San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-30
PRESIDENT IS
SILENT UPON
/. EVERY ISSUE
Nation Must Wait Until
Congress Meets to Learn
His Views.
KEEPS OWN COUNSEL
Efforts Of Antagonists to
Smoke Him Out Meet
With Failure.
KEEPS OWN COUNSEL
By ROBERT T. SMALL.

Washington, ID. C., Sept. 29.-lt is
becoming more and more apparent
every day that the country will have
TO wait for his first message to Con.
gress before it can fathom the depths
Of President Coolidge's mind on mat
tiers of the greater public import. His
past speeches and writings have told
where the President stands on the
wider subjects Of Americanism, the
constitution and such like, but Mr..
Coolidge still is keeping his own coun-
sci on the more concrete issues of the
day. Efforts of political antagonists
10 smoke him out" have been fruit
. aess. The President writes an &C.
!" casional brief, but polite letter ap-
I proving of this project or that, but
10 all intents and purposes, he is still
' the silent man of the White House
and is likely 10 remain so until Con-
greSs meets.
Is No man in public life ever had to
face a more crucial test than that
which will confront Mr.. Coolidge as he
sits down in the ides Of November 10
begin the draft of his message to Con-
gress on the state of the Union. 1t
will be at once his inaugural ad-
dress and the state paper upon which
he will be judged for denomination
and possible reelection. The first of
the presidential preference primaries
in the Western states come early in
the new year. The impression Mr..
Coolidge makes upon the country in
his first message to Congress in De-
-cember will carry its influence over
into these preferential elections.
Awaited With Interest.
Silence which has preceded it will
cause every word of the first mes
sage TO be dssected, it is safe to say
that even two month before it is
scheduled for delivery, few state pa
pers ever have been awaited with
more interest. Even during the excit-
lug days of the war when Woodrow
Wilson would make his way to Capt.
tOl Hill with a special address under
his arm, there was general under
standing as TO what he was about to
say. Mr.. Wilson was known as a
man who thought much to himself,
who confided in but few, and yet
asblDs SeS has discovered in Presi-
Meni Coolidge one who shares his views
with even greater conservatism than
the war President. Mr.. Coolidge per-
maps is better listener than Mr..
Wilson was; he also will answer sim
pie and direct questions quite pre-
clsely, but he will not volunteer his
ha Jea ,.4 Z
discussion.
Mr.. Coolidge is endeavoring in as
polite manner as possible to discour-
age all invitations TO him TO make ad-
dresses. He has no love of travel and
be believes, furthermore, that his
duty is TO remain in Washington at
this time, absorbing as much as he
can OF the perplexities of government
and considering the general policies of
his administration.
President Coolidge continues to
state that he will do his utmost 10
carry out the policies enunciated by
President Harding He feels he is but
serving out Mr.. Harding's term, and
yet be is also conscious OF the fact
that he must stand before the Judges
IN the manner of his own conduct in
the White House.
Announce Own Policies.
therefore senators and representa-
uVes are expecting Mr.. Coolidge in
his message TO give firm adherence 10
the Harding policies and at the same
Lime announce some of his own, They
Will also watch with eagerness for
any indication as to just how he pur-
poses to proceed in carrying out the
Harding policies. There is especial
interest in the Coolidge attitude to-
ward the world court. But at the
same time if Mr.. Coolidge chooses NOT
10 press that issue too hard on the
eve OF presidential campaign he can
IND plenty of Harding reasoning for |
pollcy OF non-coercion in dealing |
with the Senate on the subject.
! Mr.. Coolidge already has made IL |
plain that he does not believe it is up
10 the President of the United States |
TO do all of the thinking for Congress.
IL the farm bloc desires a special SEES
sion of Congress, he has said, let the |
farm bloc present its program for his |
consideration.
IL this action by the new Presi-
GENT is to be taken as an index.
he may throw all the burden of inltiat-
ing legislation upon the Congress.
He will tell Congress the state of the
Union as he sees it. he will state the
problems that confronts the govern
ment and the people and then it will
be IN TO Congress to formulate the
Necessary remedial measures.
:. Let Congress Function On.
Hitherto Congress has claimed that
Is prerogatives have been trampled
upon: that it has been coerced bv
Presidents and not given n fair
chance. President Coolidge is likely
10 let the legislative branch Of gov
rrnment exercise its complete cunstI-
tu'ional functions.
That would seem TO be the drift Of
the ADMINISTRATION at this time. and
yet political leaders who speak frank
ly 20 the President tell him that the
people of the country think of him
AS a man Of action and are looking
for real action in his very first mes
sage TO Congress.
Nr. Coolidge ponders all the no.
iitical and administrative sdvice that
comes 10 him. but in the end he will
chart his own course and depend upon
hiS owt navigation to guard his future
political fate.