upon time John w. Weeks had
ambitions on his own account, but he
has them no longer. He is a sincere
Coolidge supporter and it will take
something like misdemeanor on the
part Of the President to shake the war
secretary from his allegiance.
Attorney General Daugherty is from
Ohio EJo oil roIi+ioo1Ir,
President Harding. He can be of serv-
fee to President Coolidge in politi-
cal way, for sentiment in Ohio will
have something to do with the coming
nomination campaign. If Daugherty
stays staunch in hi- support of Presi-
dent Coolidge, there are Ohio politi-
clans who will say, 'This is as Hard
ing would have it,
Secretary Slemp knows the ms and
outs of Republican politics everywhere
in the United States. In addition to
this he is thoroughly we'll versed in
delegate matters south of Mason and
Dixon's line, which in a way is the
Democratic-Republic line. Slemp is
almost as much given to talk as is his
chief President Coolidge, therefore,
has reticent man to help a reucent
man. Secretary Slemp is a thinker.
One knows this from a somewhat in
innate knowledge of the Virginien's ca
reer in politics and legislation. He is
a cultivated man, one to whom schol-
arship has had its appeal, an appeal
to which he listened and which he
answered. Belief is strong in Wash
ington that men who desire a nomina-
ton for President Coolidge were those
who recommended that c. Bascom
Slemp should he made his secretary.
Foreign Policy Not Changed.
Conviction strengthens daily in
washington that President Coolidge
intends to frame no new policy in Re
publican affairs. 1t seems likely from
what one hears from the students of
fbn situation that fhQ DIan for Apoor