The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-21
THE COOLIDGE MYTH"

lnaSmucnsaS MT. NOOlI0Se VIII HUI SA- plain himself, his attitude invites his political opponents to interpret his silence in their own way. If MT. Coolidge had been elevated to his present high office by popular vote, after campaign in which he had acquainted his countrynen with his policies and views of govern ment, then he might with some warrant preserve a silence thereafter, thus invit- ing the people to re-elect or reject him on his record. As it is, his silence on leading public questions is gradually but noticeably causing popular estrange- ment, if not resentment.
 The people do not forget that MT Cool idge occupies the highest executive posi- tion. For Coolidge the president they have the utmost respect. But there is also Coolidge the candidate, and into his situation the people are properly inqulr- ing more closely. Undoubtedly MT. John w. Davis stated clearly the Democratic attitude: do not for a moment question his | personal honesty. l UO uOt HI Inc ACoSs
 impugn his integrity of purpose. But as
 he is A public official standing for re-
 election, let us inquire what this roster
 of achievements is to which with such
 pride our attention is invited.
 On that basis even MT. Coolidge him. self cannot resent sedulous inquiry. It l is not pertinent to inquire whether he earned the acclaim he received for the settlement of the police strike and the rioting in Boston. Opinions differ as to that, and in the heat of a campaign in- justice might easily be done his record as governor of Massachusetts. At least, he was the author of a deathless sentence when he said: T cannot conceive of the right of anybody to strike against the public safety, anywhere or at any time." That grievously needed saying at the precise time it was uttered, and Mir. Cool | idge said it.
 But it is sufficient to confine our at- tention to the Coolidge record as presl- dent. The Republican car Naign leaders have sought to create t..- myth of a "strong, silent man in the White House." hard worker with no time to devote to the frivolities of a national campaign, a deep man, capable, resOlute and success full in gaining support to his policies by the sheer weight of his personality and their excellence. A careful search of the official record, however, fails to bring to light one single example of the alleged Coolidge profundity or vision, while his official career is strewn with the wrecks of his recommendations to congress.
 First, he most vigorously sponsored the Mellon plan for tax reduction, but ms own party leaders in congress failed to rally to it, and finally it fell, as it de- served to fall, before a better plan de- veloped by the Democrats. sOver his pro- test. the Japanese exclusion act was written into law. The bonus bill was passed over his veto in almost record breaking time. The president desired congress to enact the world court meas ure, which assuredly would have passed if MT. Harding had lived, but the senate utterly ignored it. He very properly asked legislation to expedite the consoli- dation of railroads along the lines of greater efficiency, but he appeared un- able to win support even for such an obviously deserving purpose. Mr. Cool :Iidpe turned the settlement of the anthra- cite controversy over to Governor Pin chot because the governor had plan and the president had not. Taken alone' this failure might have been excused on the ground that the president was yet new to his responsibilities. Taken in connection with his other acts, it has an- other significance. All remember that congress paid no attention to the presl- dential suggestions for abolition of tax exempt securities, inclusion of prohlbl' ton agents in the civil service, final leg islation for Muscle Shoals, and other pro- posals of merit.
 The president has been right on good many questions. But the chief execu' tive must not only be right-he must be president. Mir. Coolidge has seemed to lack what might be termed a Hollow through" He addresses the ball, but he doesn't drive it. And even the leg islation the president has sponsored was in the main heritage from his prede- cessor, or even from the preceding ad' ministration. As one journalist remarks 'Mr. Coolidge himself, during his four teen months as president, has initiated absolutely no constructive policy of any sort. His silence has been the reverse of creative"
 But a nation might forgive. an execu' tive for not being creative, if he would only commit himself vigorously and un' reservedly to meritorious policies already publicly accepted and, what is still more , important, would make them into law