The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-28
MIR. COOLIDGE AT HOME
minneapolis JournaD

(MluuedpOIlS JOurndl)
President Coolidge could prob
ably spend fortnight Of cam
paigning in no more effective way
than simply by doing what he is
doing now - revisiting his small
town home. 1t is all very we'll for
candidates to discuss issues and
outline policies, but after all the
majority OF the votes are cast, not
for the principles, but for the man.
On a speech-making tour, and still
more against the unnatural back
ground Of the White House, can
didate is hedged about with fo:-
malities: everything combines to
lay emphasis on the difference be-
tween him and his fellows, where
as what the people really want Is
to feel that he is in truth one OF
themselves.
Wherefore the news items, and
still more the pictures, from the
little town of Plymouth, Vermont.
ere campaign documents OF extra
ordinary potency. The President
visits the maple trees where he
had often drawn pals of sap:
from those same naples he is to-
day drawing ballots. They estab-
lish a bond OF fellowship between
him and thousands OF men and
women who, even II they have
never handled sap bucket, know
that it is much more in their line
than directing the affairs OF al
great nation.
"One touch Of nature makes the
whole world kim" When does the
British public grow dithyrambic
over It's monarch? Not when he
appears in state at some lotty
ceremonial, with all the trappings
Of ancient royalty, but when he
does some quite ordinary thing
that shows there Is no essential
differences between king and
coster monger. A President is
even more inaccessible than a king
nowadays, because he has so much
more 10 do, and in Washington
President Coolidge has shown him
self peculiarly undetachable from
his official surroundings. 1t is in
Washington that he wins conf
dence through his courage and
sound judgment, but 1t Is in Yer
mont that he inspires affection.
There is a particular need for
the Coolidge of Vermont just now.
III a triangular battle. the ordi-
nary lines of party demarkation
are to some extent obliterated.
Mr.. Dawes maintains that the real
issue is between the Republicans
and the LaFollette radicals, in
vii ca he is probably right, but
lhrra ar2 some millions of voting
Democrats who certainly will not
asree With him. Under such cir
crms!ance5 the element of per-
sCna. leadership is enormously
important, The election may we'll
te decided by the votes of those
VII, finding the party issues hope
lGsslv confused, will cast their
ballots, DOT for the man they de-
sire, bu. for he man they like.
ne silence OF the President has
already become national tradi-
sion: j, is Il golden quality, no
doubt, but it does not do much to-
vera overcoming the inevitable re-
0o'eno,a o; the position he occu-
pies. just now, however, he has
o1nH orators 20 speak for him, in
rc@cnt~ winch everybody can UNI
derstand; the farm, the LIVING
#5av1 Tie maple trees, al
the familiar Incidents OF simple
... ,rr life. are bringing Mr.
's .oseY 20 the 2eopie thai.
lost imposing official utter
3, ce c4uld possibly do.
Thee things may have nothing
whatsoever to do with Mr.. Cool
idge's fitness for the Presidency.
but the eternal magic Of the word
"home" is winning for him the
popular affection which finds its
expression in votes.