Evening star., 1923-08-26
Mr.. Coolidge and Politics.

1t has been said that politics Is the
favorite sport Of the American people.
They love TO play the game. They
are experts in 1t. They have voted, In
ever-increasing proportions, for hun
dred and forty years and more, and
they take part in their biennial con-
gressional and their quadrenn!al presi
Dental elections with Zest. 1t is natu-
raj, therefore. that whenever the presi-
dency should come. into question. by
the approach Of the end OF a term and
the beginning Of a new campaign for
that office, or in the emergency Of
death in the Office. there should be
keen interest in the subject OF candi.
dacies. But the enterprise has Its
proper limits, and just now it would
seem TO be we'll to remit for a time
the agitation concerning the qualiflca.
tions and the prospects Of Mr.. Cool
idge for an elected term in the White
House.
Mr.. Coolidge succeeds TO the Office
by the death Of Mr.. Harding. lie was
elected Vice President IN accordance
with the constitutional provision that
establishes this reserve OF personne!
for the highest executive Office. When
nominated and when elected he was
therefore placed in the position Of q
potential President. He, to a greater
degree than any previous incumbent
OF the vice presidency. participated in
aH, M eft ~ a n
inet meetings. He was in close touch
with the councils Of the party that had
named the ticket. He was In the full
confidence Of the President. So when
death summoned him to the high duty
Of the presidency he was. as II were,
taking the place of the senior member
Of the firm.
1t is a tradition that a President
should not merely be willing to serve.
but should seek a second term In the
office. 1t is natural that he should
wish to have his administration in
dorsed. Acceptance Of an original
nomination implies a willingness and
even a wish to serve for eight years.
Mr.. Harding was cut of by death be-
fore he had finished his first term. Had
he lived he would undoubtedly have
been renominated. He could not, save
upon the ground OF failing health,
have evaded the second candidacy. Mr..
Coolidge, in taking his place, succeeds
naturally to the duty OF seeking the
public's Endorsement OF the admins
froy Of xxybt tol, |, y-a1 n3 n
which he is now the chief exponent.
But it Is not desirable. as it Is not
necessary, for his friends now to stress
this point, or to press strongly for
consideration Of his qualifications as
against other members Of his party.
1t is too soon after the death Of Mr..
Harding to talk politics" Mr.. Cool
idge has a weighty work to do. lie
must carry on the policies Of the ad.
ministration as established by his
partner predecessor in the Office. He
must adjust matters left undetermined
by the untimely taking of Of the head
of the state. He Is himself not con.
cerned about the political aspect Of the
situation.
If Mr.. Coolidge manifests in the
Office the qualifications which he has
displayed in his past career, and in
recognition Of which he was nominated
in 1920 as Mr.. Harding's running
mate" he will automatically deserve
and will have every chance to receive
the recognition next year Of nomina.
ton for the presidency. He is, in a
way, on trial now. And those who are
concerned in his behalf will render
him the highest service by refraining
from playing the political game in his
behalf and leaving him unembarrassed
in his discharge Of the duties he is
conscientiousiy facing and assuming
by any considerations OF political
strategy. II he makes good" he will
be the logical nominee Of his party
II he fails in his task he will not. And
no amount of political maneuvering
will affect the situation.