Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-05

IN the bellef that Mr.. Coolidge felt
il the polite and proper thing 10 do AT
the moment he assumed the office of
Chief Executive. In brief. there is
the hope that the new regime may
perhaps lessen the attitude of aloofness
held by the United States since Mr..
Harding came into power.
Appealed to Common Folk.
All over Europe, in the simple homes
of the plain people there is real grief
over the death OF Mr.. Harding. II
can be said with the utmost confidence
that no American President of recent
time made so direct and straightfor-
ward an appeal to the sympathy of the
common man.
He was a good man, an honest
man, a sincere man"
The above phrases were those used
most by the little groups that gath
cred to discuss the news OF Mr. Hard
ingS death.
1t would be useless to pretend that
Europe regarded Mr. Harding as
great statesman. It was. in fact his
very lack of craftinesS and clever
ness that endeared him most to the
hearts OF the common people. They
felt that he was some one like them
selves-a plain citizen bewildered in
the maZes OF diplomatic and political
intrigue. but striving against more
clever and crafty minds to make the
elementary qualities OF honesty and
good Will prevail over the more subtle
forces of the international political
game.
Feel Denth KeenIy.
The writer. in numerous visits to
all the countries of Europe, has often
had occasion to become acquainted
with the popular feeling regarding
Mr.. Harding and has heard countless
Europeans express themselves in
terms that made 1t plain that they
regarded Harding more as warm
hearted and generous friend than as
the chief of great state who might
inspire awe and respect because of
the power vested in him. They felt
he was more interested in people
than anything else, and even when
his official acts might not tH ap-
proved by national sentiment in this
or some other nation there was rarely
word OF resentment against the man
himself
Millions of people in Europe today
are struggling amid the bitter disap-
pointments of war-wrecked lives. The
loss of the kindly sympathy of a
man they loved and trusted is felt
keenly.
Wonder About Coolidge.
Such vast gulf exists between the
personality of Mr.. Harding and that
of President Coolidge that Europeans
cabled biographies and sketches OF
the new executive. were puzzled by
the contrast. Mr.. Harding they knew
to be of genial and expansive temper
ament. Indeed, Mr.. Harding had spen,
some time abroad and because of this
was better known than most mer
who have been Chief Executives Of
the United States. Mr.. Coolidge. 6
retiring, quiet, withal friendly man
is unknown to people here. The
office of Vice President is more
effective barrier against knowledge
of a mans personality on this side
than 1t is in America, where one OF
the standing jokes of politics con,
Germs itself with the anonymity o,
| the man who is Vice President.
1t came, therefore. as surprise tc
the average European to read the
descriptions of ''austerity, firmnes.
| and ironlike WILL" as qualities O
President Coolidge, and many thought
the new executive to be tempera
| mentally akin to former President
Wilson. The impression, coupled will
| the recollection that Mr.. Coolidge ha,
never been openly antagonistic to the
| league of nations, was a favorable
one because Mr.. Wilson has ever beer
held in high regard over here.