The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-23
HOW CAN DAWES
PLAY IN HARMONY
WITH C00IInGE2
VIII UUUA1DuAs
Picturesque, But Vigorous
Ways May Prove
An Asset

!
;dge will enter a new term of office with
legislative and administrative difficulties
considerably lightened, though not en-
tirely lifted. write s. 7. Williams in the
New York Times.
The country gave him a vote of con-
fidence that almost approached his
predecessors record landslide in 1920. A
workable republican majority was given
him in the house of representatives.
In the senate the La Toilette balance of
power was lessened, but not eliminated.
A vice president was also given to
Mr.. Coolidge. An unassuming, silent,
Unconditional pe.sonaiity-the conven-
tional requirements for the vice presi-
dency-was returned to the White
House, while dynamic, explosive, Opin-
ion-voicing character was thrust into the
self-effac:ng office of vice president.
How will this work out? Calvin Cool
idge the deliberate Charles G. Dawes
the spontaneous Coolidge the steady
going. Dawes the versatile: Coolidge the
laconic, Dawes The yo!uble; Coolidge the
prosaic. Dawes the picturesque-can
these two human antonyms work to-
gether tremendously.
Certainly. Their differences are in
method and not in purpose. Both have
shown that they can pull in harness.
President Coolidge has held office al
most continuously for twenty-five years !;
he couldn't have done it il he had an
tagoniZed people General Dawes has
been success as Il lawyer, banker, sol
der, counselor IN international finance,
as we'll as office holder, and if he is I'M
able to get along with all sorts of peo-
pie, he would have failed at any of
these occupations. furthermore, he is
no fledgling III politics. Thirty years
ago he was helping TO run a national
| political campaign. at an age when most
of his contemporaries were either pre-
cinct captains or watchers at the polls.
Decks Are Cleared
The deck now seems cleared for re-
turn to probably the most attractive
speculation leading out of the election
Genera. Dawes new job. 1t will be
interesting 10 soc what happens when
Charles Gates Dawes takes the veil of
the vice presidency-tor veil it will be
What vice president has ever i'm
pressed himself upon history while hold
ing that office? The sole vice president
within the memory of the present gen
GRAFTON to attract public notice was
Thomas Riley Marshall, who was indie
pendent enough to speak his mind upon
the nations greatest need, which he be-
lieved was a good fivc-cent cigar. The
dynamic Roosevent is not remembered
as vice president What remains in
store for the volatile Dawes?
There was something ironic this fall
in the generals campaign for an office
that upholds the dignity of a Legislative
body about which the candidate spoke
in terms somewhat approaching con
tempt in days gone past. Equally
| ironic it is that. if he conforms to the
custom by which Mr.. Coolidge was the
first to benefit. and sits at the foot of
the cabinet table. he will participate i'll
the meetings of group which, upon
occasions, he did not treat with much
open respect.
As Vice President, General Dawes
will preside over sessions Of the Senate.
He will attend meetings of the cabinet.
He will be the official diner-out for the
president, and night after night he will
meet the same guests, will see the same
ported plants, eat the same food and
will be served by the same cotton
gloved flunkeys provided by the caterer.
He will represent the president at all
conventions, funerals, exhibitions. reak-
fasts, dedicati tons. anniversaries, lunch
cons, celebrations, state fairs, dinners.
sporting events, beauty contests and
golden weddings throughout the country
at which the chief executives presence
has been requested, and which could not
be turned down with flat refusal.
Speak But Say Nothing
He must make speeches and say moth
ing that might be interested as in
dicating mind of his own or ideas at
variance with the administration of
which he is an understudy
What price glory, this, for peppery-
tongued man who smokes habituany Il
queer pipe and whose apparent aggres-
siveness is due partly to deep-sea ted
shyneSs?
General Dawes's friends have nothing
but profound sympathy for him when
they think Of him as the presiding of
ficer of the United States. For this is
well termed 'leliberative body" Com
pared with it. the House of Represen
tatives decides questions with the speed
of frontier vigilance committee. Cum
bersOme rules and WORKOUT presidents
govern its sessions, and by such rules,
wound with ar armor of red taDe, Cen
eral Dawes must regulate senate pro-
cedure. The same red tape of precedent.
which he denounced and cut SC ruthless
Y when director o. the budget. must tie
him. unresisting, to the vice presidents
chair.
The former head of the Central Trust
company of Chicago will have almost
daily the pleasure of recognizing the
Hon. J. Thomas Helm Of Alabama and
permitting him to interrupt the snnates
business and the subject under discus
sion with an hour-long dissertation upon
the ruinous deflation policy of the Fed
eral Reserve board, the evils of Wall
Street and crimes of bankers. The vice
president may even serve as n sort of
living text for q number of speeches.
And the only way lie can reply is to
hire o hall. The vice president rules
but cannot address the senate. although
Vice President Marshall, when an
nounc;ng rulings. used to make pertin-
ent observations occasionally upon the
subject under debate.
Yet TO: all his reputed impetuosity
General Dawes does not appear to have
made any serious breaks, and therefore
doubtless he will continue this record
when presiding over the senate, where
silence is imposed upon him, and when
sitting with the cabinet, where good
taste demands that be shall not take
issue with his chief. AS Il matter OF
fact General Dawes is far better ac.
quainted with politics thar some of the
"peewit' politicians he denounced dur
ing Che campaign. He poured such con-
tempt upon time serving. trimming
politicians" that it seemed generally
| ,,dc IL hX.f VIII.