Evening star., 1924-07-23
j. s. WORK ABSORbS
PRESIDENTS TIME
Politics Secondary and viii
Be Through Campaign, His
Friends Predict.
LINES DEEPER ON FACE
Acceptance Speech August IA May
Be Only Important One Be-
fore October.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL.

BY HObEHT t. SMALL
With a little more than half OF
his cabinet to assist him. President
Coolidge appears far more engrossed
in the affairs of government these
days than in the details of the COM
ing campaign. He Is carrying on"
at the White House at a time when
other Presidents generally have left
Washington far behind to seek recre-
alton in cooler climes.
There is absolutely no indication
as yet that Mr.. Coolidge is to take
the active part in the campaign that
was at first proposed. Perhaps the
death of his young son may have
something to do with his present
state of mind, but there are frieEds
of the Chief Executive who say he
has never believed a President should
make a bitterly partisan dght for
reelection.
Appears Slightly FatiEued.
Never OF a robust appearance. Mr..
Coolidge gives his callers these days
the impression of a tired man. The
lines of his face seem a little deeper
than they were year ago. The
weather in the Capital during the
past few days has been unusually
warm, but the President, accustomed
as he has been to the bracing atmos-
phsre of New England. has uttered
no word of complaint --
There is q marvellous amount OF
grim determination in his why, II
slight, physique, and the reserve
strength of an Unconditional DISPOSE
tion is serving him in good stead at
this time. The White House physi-
clans report the President In excel
lent physical condition as the cam
paisn approaches and make light of
the appearance of fatigue. which has
caused some comment among White
House visitors.
Not Alarmed BY Dav1a.
The Republican party managers
say that as the campaign seems to
be developing there will be little
occasion for any strenuous effort on
the part of Mr. Coolidge. From what
they have heard OF Mr.. Davis plans,
the 6. o. P. leaders feel that MIR.
Coolidge may rest on his oars- for
a large part OF the. time. They have
heard, for instance, that the Demo-
cratic nominee will make taxation
and economy in government two of
the big issues Of the campaign. The
leaders say the Republicans already
have accomplished a reduction in
taxes and have put the most rigid
economy into effect in government
Mr.. Coolidge realizes, of course, that
the Democrats will attempt to claim
full credit for the recent tax reduc-
ton because of his stand for the
Mellon plan as against the legislation
finally passed by Congress and ap-
proved by the Executive. It will re-
quire great deal of education-more
the Republicans say than is possible
in two months campaign-to en-
able the man in the street to differ
entiate between one tax plan and an
other. The important fact to the Re-
publicans is that Secretary Mellon
and President Coolidge recommended
tax reduction and tax reduction was
accomplished under the present ad-
ministration.
Stfu for Mellon Plan.
The President still believes in the
Mellon plan and is prepared to de-
fend 1t in such campaign speeches as
he will feel called upon to make.
Further, Mr.. Coolidge intends to
recommend the Mellon plan anew to
the next session of Congress, regard
less Of what the results may be at
the polls in November. - -.
The President will point to his own
record and that of President Harding
on all matters of government econo-
my. So If the Democrats are prepar-
ing to stress these issues, as the Re-
publicans now profess to believe, the
coming campaign may prove far from
exciting and colorful.
The La Follette-Wheeler organiza-
tion is expected to furnish about all
the fireworks which may be exploded
between now and election day, but II
is the Republican plan to ignore this
third ticket. That was the meaning
of Chairman Buffers statement that
the Republican campaign would be
uniform in all sections of the country.
There is to be no fight against the
as such. The Repub-
Iican scheme of campaign Is wholly
an afiimative one. The effort will be
to keep President Coolidge sold" to
the American people.
Mr.. Coolidge is quietly formulating
his speech of acceptance, to be de-
livered the evening Of August Il. He
has plenty of time and will not rush
the manuscript The President feels
that this will be his one great con-
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