The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-13
COOLIDGE PROVES.
FORECAST CORRECT.
His Acts Show Message Was
Bid For Nomination,
Democrats Say
WASHINGTON BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD
WashinvfOu II. e Dec 10


! The declaration of the chairman
| of the democratic national commit
! tee Cordel1 Hull, that the message
! delivered last week to Congress by
the President. Calvin Coolidge, was
political document and a bid for
| the republican nomination, has been
! quickly confirmed by two acts of
the executive.
Fist-He forced the selection of
Cleveland rather than Chicago where
Senator Johnson has great strength,
as the place of meeting for the next
republican convention.
Second-Through Frank w. Storms,
Boston millionaire merchant, he an
nounced his candidacy for the presi-
dency.
The republicans contend that both
developments were natural; the DEM
ocrats are saying, Didn't I tell
you SOP
1t is regarded as certain that the
Presidents message will be his plat
form. The democratic contention,
as expressed by Mr.. Hull, is that 1t
is characteristic "reactionary" plat
form. that the sole unequivocal decia-
| rations in that platform were in sup
port of "Old Guard" tenets such as
the protective tariff. The "Old Guard"
adherents in Congress have expressed
delight with the Presioent's position
on practically all subjects. The
radical republicans, on the other
hand, declare that the platform con-
tans nothing in which they could
possibly find a delight.
The President doubtless under
stood in advance what the criticism
would be. 1t is presumed, as result,
that he threw himself into the camp
of the "reactionaries," which in in
telligence and political astuteness is
far superior to the radicals IT.
respective of the number of the lat
ter group, It will not nominate a
presidential candidate. 1t is ad-
mitted by democrats that if the
President was animated solely by a
desire to secure the nomination, he
proceeded in wisdom.
Having spoken, it is now the role
of the President to write his words
into law. In making such an at
tempt, will come the actual test, it
! is believed. Likewise, the caliber of
the man will be demonstrated in
the result.
tent among members OF Congress
that the President will have great
difficulty in putting over any of his
recommendations For instance, it
is not contemplated by any we'll
posted individual here that the Sem
ate will permit the United States
to participate in the election of
/ judges of the League of Nations
court of International justice. In
the second place. it IS not anticl-
pated that the Congress will pro-
coed to reduce taxation without vot-
ing a bonus for the soldiers who
fought the war. 1t is believed that
Congress, If it is able, will reduce
/ taxes and vote the bonus, and by in
/ creasing the surtax rate on very
'profiteers" to bear the burden of
the bonus.
Might Prosper.
If the President locates a big
stick" and comes to Congress in de-
4 Tense of his recommendations, they
might prosper to a reasonable eX-
tent, it is held probable. But if he
continues to hibernate in the White
House, his recommendations, it is
quite freely predicted. will die of
inattention, will, in all practical re-
spects, be ignored. Just how such
results will affect the Presidents
prestige as a candidate cannot be
| foretold.
Immediately after the Presidents
message was given to the public,
there was frequent admission of sur
| prise that he had spoken without
apparent equivocation of certain top
les, the world court and the bonus,
for instance: In consequence of fur
| Their analysis, however, it is appar-
ent that the President. if he did not
! actually balance everything against
something to contrary effect pro-
| Ceeded with such scrupulous atten-
ton to the political situation that
he engendered reasonable suspicion.
In view of Secretary MELONS frank
statement that Congress could not
vote tax reduction and the bonus at
the same time, the Presidents OPP
position to the bonus and support
of tax reduction impreSses Washing
ton with the idea that he would sup
port the bonus were it, in his opin-
ion, possible.
1t is recalled, also. that the Presi-
dent did not declare for American
he had stated for the satisfaction of
the "irreconcilables" the republican
policy of isolation. In view of the
fact that the court is of the league,
the President, in proceeding against
the league and in support of the
court, recommended, in effect, that
this country endeavor with the CO.
operation of other countries to settle
international disputes in some forum
which does not and may not exist.
O o O
Balancing Contraries.
The alleged aptitude of Mr.. Cool
idge so nicely to balance contraries
as to suffer the one to nullify the
other was exemplified in his pro-
posals respecting Muscle Shoals. His
position, in great part, was exactly
in accord with the position of ardent
supporters of Henry Ford's offer;
but in his conclusion he proposed
further investigation by a special
joint committee, and could not more
would defeat the Ford offer.
There is general agreement with
the Presidents suggestion that the
railroad labor boaro, for the settle
ment of Industrial disputes, be re-
tanned as it is-unless a better meth
cd can be devised. Those who OPP
pose the present method would pre-
fer that it be retained rather than
a more inferior method be devised.
and those who favor the present
method are inclined to the belief
that better cannot be devised.
The farmers are said to be dis
pleased because Mr.. Coolidge attrib-
uted their calamities to their own
lack of prescience, their failure to
reduce acreage in anticipation of a
declining consumption. And labor is
contending that the President had
no word of encouragement for it, and
labor believes that, despite present
unOrecedented wages II has cause