Evening star., 1924-06-11
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance
g. MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States.
Member Of the Associated Press.
The Keynote.

the country against the faults and
failures of Congress during the past
few months was the reception accord
ed yesterday by the assemblage at the
Republican convention at Cleveland to
those words of the temporary presid-
ing officer, Representative Burton, in
which he inferentially scored the ma
tional legislature for its conduct. If
the speech first on the program Of
such a meeting is in truth key
note" the applause that greeted his
words on this subject yesterday marks
his rebuke as expressive of the chief
factor, in the campaign that is to be
conducted for the election of Mr.. Cool
idge. Coupled closely with these re-
marks came reference to the Presi-
dent. whose nomination is assured,
and for whom, in fact, Mr.. Burton's
speech served veritably as a formal
proposal. He said:
With some disappointment as one
whose public service has been in legis
lative position. truth compe!s me to say
that by far the greater share Of our
citizenship looks to President Coolidge
rather than to Congress for leadership.
The people-and all the people-have
confidence in Calvin Coolidge.
Just preceding was this remark:
Much Of the blame which is visited
upon Republicans in the present Con-
sress is not deserved, because on many
major questions their party has not COM
ruanded a majority in either branch.
Let US not for a moment forget the i'm
portance of a Republican majority in the
tried and true, who will stand united.
Thus is the issue set: Coolidge for
his honesty of purpose, courage. high
devotion to the welfare of the coun-
try" and a Congress Of his party, de-
pendable TO carry out the policies OF
the party as enunciated by the con-
Sention and specifically set forth to
that Congress by him as Executive
under his constitutional prerogative
and duty.
Mr.. Burton's speech was largely a
recital of the accomplishments of the
Republican party. It was also plea
for party unity. He declared third
party movements to be demoralizing g
and destructive. He contended for the
concentration of responsibility. His
argument on this point is strength
ened by the record just written by a
Congress that has been so divided in
party allegiance that neither of the
two major parties could command
clear majority.
The practical significance of Mr..
Burton's speech, and especially in view
of the immediate and impressive re-
sponse elected by it in its reference to
sCongress, is that the Presidents cam
paign for election demands the NOM
ination in all the states and districts
of candidates for Congress, both House
and Senate, who will follow his leader
ship if he is elected.
Much has been written in the dis
patches from Cleveland Of the disap-
pearance Of the "old guard" from con-
spicuous view and from actual power
al the quadrennial party meeting. A
new order has been established. it has
been repeatedly asserted. Familiar
faces are missing from the scene. or
Are in the background. and familiar
voices are silent In the sessions of
scpnnmittees and councils and conven-
, ton. Representative Burton himself
Is one of the elder members of the Re-
publican party often honored by it.
He is a member of the legislative body
that has drawn the fire Of public criti-
cism for its failure to support the
Executive. His rebuke is On express
sion of the new spirit that is manifest
, IN the organization that is now pre-
i1paring once more to ask the country
FOR Endorsement and acceptance as the
party OF national administration.
AS keynote" yesterdays speech
was calculated to appeal rather to the
party than to the country. But it is
plain that unless the Republican party
can be unified under a confidence
commanding leadership it cannot ex-
pect to win the suffrages Of the voters
in November.