The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-07
TIE NEW PRESIDENT

1t Is partly good fortune and
partly growing appreciation OF
the importance OF the Vice Pres
iGency that have given us President
Coolidge and his capable hand on
the helm of the ship Of state at this
critical jhncture.
Both of the National Conventions
in 1920 balanced their tickets with
strong men the Republicans with
Calvin Coolidge, the Democrats
with Franklin Roosevelt. They did
rot. as so many national conven-
tons before them had done, regard
tie second place as one to be filled
with geographical makeweight or
n political harmOniZer. Each
sought to name man who would
rot only bring strength to the
ticket. but would prove. il destiny
called, Of Presidential size.
Particularly was this the feeling
q: Chicago, when Governor Cool
i,lge, of Mass lchusetts, who had al
ready figured in the, Presidential
list Of availables, was selected for
second place by a preponderan.
majority.
We have had in all six Presidents
who have succeeded to the office
by death of the incumbent. Mel
ther. Tyler, Fillmore nor Johnson
rose t. the greatness of the office,
and all We're the causes of great
political irritation. All of Tyler's
Cabinet except Webster resigned
when he vetoed measures support
Ell by tho Wing Party, which had
nominated him. Fillmore gave
Great offense to the Northern
Wings by signing the Fugitive
Slave Law. He afterward ran for
President in 1856 as candidate of
the American Party, and received
only the ELECTORAL vote OF Mary
land. Johnson came near wreck
ing the Union after Lincoln had
saved it, and barely escaped I'M
parchment.
Arthur made dignified and ca
r. Bile President. Yet when named
for Vice President, he was an Of
flce-hOlding henchman Of COnkling
and P.att, whom the victorious
Blaine faction desired to placate in
tc support Of Garfield.
Roosevelt was, of course, the ex-
ceptional Vice President. who made
such great President that he was
reelected with but feeble opposi-
ton.
Calvin Coolidge is a strong, firm.
well-disciplined publicist. He
brings not only high character.
but great experience to his task.
Owing to Mr.. Harding's wise pre-
vision. he has been in effect men,
Der Of the Cabinet without port
folio. attending the semi-weekly
meetings, consulted and conferred
with by his chief. privy to all the
inner workings of the Administra-
ticn. close student of all its prob
lens.
AS Mayor of his home town. as
Legislator and then Governor of his
State he had already shown him
self master in the handling of
administrative and legislative
problems as we'll as a trusted lead
CT OF men. The instant decision
VIII w .liCu NC SNuCISACu Viz DOotoIl
police strike won him national
recognition.
The new President, with char
acteristic promptness, has pledged
himself to retain the advisers and
push the policies Of the Harding
Administration. Roosevelt did the
same thing when he succeeded Nc
Finley and kent his word as well
az any man invested with such
grave responsibilities could have
done.
In like manner President Cool"
idge may be expected to follow the
general lines of the Administration,
in which he has been an active
consutant. But new situations
and new emergencies are bound to
arise and he may be expected to
meet them with wise determina-
ton.
His task, which would not have
been easy if he had been elected to
the Presidency, is made even NOR"
difficult by the fact that at every
juncture he must ask himself,
What would Harding have done?
But President Coolidge is able,
alert, judgmatical. He is likely 10
carry his brief Administration
through the next nineteen months
with true Yankee skill.-Minneap-