The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
WHY MIR. LOWDEN DECLINES

| comes 1ormally to OrQer Coday III CleVe- land, Ohio, at eleven o'clock. It is not momentous occasion, for much of it's result has already been confidently fore cast. There appears no doubt of MT. Coolidge's nomination, so there remain only two principal tasks. One is the formulation of platform, and the other is selection of a candidate for the vice presidency. To judge the future by the past, the formulation of Republican platform is mere gesture. Platforms are customary; therefore the Republic ans, being conventional in all things, al- ways prepare platform. But plat forms are hard to live up to; therefore, the Republicans, being easy-going, do not live up to them. Never was mani fested more conspicuous example of party disregard for it's formal program than during the recent administration, the legislative role of which has almost been played out, and which contained few of the lines in the original piece. Some of thea platform pledges have been carried out, but they have been in spite of and not because of the Republicans.
 The selection of a candidate for the vice presidency has become complicated somewhat by the refusal of MT. Lowden to accept the distinction that seemed about to be accorded him. It is not sur prising that MT. Lowden should decline the nomination, for, though a regular party man, he could hardly be in sym pathy with the record the party has made and which the success of MT. Coolidge at the polls would probably perpetuate. MT. Lowden, having had opportunity to view the party record in detached per spective, is perhaps not sanguine over the prospects of a reform if the same crew goes back into power. In the po- sition of vice president he would be un- able to exercise any influence of a con- structive nature, for the tradition of vice-presidential ineptitude is too strong to be broken through in any one admin istration.
 But the most curious feature of MT. Lowden's statement declining the honor is the reason he gives: "Since my re- tirement from public office three years ago, I have become deeply interested in many farmer organizations. As a re- suit of my own experience in farming, I am convinced that agriculture must be organized if it is to go forward success fully in this modern organized world. am giving a great deal of my time to these various organizations, and if 1 con- tinue to do so, I am assured by those most competent to speak that shall be rendering a real service to the agricul- tural interests of the country and there fore to the country as a whole" If these words be taken at their face value, and certainly it is pleasanter so to take them, there is laid down the remarkable premise that man of high ability finds it possible to do his country greater service by staying out of public office than by accepting such office.
 Besides, MT, Lowden strikes one and the same blow also at those legislative nostrums falsely designed to cure ag- ricultural ills and on which the Repub- licans will partially rely to make their appeal to the farm vote. MT. Lowden, however, expresses a principle that those best acquainted with the farmers prob lem have long understood and enun- ciated. The remedy lies with the farmer just as the ills are the product of his own failure to seize his opportunities. All other industries and businesses are organized and in measure cooperative. Farming, our largest single business and industry, has been neither organized nor cooperative. But the business is rapidly becoming organized and cooperative, largely through the guidance and sa- gacity of just such successful business men as MT. Lowden.
 The farm bloc"in congress might leg islate from now until 'Doomsday, and the farmer would still be carrying his load of trouble unrelieved. But men who stay out among the farmers, give them experienced business counsel and attack their problems on the ground, will in ten years bring the industry from it's present precaridHs footing onto the solid ground of permanent prosperity, such as is enjoyed by all other industries. MT. Lowden, if he sticks to his decision, has undoubtedly done the nation greater service than would be possible for him even to support if he. were vice presi- dent. Besides, perhaps MT. Lowden realizes that the Republican party's rec ord would allow him small basis of ap- peal to the votes of those among whom he has for three years been laboring. The country air has cured him of his politics.
 SUMMER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE Unusually large attendance is reported hV several of the summer schools con-