Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-31


congress to reframe the tax princi.
pies in accordance with the Mellon
recommendations 1t is to be pre-.
sumed Mr.. Coolidge will take this
stand in his speech of acceptance.
President Coolidge told congress
in his first message that he did not
favor a soldier bonus. Congress
passed one. Mr.. Coolidge vetoed it.
Congress Immediately repassed the
measure into law.
President Coolidge told congress
the purse would not permit of in
creased pensions of veterans and ,Ge-
pendants of the Civil and Indian
wars. Congress passed the Bursum
bill granting these increases. The
president vetoed the measure. The
house repassed it. but passage over
the veto failed in the senate.
Fought Jap Exclusion
President Coolidge told congress
the public purse and prevailing con-
ditions did not warrant an increase
in the pay Of postal employees. Con-
gress passed a bill granting the in
crease. The president vetoed it and
there was no attempt to revive the
measure in the dying hours of the
session. President Coolidge told con.
gress it would violate a solemn "gen-
tlemen's agreement" and grievously
offend a friendly nation if it wrote
japanese exclusion specifically in the
new immigration bill. Japan vigor-
ously protested. Secretary Hughes
all but threatened to resign The !
president sent for the party leaders
in congress. All to no avail. Con. |
gress passed the bill just as it pleas |
ed. The president was forced to sign
because of the restriction generally
needed on the alien thrush, hut he
SAID II he could pass upon the Japa,
nese section indepently he would
veto it without hesitation.
This, then was the presidents rec
ord with congress at 4 time when
he had &C ternined to seek nominal
ton from his party. Instead of weak
ening him with the people at large,
the contest and conflicts with CON
gresS immensely strengthened him.
Mr.. Coolidge's first utterances as
president were most r"nsSuring to the
conservative elements of his own
party and of the country at large
Ihey regarded him as a man who
would sit steady in the boat" ard
ne has strengthened that opinion OF
him ever since.
Inc situation here in Washington
was none too reassuring when Mr..
Coolidge was called upon to take I'D
the relns OF government. The Re-
puohcans in 1922 had lost the cleo.
stlons in many states and congress
WAS eRepubllcan on paper only. There
were rumorS and rumblngs Of the
coming storm of investigations The,I
ONO gang was beginning to get
INTO the papers. The Little Green
House on X Street" was becoming
nationally known.
Little known of Him
Although he had been in public Of. |
lice for nearly 20 years, the peon1e
at large knew curiously little If Mr.. |
Coolidge. He had been inco3s3ic,,ous
as wee president. His comings End |
SoIngs at the White House an Ctbe
capitol suggested never an e,a.ner
oL news. There was recollection IF
Ilrm hand in the Boston police e5,ikc
put even there it had oeen ,a;d that
the democratic mayor CT Boston De. |
served a very large share oc TIE cred !
II ior maintaining 'aw and order
Mr.. Coolidge went quietly about |
ms task as president. The neonio !
hau TO wait from August 9 TO the |
opening of congress in Decemhe, "a |
get the first general expression If |
me views of the silent man from |
-lasSachusettS. The presidents mes
sage snort, crisp and sharp. made q |
generally favorable impression as'
peclally upon the members of his |
own party. Mr.. Coolidge had found |
most or the Harding cabinet to his (
ilhlhg' He particularly began to |
1gah upon Messrs. Mellon and
hughes and Hoover and Weeks and |
does so to this day.
Put Congress i'm Place
In the midst Of the Investigations
when the senate passed resoI,lt.on
demanding the resignation Cf Saore.
tary of the Navy DENLY. Mr.. COOL. !
ldge sent the resolution back with |
sharp reminder that he alone was |
responsible for his cabinet and II |
was matter with which congress
mad no concern. Later. when Mr.
DENLY voluntarily resigned. however ,
Mr.. Coolidge made no effort to re' .
strain him
Also when Attorney General Daugh
efty became further em5roiled with a.,
congress, M. Coolidge did not hest. .
t2te TO ask for his resignation. Mr.. (
DaCgherty and his friends believed .
ne had been VrOnged, but the presi-
ueht would enter into no argument .
Win them. There was a touch Of .
Rooseveltian rUthlessress in this ac. ,
ton which revealed a new side to
the president.
Mr.. Coolidge has demonstrated in .
a!s year at the White House that !
ne Goes not know how to play. He
works long hours His only rcorea. /
ton Is walking and an ccasioraI +
SAIL on the NaNflOWer. The confne.
nent Of the White House has begun
to tel or him. lie IS far less v'gor-
Gus in appearance than he was a few
months ago