San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-08
New President Has Knotty
Problem to Solve With
in Few Weeks.
REALIZES ITS EFFECT
Is Pondering Situation and
Getting All Information
Possible.
By ROBERT T. SMALL.

Copyright. by The San Antonio Light.
Washington, d. C., Aug. S.-Presi-
dent Coolidge realized today that
events over which he has no control,
are carrying him forward to a crisis
in his administration.
As the cards are laid upon the ia
BILE today, there will be cessation of
work in the anthracite fields of the
country on September Ia little more
than three weeks away. The wage
agreement expires at midnight, August
81. Efforts to negotiate new agree
ment recently were broken off.
While it will not be so termed by
the mine workers, the cessation OF
mining will be strike in effect. in
purpose and in the popular conception
of the man in the street.
Calvin Coolidge is perfectly con.
sciOus of the fact that millions OF
people of the United States who suf-
fered from coal shortage last VIM
ter, will look to him for protection
from another winter of hardships and
unhappiness. He knows that particu-
larly the people of his own New Eng
land who were the keenest sufferers of
thc piSt WiHtcT, Will lOOh u UlIl lOl
relief.
/. 1t will be of no avail to say that
the powers of the President are lin
tied. no matter how true that state
ment may be. The people realize there
are constitutional and other legal linz
itations placed upon every public Off
cial. But they also believe that he
can bring moral force and pressure TO
bear to an impelling degree.
Will Provide First Test.
President Coolidge rose TO national
fame for the course he pursued in the
police strike at Boston. while he was
governor of his state. All of his
friends, all of the politicians in Wash
ingto and there are lcgions of them
here already-say that Mr.. Coolidge
will have his first test as President
by the course he may pursue in the
threa tened walkout in the anthracite
field.
President Coolidge is bordering that
situation above all others at the pres
ent moment.
He has tried 10 close his mind to
everything of a political and economic
al nature during these days of the last
tribute to n dead President, but time
is memorable and there is but short
time to study the coal problem. for the
date for closing down the mines is at
hand. s''Ass -r'
There is no question but that the
country will be quick to judge the new
President by what he may or may not
do in the coal strike. No President
ever has found himself with such a
personal problem on his hands so soon
after taking up the reins of office-a
problem so closely allied with his past
reputation and so pregnant with pos
siblities as to his political future.
Sam Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, is fully
conscious of the Importance that Pres
ident Coolidge attaches to the coal
situation. That is why he has called
on the new President two days in sue
cession; why he has felt it necessary
to place certain matters, certain data
before the new chief executive in the
very midst of the national mourning.
Organized labor is watching the new
President with the keenness of hawk.
1t, too, knows that Calvin Coolidge
rode to popular favor as "strike-
breaker" and the fright to strike" is
a jealousy guarded principle among
the labor leaders of the country.
Brief Months Of Opportunity.
President Coolidge knows full well
that his own political fortunes are not
TO be builded by what he may or may
not do in pressing the proposals that
the United States adhere to the world
court. That he believes in the princi-
pie of the world court, and of Ameri-
can representation in it, already has
been established. But whatever he
may do in furthering the ends he be-
lieves 10 be desirable in that direction.
will be put down in current history at
least as but n carrying out of Hard
ing policy. conceived and offered to
the world before there was any thought
of Calvin Caalidge as an occupant of
the White House.
President Coolidge knows that in
the few short months that lie between
him and his further destiny he is 10 be
judged by his own personal and execu-
tive acts. The politicians who have
gathered here are as one in saying that
the country is in a mood today 10
hail, almost to canOnize. a "strong
man." If Calvin Coolidge is bold he
may go long way, they say; if he is