Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-02
CONGRESS MESSAGE
AWAITED To REVEAL
POLICY Of COOLIDGE
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
4eased Wire Service to The journal.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.--1t 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 matters of the greater public
import. His past speeches and
writings have told where the presi
dent stands on the wider subjects
of Americanism, the constitution
and such like. but Mr.. Coolidge still
is keeping his own counsel on the
more concrete issues of the day. Eff
forts of political anita gonists to
smoke him out" have been fruit
less.
The president writes an occasion
al brief. but polite letter approving
Of this project or that, but TO all
intentsc and purposes still he is the
silent man of the White House and
is likely to remain so until congress
meets.
No man in public life ever had to
face a more crucial test than that
he sits down in the ides of Noven-
Der to begin the draft OF his mes
sage to congress on the state Of the
union. 1T will be at once his inau-
gural address and the state paper
upon which he will be Judged for
re.nomins ton and possible re-elec.
tionr ,,t~-.... a..
The first OF the presidential pref
erence primaries. in the western
states come early in the new year
The impression Mr.. Coolidge makes
upon the country in his first mes
sage to- congress in Decem Der will
carry it's influence over into these
preferential elections.
Interest to Be Keen
The silence which has preceded it
will cause every word Of the first
message to be dissected. 1t is safe
to say that even two months before
it, is scheduled for delivery few stats
papers ever have been awaited with
more interest. Even during the ex-
citing days of the war when Wood
row Wilson would make his way TO
Capitol Hill with a special address
under his arm there was general
understanding as to what he was
about to say. 49,. ....
Mr.. Wilson was known as man
who thought much to himself, who
confided in but few, and yet Wash.
ington has discovered in President
Coolidge who shares his views with
even greater conservatism than the
war. president. Mr.. Coolidge per-
haps is a better listener than Mr..
Wilson was; he also will answer
simple and direct questions quite
precisely, but he will not volunteer
HIS views nor be drawn into any
sort of discussion.
Invitations Discouraged
Mr.. Coolidge is endeavoring in as
polite manner as possible to dis
courage all invitations to him to
make addresses. He has no love of
travel and he believes, Furthermore,
that his duty is to remain in Wash
ington at this time, absorbing as
much as he can Of the perplexities
general policies of his administra-
ton.
President Coolidge continues to
state that he will do his utmost to
carry out, the policies enuncIated by
President Harding. He feels he ia
but serving out Mr.. Harding's term,
and yet he is also conscious Of the
fact that he must stand before the
judges by the manner of his own
conduct IN the White House.
Therefore senators and representa-
tives are expecting Mr.. Coolidge in
his me- age to give firm adherence
to the Harding policies and at the
same ii. announce some OF his
own. They will also watch with
his eagerness for any indication as
to just how he Q, rposes to proceed
in Carrying out the Harding poll
cies
There Is especial interest in the
Coolidge attitude toward the world
court. But at the same time il Mr..
Coolidge chooses not to press that
issue too hard on the eve Of a pres
idential ca paign he can find plen
~ Of Harding reasoning for a pol
icy OF pon-coercion in dealing with
the senate on the subject.
Mr.. Coolidge already has made it
plain that he { >es not believe it is
up to the president of the United
States 10 do all of the thinking for
congress. IL the farm bloc desires
special session of congress he has
said let the farm bloc present its
program for his consideration.
If this action by the new presi-
dent is to be taken as an index he
may throw all of the burden O.. mi
tiating legislation upon the con
zress. He will tell congress the state
of the union as he sees it. he will
state the problem that confronts the
government and the people, and
then it will be UP to congress to
formulate the necessary remedial
measures.
Hitherto congress has claimed
that it's prerogatiVes have been
trampled upon; that it has been CO.
creed by presidents and not given
fair chance. President Coolidge
is likely 70 let the Legislative branch
of government exercise its com
plete constitutional functions.
Mr., Coolidge ponders all the Pc