The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-14
COOLIDGE AND DAWES

party strengthened it's ticket by select ing Charles G. Dawes as its vice-presi- dential candidate. Indeed, it would not be difficult to conceive the candidates reversed with the doughty general in first position. It is difficult, however, to visualize this man of action occupy ing such an inactive role as that of the twice president. To be sure, MT. Dawes might in some manner make his impress upon the senate just as Tom Reed made his impress upon the house of representa- tiVes, so tfat the speakership became an amSocracy. This would not be likely, however, for even the energetic and re- doubtable Roosevelt failed to draw at tention to himself by the exercise of his | vice-presidential opportunities, if such there be. The vice president is little more than a referee without the referees usual authority to kep the game going along without stalling and killing time..
 MT. Coolidge has the political strength that attaches to the presidential incum- bent. The man in office has the advan- tage --over the man who is seeking to suc- ceed him. The party in power has the advanrtas.e of position over the party seekirg to displace it. All other things being equal the Democrats could easily pick a stronger man than MT. Coolidge, the citizen. Mr. Coolidge, the president, is bulwal'ked by his office. Therefore, it behooaees the Democrats to be ex- tremely wise in selecting the man to head the party ticket. Having made such selection in all wisdom and fidelity to the pal-ty's interest, the Democrats will then find much of weakness in the Republican record against which they may directstheir attack with lively hope of success.
 Inasmuch as the Republicans have just published platform, the thought at once presents Itself that no more tell ing blow could be struck by the Demo- crats than to compare the former Re- publican platform with the Republican administrative and legislative record for the past threey Aside from the in- crease in the tariff schedules, which have raised t1Je cost of living in this country, the Republicans can lay no claim to redemption of campaign pledges; for the achievement of tax re- duction is obviously not a Republican but a Democratic act The one Repub- lican who smay De credited with an out standing achievement is MT. Dawes him self, whose organization of the budget bureau stands out as a meritorious per 1 formance.
 1 When it comes to the official acts of MT. Coolidge, there is very little to of- fer, and that little of very negative sort. It is evident that no party can pursue a definite policy unless the ex- ecutive and legislative find it possible to work together in an efficient, har- mony. If MT. Coolidge has the capacity has not yet revealed that capacity. On the contrary, he has given evidence of an unfortunate gift of alienation rather than of conciliation of legislative sup port. Lawmakers are human, almost too human for the role they have to play, and the manner in which they are approached or the language in which they are. addressed is of great influence in shaping their mental and emotional reactions. Mir. Coolidge has undoubtedly on several occasions rubbed congress the wrong way when there was no necessity nor even excuse for doing so. The strong impression conveyed by the presidents various messages that he himself was in disputably right and the congress indis- putably wrong was tactless even if demonstrably the case, as it was not. Human nature will not change, and it is not likely that the presidents ways of thinking and acting will change. Therefore, the surest way to bring about a working relation between congress and president is to change presidents.
 The ticket has been strengthened by the choice of MT. Dawes, who seems in no sense to be politician, but rather a business man of unusual courage and understanding. But there are grave weaknesses in the Republican situation which no vice president could correct, and which convincingly counsel the American people to entrust national af- fairs to the opposing party.
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