Evening star., 1924-08-28


man sincere at all events-whether
right or wrong-that is what the
editors are saying of Calvin Cool
idge's speech accepting the Repub-
lican nomination for President His
quiet explanation Of principles cli-
making in an appeal for a govern
ment of common sense" in the words
of the Altoona Mirror UEdiana)
lacks the literary graces which dis
Davis in accepting the Democratic
nomination" but "lt is a plain-some-
time painfully plain-statement OF a
plain mans ideas"
Democratic critics base their. main
attack on the corruption uncovered
in official circles during the Repub-
lican administration. The Atlanta
Contitution (DemocraO, for instance,
charges that the President says he
stands for honesty in government,
but not in the history Of this Ma
ton has an administration stood so
universally convicted Of dishonesty
as the party OF which he is the head"
1t adds that Calvin Coolidge, the
man. stands for honesty. and no one
questions it: but the record Of the
Republican administration Is too vul-
nerable for argument" None Of the
papers suppose Coolidge was actually
connected with the malfeasance, but,
as the Roanoke World News (Dem-
ocratic) puts it. 1.-The charge Is that
the Republican administration per-
mttted corruption to creep in, that
Harding and Coolidge had the first
corruption and did little or nothing
to begin a housecleaning"
r X Il
iSG cd
ident met the issue in his speech. the
San Francisco News independent)
maintains that the most amazing
thing in the speech is the calm, cool
manner in which the President dis
poses of the oil and other scandals" j."
And further, says the st. Louis Post
Dispatch independently, there is
nothing in Mr.. Coolidge's speech Of
acceptance to indicate that ne has
been shocked or even disturbed by
what has happened in Washington
the last four years" The Fort Worth
Star-Telegram independent Demo-
cratic) is not surprised. it comments,
considering his party's record III
power. that there should run through
out President Coolidges speech Of ac-
, ceptance one constrained note of
weary defense. we have done the
| best we knew how"
On the other hand, there are many
who think too much stress is being
laid upon the guilt of the few in the
administration. Their comment is well
summed up by the Providence Jour
nal independent Republican,. which
declares that none would deny that
greedy and grating citizens can be
found in any party-but that is no
reason for the hysteria and dispro-
portion of Mr.. Davis charges Of
! wickedness at the National Capital"
The New York HeraldTribune Gre
publican) characteriZes Mr.. Coolidge's 8
treatment Of the issue Of dishonesty
in government as candid, insisting
that he reiterates his purpose Ito use
every possible effort to resist corrup-
tion in office"-not by delivering g
speeches, but by Furnishing the guilty.
Perhaps. the Ohio State Journal Gre
publican) admits, ''Some will say that
he ought to have said more. de-
nounced the faithless officials by
name, flashed out against them in
fiery indignation, but the critics do
not make just allowances for the ex-
treme delicacy Of the position in
which he found himself" 1t argues
further that the unfaithful servants
were not of his selection and the
kindly man who had selected them,
directly or indirectly, was dead, and
that, moreover, it is not in President
Coolidge's nature to be fiery and de-
nunciatory."
Striking at the next largest point
of public interest, the Rochester
Herald independent Democratic}
SCOTS at the Presidents implication
that the reason We have not entered
into the League Of Nations is be-
surrender our independence" remark
ing that "he deliberately ignores the
fact that no nation which has Joined
the league has surrendered its inde-
pendence." but only 'its right to make
war" His method of unofficial par
ticipation in European conferences,
the Rochester Times Union Gnde-
pendent Democratic) believes. does
indeed avoid entanglements, since 1t
does not officially commit the Gov
ernment Yet" it continues, "ft is
fair to ask whether we are making
sufficient progress toward establish
ing more satisfactory international
relations and preventing another
great war"
The Republican answer may be
summed up in the following from the
Pittsburgh Gazette Times Repub-
lican): Advocates of peace can find
nowhere better statement OF the
rightful position of the United States
than Mr.. Coolidge presents in defining
his own attitude on foreign relations.
He believes in the Constitution. He
favors the Permanent Court and the
further Limitation of armamentS. He
is opposed to aggressive war. He Will
keep out of political entanElementS
abroad, but will assist in every pos
sible way in restoring Europe, as has
been his policy and practice, with re-
suits most gratifying to mankind. At
the appropriate time he will invite