The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-03
DISCUSSION
3R|NGSN0
CHANGE
writer Finds Business People
alOne Analyze Coolidge and
Mellon Plans
By WILLIAM .HARD

9
voters are taking only relatively
scanty interest in the specific ~,
sues which the candidates % dear
W love to expound.
Outside Of strictly business
circles, this writer finds few PEG.
PIE who spend any time joining
President Coolidge III passionate
analysis and admiration Of The
Mellon method 81 taxation reform.
Outside Of political meetings, this
writer hears few people joining
Mr. Davis in discussing the tariff
OF joining Mr.. La Follette Ii dis
c1ssing the trusts.
The reason for this situatlon,
this writer believes. Is 10 Be found
a the high state Of physical we'll
being which this country ct pree-
eat enjoys.
Dollar Il Worth More
Agricultural income Il going IN.
ward and industrial wage earning
lncon1s. while considerably dinin-
ieaed this year, % Ia total parchas-
ms power stu very much larger
ana higher than u was before the
war.
The average man listens to presi.
dent Coolidge saying that We shall
ne ruined by high taxation, and
ne listens to Mr.. Davis saying that
We shall be ruined by the Forduey.
McCumber Tariff Law, and he
listens to Mr.. L. Toilette saying
that We shall be ruined BY the
trusts, but these prospects seem
to him to be remote because he
himself at this passing moment ,Ioaa
not feeI ruined az ali,
On the contrary he intends To-
maintain the chewing gum business
and the tobacco business and the
iiear-beer business and the motion.
picture business and the radio buaI.
ness and the coffee business and q
host Of other such luxury bust.
nesses IN their present state "
happy affluence.
The average man, accordingly, ini
this writer's observation, cannot rs
persuaded that any specific wrong
Or evil must be picked out TO be
attacked and suppressed, and he
thereupon turns to look at the poll.
teal situation in q much broader
and more general way. Looking AZ
z IN this way, he proceeds to DO
two things.
Discusses Performances.
First he discusses the characters
and performances Of the three presi-
Dental candidates In much the
same spirit in which he discusses
base ban players and motion picture
stars. This writer hears ten times
as much talk about President
coolidge's personality and Mr..
Davis personality and La Follette's
personality as about any issue what.
sOever.
Mr.. Davis Is the least known Of
the three candidates and therefore
IN campaign so much dominated
by personal consideration 10 at q
Disadvantage: yet this writer 10
obliged every day to note how rap.
idly the average members Of the
American electorate have formed
for themselves q clear picture Of
Mr.. Davis geniality, intellectually,
and gallantry.
They think Of him as welding 4
fapier with great grace ana with
great address IN field made vary
slippery for him By circumstances
for which he was not responsible.
The quality Of his performances
under difficulties win give him
many votes from people who are
totally indifferent to his issues.
This writer notes farther that ali
the candidates can be proved wrong
"a their statements OF the facts of
various issues; and yet their al,
Snirers are not TOR one moment
ewerved from their Royalties to
them.
Thinking Of the Men.
Their admirers for the most part
are not thinking Of the facts-Ehe
details-the niceties Of issues. They
are thinking Of the men.
That President Coolidge backs IN
his demand for public Acononay ~
the practice of personal thrift does
him more good among the voters
than his demand for public econ.
amy. =
That Mr.. La Toilette, besides at
lacking the regular politicians, has
had his head battered and his nose
bloodied by the regular politicians
consistently for thirty years does
him more good than anything that
ne can say against the regular poIi-
ticians now.
Each man ID thought by his adj
mirers 70 have proved his sincerity,
and they are going to vote for him
Tor the sincerity, and they 40 not
Tor the most part care ore bit
whether he Is right or wrong Oh
any given individual special point.
This leads on to the second thing
which the average voter III new do
ing In the course or his survey ~
the political situation. He II pick
ing candidates more by their zen.
.erl attitudes toward government
than by their specific views regard.
ing specific governmental probieYrjs.
President Coolidge n correctly
8ll0ught to believe that government
NOW does enough, and that except
porhaps for . new Department %
Eegcatlon e should b general %
llothlng more.
~. Davis b correctly thought to