Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-17
|G|LDED BACKGROUND
HARMFUL To DAWES,
ASSERT W|SEACRES
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journa1.)
Copyright, 1921


CHICAGO, June 14.-Here in the
home of Charles Gates Dawes, Re-
publican nominee for the vice presi-
dency, one finds mixed reaction to
his selection as the running mate
for President Calvin Coolidge. Bust
ness men are thrilled and satisfied.
Politicians are somewhat skeptical,
for they are not sure that a multi
millionaire is a good choice in these
days of La Toilette and Brookhart,
this era of conflict between the
agricultural west and the banking
east.
Mr.. Dawes is probably richer than
any man ever nominated to be either
president or vice president, with the
possible exception of Garrett Hobart.
While Mr.. Dawes is worth several
millions, however, he is reputed to
be not as wealthy as the secretary
of the treasury, Andrew M. Mellon.
But there already is an indication
among the radical leaders here that
they will lay stress not on the meth
cd in which he acquired his fortune,
for there is no disposition here to
apply anything irregular in that re-
spect, but upon the viewpoint which
he holds toward labor as conse-
quence OF his banking and business
background.
Mr.. Dawes, as head Of the Cen
trail Trust Company of Illinois, is
in close touch with the New York
banking community and it was his
bank which led all the rest in this
region in participating in the recent
loan f1oated by j. P. Morgan & Co.
for the French government. He has
been outspoken in his views about
the need Of financial cooperation
with Europe. He is one of the largest
stockholders also in the Pure Oil
company. In fact, together with his
brothers, he owns that mammoth
concern. His brother Henry is the
president of the company, which is
one of the Ia lest independent con-
Germs in America.
Charlie Dawes, as he is Familiarity.
called here, is, however, well liked,
and is more of mixer than the
average business man. He is an
expert in economics, and has writ
ten authoritative works on banking.
In fact, he owes his first appoint,
ment as comptroller Of the treasury
to that work 1t is a coincidence
that last year the late President
Harding appointed his brother to
the same post in the treasury.
Mr. Harding was very fond Of Mr..
Dawes. He took him along on the
trip to Florida. and enjoyed his
companionship as much as that OF
any man in the inner circle. Mr.
Harding was particularly apprecia
tive of the fine public spirit shown
by Mr.. Dawes in leaving his busl-
ness and coming to the government
as the first director of the budget.
1t is due largely to the initiative and
aggressive tactics of Charles G.
Dawes that the budget is today OPP
Grating as well as it does.
Although Mr.. Dawes antipathy
toward labor is well known, it is
unlikely that he will trim his views
to meet political exigencies. He is
not that kind. He has paid his re-
poets to the waverings of politicians
in such strong language that his
whole makeup would rebel at the
suggestion of back-tracking. He
did not seek the vice presidency.
The job sought him. He is proud of
the organization which he created
known as 1.-THE Minute Men Of the
ideas about the "open" shop which
he regards as a fundamental issue in
American industry. He thinks non
work alongside of union men with.
should not have to deal with unions
If they do not want to do so.
While the "open" shop issue is
welcome as a good one on which to
make a test once 80 for all, the
political leaders are not anxious to
have a controversy on labor when
President Coolidge has been able to
a large extent to make his labor OPP
ponents forget his vigorous stand
toward the American Federation of
Labor in the famous Boston police |
strike.
The political enemy are planning
TO rake it all up, everything Mr..
Dawes has said, hoping to convince
the electorate that they are voting |
on a fundamental question of friend
ship or hostility toward labor. AS a
matter Of fact, vice president Las
little to do with the shaping Of ex-
ecutive or legislative policies. Mr.. |
Dawes will merely be permitted to |
listen to senatorial debates. If he |
sits in the cabinet he will have a |
chance 20 express his opinions, AMI |
the influence Mr.. Dawes would |
WELD if elected will depend largely |
on whether President Coolidge will |
follow Mr.. Harding's custom in ask.
ing the vice president to sit at the
cabinet table.
Whether he does or not, Mr..
Dawes is the type who would find |
something in the rules that would |
permit him to make his JOB more |
interesting. His comments from |
the chair would make good reading |
and rouse the senate over which, if |
next November, he woul5 /
zrocfIo