Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-02-28
MR.. FORD SAYS

MR.. FORD SAYS
Everybody makes mistakes and President Coolidge
made one when he pledged himself-if indeed it a
pedge-to saddle himself with the political inheritance
that fell to him from the preceding administration II
under the stress of the emotion OF the moment and
doubtless with desire to the country that dfas
tic new broom methods would be adopted that he ex-
pressed his desire to work along the lines laid down by
President Harding and with the whom Mr. Harding
had called to his Cabinet.
But nothing is more difficult than to pledge definite
administrative action without knowledge of all the cir
cumstances that might arise. Mr.. Roosevelt, in similar
case pledged himself to carry out the policies OF William
Mckinley, but Mr. Mckinley, could he have returned to
this for casual glance about would have had the
utmost difficulty in Identifying his policies after they had
been given the Roosevetan touch Likewise Mr. Taft in
moment of gratitude to Mr. Roosevelt for fo1cby IN
Quoting him into the Presidency pledged himself to carry
the Roosevelt policies but the cartoonists were soon
picturng the Roosevelt policies being carried out as
The unexpected has occurred to President Coolidge
very early in his administration just the unexpected
occurred to Mr. Wilson, With Mr. Wilson the unexpected
continued until the end Of his second term However sue
cessfu Mr. Coolidge may be in dlsposng OF the challenge
that has arisen it may probably become an interruption
and delay little his constructive program
But when the whole situation is canvassed as
thoughtful citizens bound to canvass It, there will
clearly appear this fact large part of any Presidents
work succeeding must be the putting in order OF
badly sorganized functions With al due respect to Mr.
Harding this work not progressing favoraby read
iustmen had not gone when he laid down his office
Something aged Mr. Harding very suddenly and rapidly
Something took the smile from his face and the buoyancy
from his heart, and is not matter OF doubt that
large factor in this his growing knowledge of the
1t part of the confidence OF those who knew Mr.
Harding land perhaps it confidence that would
have been wholly justified had time been granted him)
that when he what lay before him. ne would not com
promise with evil or corruption IN any FORM He had
called certain his side whom he felt he could trust
In certain he learned that his trust cruelty abus
ed He died before he knew the full extent to which his
confidence had been misplaced, but he enough to
bow him down. Never administrator in large way,
the huge bulk of the responsible duties OF his office loom
ed before him crushing weight but has been said
on this page before he showed at least the markings of
abr Ctr9fO he
wisely did nothing. There is in which it
mercy Mr. Harding that the full extent of the failure of
his plans and of his choice of helpers yelled from him.
All this part of which may have been known to MI.
Coolidge was Inheritance for the new President to
cope with Il most unhappy inheritance, and one
which will test the spirit and the ability OF President Cool
dge to the utmost 1t imposes upon him task of such
huge proportions that is distinctly antagonstc to the
welfare of the country to hope for any whatso
ever anything less than that he shall be entirely success
full in dsposng of it. Any who for partisan reasons
wishes to hece the President in his task not worthy
of membership in any party And party reap glory
from the fact that it has made it difficult impossible
for President of the United States to fulfill his task
The nation at large well the elements of the
situation fully absove President Coolidge from any duty
he may have thought he owed to his former chiefs per-
sona assistants If he believed to be the spirit and IN
entionof Mr. Harding to do his duty let the partisan
sequences be what they might it is sufficient for the
country that Mr. Coolidge be loyal to that spirit and in
ention by making it his own That it is his own no one
doubt if it is not his administration will prove to be
not the wholesome facing OF duty which has been expect
ed of him.
This is not to Join in the and cry heads spec
tacuar methods without regard to justice constructive
results but it is to say that has suddenly become appar
that here and not in other matters is the test OF the
President The people expect him to meet that test
and to do it without the slightest reference the
appearance of reference to partisan ends consequences
President Coolidge must clean house, not only in
those instances where neglect of duty and personal
moral weakness plainly evident but elsWhere That is
not always administration which comes to the
surface Men of great shreWdness accomplish with the
minimum Of risk many things which detrimental to
the nation. The counsel of is worse than the
acts of others What able to prevent is
than what other able to do And no party
is free from them, few administrations free from
them The President of the United States has partisan
duties has oath registered in heaven with reference
to party or group of His duties are toward the
nation and his oath with reference to the nation alone
In the present instance the President must not be
swerved in any way by the actions attitudes of Con-
gress where the very nature of the partisan inter
ess may freer play is sadly true sometimes that
certain Congressional attitudes beget certain Presidential
reactions The country is looking for something better
than that from Mr. Coolidge 1t is expecting that he will
live fully in his character Chief Magistrate and let the
ephemeral things of the day die with the day
What has been wanting in Washington for long
time is chief director of the nations business 1t is
sometimes easier to succumb to the lure of manhunt
than to construct fooproof and thefproof system OF
public business The present situation is which could
very easily be handled by seeming sacrifice OF persons
the public weud probably be satisfied with that for all
too often the public does not know the real nwadness OF
H. PItp will Of