Evening star., 1925-01-15

Slemp, thinks he Is one OF the ablest
lieutenants a President could have
and is sorry to see him go. He could
have stayed on Indefinitely, far as
Calvin Coolidge is concerned.
But Mr.. Slemp is an executive, an
administrator, an active man with
talents sufficient to run an executive
department. Reputed to be more than
a millionaire, he has made a success
of private business AS for politics,
he engineered Mr.. Coolidge's pre-
convention campaign, lined up the
delegates from the Southern States
particularly, and had a good deal to
say about policies and pronounce
ments during the campaign itself
His revolt against some OF the in.
discretions of william NJ Butler in
handling the "Old Guard at the Re-
publican national convention, how
ever, was the beginning of the end.
SIemp "Played Ball.
Mr. Slemp had to repress his feelings
and play ball. He did. Outwardly
there was harmony. Behind the
scenes there was not. And when Mr..
Coolidge was elected. he had reason
Ia be grateful for the advice of Mr..
Slemp And then came rumors that
Mr.. Slemp was about to retire. Pub
lished reports had 1t that he hoped
for a cabinet portfolio. Mr. Slemp
said nothing publicly.
Mr.. Slemp didn't get the cabinet
post and he doesn't blame Mr.. Cool
idge either, for circumstances more or
less beyond the control OF his chief
are said to have prevented the pro-
motion. There Is a possibility that
In a year or so Mr.. Slemp will be
rdad W hinet nlace
Speaking of promotion" there have
been men who regarded the position
of private secretary to the President
as of infinitely more Importance than
a cabinet portfolio. In the latter a
view OF only one department is OBJ
tained and a Secretary is hedged in
by assistant secretaries and lots of
red tape. At the White House a pri-
vate secretary deals for the President
with all executive departments as
well as Congress. 1t has been re-
garded by some private secretaries as
vastly more interesting and even
more influential than a cabinet job.
The private secretary can have the
ear OF the President and influence his
course. He really is an assistant
President.
New Asked to Stay.
Mr.. Slemp is said to have wanted
to be Postmaster General. The po-
litical aides OF Presidents in the past
have gone to that department. George
B. Cortelyou, chairman of the Repub-
lican national committee at one time,
went there. Frank Hitchcock, another
Republican chairman, was named
Postmaster General, and Will Hays.
Republican chairman in 1920, was the
most recent appointee to the same
portfolio.
Harry New, Postmaster General by
appointment of President Harding,
was at one time Republican ma
tional chairman. He has not yet an
nounced whether he intends to stay
on, though, after Tuesdays cabinet
meeting this week, Mr.. Coolidge asked
him to remain. The story is that
when that die was cast Mr.. Slemp's
chances to be Postmaster General at
this time vanished. He left that day
for New York on business, and while
there news of his impending resigna-
tion leaked out. 1t was officially con-
f1rmed today.
Just what impelled Mr. Coolidge to
ask Mr.. New to stay is not yet clear,
for 1t is known that apart from the
case Of Mr.. Slemp there were others
whose names had been brought for
ward for the possible vacancy. The
impression has been general that Mr..
New sought to retire to private life
for personal reasons. There is said
to be some internal politics in the
Post Office Department which led the
President to insist upon Mr.. News
staying in office, but 1t would not be
surprising If this was only a tenn
porary affair.
Sanders Is Indorsed.
Representative Sanders is heartily
commended by Mr.. S emp, who re-
CARDS him as one of the ablest men
for the job, particularly because OF
the wide acquaintance of the Indiana
member of Congress with his COL
leagues in both houses.
Mr.. Sanders was well enough re-
garded to be mentioned for the vice
presidency at the last Cleveland con-
vention, but was vetoed by Senator
James Watson, whose name was
being brought forward at the same
time.
Outwardly, the scene is calm and
there is no political upheaval. But
behind the scenes the pressure for
political appointment is high, as
usual in the days preceding inaugu-
ration. The politicians who want the
jobs say the incumbents have held
on long enough and that other de-
serving Republicans ought to have
g. chance. And Mr.. Coolidge, who
recognizes party service as worthy of
reward, is having a perplexing time
meeting the demands of the men who
may, in 1928, decide the question of
another presidential nomination for
him.