New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-17
CHOICE OF SLEMP
!, Shows Intention
-----~
Coolidge Will Be a Candidate, It
| Is Believed
BIT GEORGE H. MANNING

ktWashinston Bureau nf New Britain Herald,
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE appoint
nent OF, former Congressman c. Bas-
com Slemp of Virginia as secretary
10 President Coolidge Is being gener-
ally taken as conclusive indication of
The presidents intention of becoming
a candidate for the republican presi-
Dental nomination next year.
shreWd political move, designed
TO capture southern delegations to the
party convention to be held next year
and to line up delegations In several
ether states for Mr.. Coolidge in the
republican convention. is the most
generally accepted explanation which
as yet been offered for the action
of the president in choosing the Vir-
ginian as his secretary.
After the first shock of surprise oc-
rasioned by the announcement of the
appointment had worn off. though,
followers OF political affairs we're
forced to the conclusion that no Sc
lection the president could have made
would be better calculated to react
advantage ously to his own future
public career
A Trained Politician.
For. aside from his commanding
position in the southern branch of the
republican party, Mr.. Slemp as a
trained and able politician, a member
of the republican national commit
tee, and man with the fullest pos
sible knowledge of even the most OBJ
scure workings of the legislative
branch of the government, is admir-
J,v f~ r,f I,yir n
the president and to serve as buff
Ter for him. He will be able to
keep President Coolidge constantly in
touch with the political thought of
the country as reflected in the repub-
lican national committee; he can give
sound advice as to legislative pro-
cedure, and act as intermediary be-
tween the White House and the cap
itol. ..5sE ..a
There is another important function
which Mr.. Slemp is expected to exer-
else which will go long way towards
tightening the burden of the presi-
dency; that is, general supervision of
patronage. AS almost the only re-
publican member of congress from
the entire south for the past IS years,
ence on all the most important mat
ters of patronage in that section, and
has depth of knowledge and variety
of experience in such affairs as makes
him the ideal man to relieve the
president of the many worries over
political patronage quarrels which arc |
being brought to him. !
Semp's appointment, it is believed
is directly attributable to the close
friendship and association with for
mer President Harding, the members
Of the republican national commit
tee, of which he is one, the republic |
can leaders in the senate and house
and the leading politicians in the /
party who have, the ear of President
Coolidge.
Golfed With President.
For the past several years, espe-
cially since the beginning of the
administration Mr.. Slemp
has golfed almost daily with about
! dozen of the presidents closest
friends, and Mr.. Harding himself, as
,ften as the chief executive was able
10 get away from The White House
or recreation. This group of leaders
included Senators Edge and Freing-
luysen of New Jersey, Hale Of In
llama, keyes of New Hampshire,
sutherland OF West Virginia, Kellogg
# Minnesota, Speaker Gillett and
Congressman Treadway OF Massachu-
ctts. ..,s
Speaker Gillett, it is believed, was
esponsible' more than any other man
or Mr. Slemp;s selection. Mr.. Gill
cit, a warm friend and admirer of
Temp, is believed to have suggested
o President Coolidge that the Vir-
-inia man would make an admirable
ecretary. 1t was Gillctt who sent for
lcmp and arranged to have him
unch with the president on the day
he appointment was announced. Up
o that time Mr.. Slemp, and probably
resident Coolidge, had no idea that
UGH a choice would be made.
The appointment as secretary to the
resident is particularly pleasing to
fr Semp. He would probably take
he place in preference to that of
ecretary of state. the premier of the
abinet, if the latter was offered to
i'm.
Loves Politics.
Mr.. Slemp loves politics and ma
onal affairs and this will place him
ght in the very midst of them. He
aes in it a stepping stone to higher
lings and intends TO get to them.
he is completely indie
endent. and the salary of $500 per
ear which he will receive means
othing to him. He has during the