Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-06
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL y. COLLINS

Could anything have been simpler
less ostentatious, than the coming OF
the country boy from Massachusetts
into the chief magistracy OF the
greatest nation of the world?
Mr.. Calvin Coolidge was aroused
from sleep by his aged father, in
the country home. and informed that
Providence had suddenly called him
to take up the responsibilities of
supreme government of the United
States. 1t was a more sudden call
than when David was called from the
sheep of his fathers flock and anoint-
ed to reign over Israel David had
long TO wait. after the amounting. Mr..
Coolidge took the oath OF oftice, and
a few hours later entered " 'S.ington
as President of the United States
There was no more pomp than il he
had become head OF a business cor
poration.
When the founders of the republic
were considering the nature and func-
tions OF the Chief Executive. TO be
defined by the Constitution. there was
considerable debate whether the ex-
ecutive should consist of one person
or three: yet, at that time. the total
population of the country was less
than 100000. Today, the nation has
grown to twenty-seven times as
great a population. and the presidency
is one man-not three. But the bur
den of the presidency-the load which
has grown so overwhelmingly OF
late years. has grown far more thar
twenty-seven times what it was when
President Washington took it up.
In EIliots Debates on the Federal
Constitution" Is the official report OF
the discussion concerning the Chief
Executives:
1.-THE committee of the whole pro-
ceeded to the seventh resolution
That national executive be in
Stituted. to be chosen by the national
| Legislature for the term of - years
etc. to be ineligible thereafter"
Mr.. Pinckney WAS for Il vigorous
executive, but was afraid that the
executive powers of the existing
! Congress might extend to peace and
war. etc. which would render the
executive a monarchy of the worst
| kind: TO wit. an elective one.
| Mr.. Wilson moved that the execu'
tive consist of single person. Mr.
C. Pinckney seconded the motion. &C
as TO read: That the national execu'
tive, to consist of a single person. be
instituted
"A considerable pause ensuing, the
| chairman asking IL he should put
i the question, DR.. Franklin observed
that il was a. question Of great i'm
tportance, and he wished the gentle
| men would deliver their sentime nts
! upon it before it was put.
| Mr.. Rutledge animadverted on the
shyness OF the gentlemen on this anC
other subjects. He said it looked as
if they supposed themselves pre-,
cluded, by having frankly disclosed
changing them. which he did not TAX.
TO be at all the case. He said he
Twas for vesting the executive power
in a single person, though he was moi
| for giving him the power of war anC
peace. A single man would feel the
greatest responsibility, and woult
administer the public affairs hest.
| "Mr. Sherman said he considered
the executive masistracy as nothing
more than an institution for carrying
the will of the legislature into effect
that the person or persons ought Il
be appointed by, and accountable to
the Legislature only, which was thu
repository of the supreme will of the
society. AS they were the bes
judges of the business which ough
Ito be done by the executive depart
ment, and consequently. of the mum
j her necessary from time to time fol
doing it. he wished the number Nigh
not be fixed. but that the Legislature
| should be at liberty to appoint on
or more, as experience might dictate.
| After further debate Mr.. WILSON
| motion for single magistrate wa
| postponed by common consent.
/ DR.. Benjamin Franklin vigorousl.
[ opposed paying any salary to tn
| Chief Executive. but was willing tina
4 his expenses should be betrayed. H
| likened the honor of the presidenc,
| to that of sitting on a Quaker jur.
!. Ia hear diffarences hetWAen hrhthrer