Evening star., 1924-11-06
COOLIDGE SILENCE
MAY SHOW CHANGE
President, With Approval Of
Voters, Expected to Present
- Directing Leadership.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Calvin Coolidge of the campaign,
silent, cautious disciple of the po-
littcal faith which utters no superhu-
ous word or undertakes no unneces-
sary task, and Calvin Coolidge of
tomorrow, with the barrier of third
term giving him the strength to be
an independent Executive. may de-
vclopment the contrast which for
many months his closest friends have
been privately predicting.
There is no question but that the
personality of Calvin Coolidge is to
Il large extent unknown. As Governor
OF Massachusetts, he showed at times
qualities of leadership which were
not asserted in the past year here as
President of the United States, espe-
sially in dealing with Congress. The
explanation usually made was that in
political year much must be for
given which ordinarily would not be
COuntenanced.
Enough OF the Presidents attitude
toward public questions has been re-
Nealed to show that he moves along
conservative lines and that once he
takes his position he is not given to
rsverSalS or waVerinE. But in deal
ing with Congress the President has
not been particularly fortunate. His
owns leaders have not been able to
work out "A liaison tha. was satisfac-
power was held b. the La Toilette
Republicans in the two houses of Con
SresS has usually been accepted as
an excuse for " hat happened, but those
who follow the mancuvcrs of Con-
gress cannot but concede that many
of the advantages obtained by the
radicals in the last session of Con-
EresS were due to the mistakes in
tactics OF the conservative leaders
Senate Stumbling Block.
With the House in control of the
conservative Republicans, there will
tt a better opportunity for the ad-
ministration to get its legislation
through than before. In the Senate,
however, the moderate progressives
still can swing away from the admin
lstration. The Senate will prove
the stumbling block for many pieces
of Legislation which should go
through the House rather easily.
The psychological effect of the
Presidents victory will be felt all
along the line. The conservatives
will dare 10 be bolder and the radi-
calls will not have the same aggres-
siveness as heretofore
The readiness of conservative Re
puhiicanS to bolt their own tick
and support a Democrat. as they did
IN Iowa in an effort to beat Senator
Rrookhart. is almost the tandinG
feature of the whole election result
Late returns prove Brookhart the
victor, but by such narrow squeeze
that ne VIII be a Sadder and wiser
nlAn when he enters the Republican
ctoakroom. In Minnesota too the
downfall OF Magnus Johnson is sign-
meant of conservative Republican
tactics. There Il regular Republican
was nominated who was by no means
as radical as Johnson. bur who has
been Identified with the progressive
group. 1t was a case of fighting fire
with fire and though one wing Of
the Republican organizat ton didn't
Hke the nomination of Thomas D.
Sohal1. they did admit that Schall
was a safer and more reasonable
man to represent Republican voters
than was Magnus Johnson. SchalI
IL very friendly to the railway
"an he expected to support the labor
side of legislative issues
I'ut, at that, the Republicans them
serves put him up. and while he won
with the very support which ordinar-
liE would go to a La Toilette type
OF senator he was given the whole
hearted vote of the regular Repuh-
Leans. Schall. like others elected
thts time. will not he so much inclined
10 the radical or insurgent side as to
lose the support of the regular Re
publicans in his State
May Not Prove TractibIe.
Men like Schali will follow Presi-
dent Coolidge on measu that are
or national benefit. but Mr. Coolidge
VIII find Schall as we'll as others in
clined to join with the Democrats
Whenever any measure sectional in
character is proposed. Unless the
administration. for instance takes the
initiative in constructive program
for agriculture. these Western Sena-
tors will be found reviving the farm
bloc again
Mr.. Coolidge has not tried to drive
Congress. The development of new
leaders in both houses of Congress
may make that unnecessary, but it
Is no reflection on the Presidents
careful policy Of the past to saw that
Congress will ask him more and more
Tor guidance, especially in advance of
the passage of legislation. For while
technically speaking the Executive
and legislative are two separate
branches of the Government. they get
along most effectively when the
leader OF the party in the White
House speaks his mind before his
colleagues in the Senate and House
commit themselves to a course of ac
ton. There is little doubt that IL
AIR. Coolidge had sent a message
threatening to veto the soldier bonus
oil it might have had harder
sledding than 1t had when the meas
ufe came up for repassage. The
Executive also acted too late to pre-
vent Senators from lining up on the
Japanese issue
? We would stultify ourselves" said
New ngiand Senator the other
oss II We reversed our position
after veto message came to us
What we need is enlightenment
ahead of time, before we have com
mitted ourselves"
Probably nobody realizes this par
ttcular phase Of executive leadership
more keenly now than the President
himself. The effect of the election
on Calvin Coolidge may not be i'm
fRediately apparent, but the develop
ment of stronger executive may be
expected.
Copyright, 1924
M0THER | 0SES CHI nPEN