The Colorado statesman., 1923-09-08
NAMING Of SLEMP
WAS A SURPRISE
CAPITAL CORRESPONDENTS WERE
ALL SURE CLARK WOULD BE
SECRETARY TO PRESIDENT.
WHAT APPOINTMENT MEANS
Coolidge Apparently Selected vreinian
Because He Wanted a Political Ad-
viser-Former Congressman Well In
By EDWARD B. CLARK

By EDWARD B. CLARK
Washington. - Newspaperdom IN
Washington gets a blow to that pos
session which hlgh-browed gentlemen
sometimes speak of as amour propre
There was not newspaper correspond
ent in this town who had any thought
whatsoever that any man other than
Edward L. Clark was to be appointed
as secretary to the President.
1t follows just as thunder comes
after lightning, therefore, that there
was distinct surprise and something
of chagrin, because no one had guessed
1t, when the announcement was made
at the White House that former Repre-
sentative Campbell Bascom SlemD of
Virginia had been appointed secre-
tary to the President and had accepted
the office.
1t is, of course, impossible always to
analyze correctly the motives of men,
but the politicians in Washington, not,-
bly, those members of the two political
parties who are charged with the work
of directing campaigns, think that en-
ployment of Mr.. Slemp means Presi-
dent Coolidge wants political adviser
as well as Il private secretary and that
he wants one who was not raised in
the New England school and has not
been an active participant in political
dealings in any section of the country
in which there are party troubles. OF
course there may be Republican trou-
bles in the place in Virginia from
which Mr.. Slemp comes, but they are
isolated and local Campbell B. Slemp
knows the political situation in all
parts of the United States as they af-
feet the Republican party and its aims,
but from the beginning he has been
no party to the differences between
the factions. wherever they may have
had their being
Has No Enemies in Party
More nearly than any other man per-
haps who readily can be named. Mr.
Slemp stands as the figure of one who
knows all about it but who has aroused
no animosities by knowing all about it.
He never was neutral probably as
between Republican factions in any
that in his capacity as member of
the Republican national committed
and in his political work generally, he
never has been active on one side or
the other in any trouble between the
factions of his party in any state ex-
cept his own, and Republicanism in
Virginia is not strong. He has made
no party enemies East, West or
North.
VIII II. Hays, who was chairman of
the Republican national committee in
1920 and as such directed the victor
ious Harding campaign, leaned upon
Committeeman Slemp for advice upon
important matters affecting not Mr..
Slemp's home state, but other states.
Mr.. Hays apparently recognized the
value of Mr.. Slemp as an observer who
was disinterested as between warning
cliques and who, therefore, could be
depended upon to give unpP-judiced
counsel.
All of the Washington newspaper
correspondents, or virtually NIL of
them, know Mr.. Slemp. He has been
conspicuous figure about Republican
headquarters in Washington, New York
and Chicago for some years and, more
over, he was exceedingly prominent in
congress, not only because of his legis-
iative endeavors but owing to the fact
that he was the only Republican repre-
sentative in the house from the state
Of Virginia and one of only three or
four Republicans to represent southern
districts.
Clark Is the Private Secretary.
Edward T. Clark will remain as
President Coolidges personal private
secretary. There are some politicians
here who see in the dual arrangement
condition necessary for the Presi-
dent, If he has further political ambi-
tions. Mr.. Clark knows all about the
party troubles In New England. He
was for years the secretary to Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge. New England is
likely to make Calvin Coolidge its fa-
vorite son candidate for the presidency
Mr.. Clark will fit into the personal sec
| retaryshlp situation admirably; or, n!
I