Evening star., 1924-08-15
Ceremony SAVORS
little Of POLITICS
Notification Is Marked by
Dignity -. Coolidge Pro-
= nouncements Acclaimed.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

The radio and the lengthy text may
give one an impression of what
President Coolidge said in accepting
the nomination for the presidency
last night, but it was an event which
only the few hundred people who
actually witnessed it can accurately
describe
For the scene was unique, and the
ceremony itself wholly unlike any
thing in political campaigns of the
past. In fact, there was a constant
struggle to change it from the almost
formal social function that it was to
a rip-roaring political meeting. But
I ii failed. The one lone ch Her leader
who decorated himself with a big
Coolidge button and rose to his feet
frequently and waving his arms fran
tically tried to coax the audience into
demonstrations. was often the only
person on his feet.
ASSembIage Was DigniGed.
This was no sign of lack of ap
probation for President Coolidge.
For the audience stood for several
minutes and clapped hands at the
opening. and Interrupted the speech
frequently with the same kind of ap-
plause. But it was a dignified as
Semblage. 1t did not hoOt and Yell and
stamp its feet and cheer to tae point
OF huarSeneSS.
Practically the whole first floor was
filed with Federal Office holders and
their friends and they showed their
enthusiasm for the President. But
the atmosphere of political gather
ingS was not there. 1t was simply
Washington function to which most
of the dignitaries and their wives
ca me in automobiles. Outside on the
curb. where the amplifierS carried the
Presidents voice. there was more of
the scene that usually characterizes
political meetings.
Open-Air Ceremony Suggested.
There had been suggestions that
the President should have held his
notification ceremony at the foot OF
Washington Monument in the open
air. where $4,000 people might have
heard him. There probably would
have been lit need then for cheer
leaders, As the crowds would have
responded to the Presidents appeal
for common sense government
which Is TO be the slogan of his cam
paign. AS it was only relatively a hand
ful of people~were able to get the true
inspiration of the Presidents speech.
AS for the party workers, there were
not SO many of them either. The
whole thing was treated as one OF
a series of presidential addresses
ana tneTe mas Deen more enthusiasm
In the receptions given Mr.. Coo ldge
by audiences he has addressed here
in the past.
The whole, however, is characteristic
of the Coolidge campaign. 1t is not to
be boiSterouS affair Mr.. Coolidge him.
self is a quet-spoken individual who
speaks in monotone and depends
rather on the words he utters than the
method by which they are delivered. He
n t-f,s, Ill c.ln inn md -ss1J
full study of his speeches He feels that
at best a political speaker addresses
only a small part of the electorate. The
radio and the press reaches the greatest
number of voters.
Elicits Favorable Comment.
Comment on the speech on the part
of those who heard it was uniformly
favorable. 1t contained no surprises. 1t
was an evolution of Coolidge doctrine
along the lines of previous speeches
That is exactly Mr.. Coolidges strength
in the opinion of his friends. The coun-
try knows what to expect of him, but
cannot be certain what it will get from
any of the other candidates, at least at
this time, when the two other men have
not yet disclosed their programs.
Among the Democrats hereabouts-
and there are various national COM
tmitteemen and leaders here-the COM
ment on the Coolidge speech was that
it was significant for what was omit
ted. The name of Warren Harding
wasn't mentioned. The ku kluX
Klan issue was not given even the
space that was given it in the speech
of John w. Davis or the letter of
Senator La Toilette.
Insist klnn Is Issue.
In fact, one Democratic national
committeeman said he saw in the
language used by Mr.. Coolidge in one
part of his speech, about keeping
America for Americans and opposing
the influx of foreigners, an almost
exact parallel with one of the cardi-
nal principles of the Klan.'The Demo-
Gratis are filled with the klan issue
and see almost everything in it's
ger issue locally throughout the cam
paign than national leaders admit
and that before the campaign is over
the Presidents position will have to
be stated unequivocally.
The Republican managers have
every reason to be satisfied with the
Coolidge speech. 1t gives a number
of slogans for the campaign. 1t con-
tains no note of radicalism, which
would make difficult the collection of
campaign funds. 1t pleases the life
long Republicans and furnishes the
basis for an appeal to the independ-
ent voter who wants the present state
of things continued.