Evening star., 1925-08-04
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

SwAMPSCOTT, Mass. August 4
Calvin Coolidge outwardly has
changed very little in two years, even
70 the intimate friends who have
known him for many years. But they
all are agreed that the cares and
responsibility of office have weished
heavily upon him and that he has
developed into an even more serious
personality than before. with a
broadsE view OF human problems and
. deeper appreciation of his own re-
lationship TO them.
The presidential office always af-
fects the men who occupy it. They
sometimes are unconscious of its day
by-day influence. but they are ready
to admit it is one thins 70 tackle
public questions from the outside and
quite another to make decisions when
on the inside.
The information given a President
from confidential sources is so vo-
luminous at times that II is per-
picking to arrive al solution which
the outside world will understand
Mr.. Coolidge has found foreign af-
fairs especially of absorbing interest.
student by nature. he has had be-
fore him an accumula ton of reports
and memoranda which have educated
him TO a view of public questions
which he could not possibly have had
before in public life.
Relies on Cabinet.
But the outsta nding characteristic
of Mr.. Coolidce's first two years of
work. so far as method of admins
tration is concerned. has been his re-
lance on the members of his ca abinet
They are more TO him thar they have
been TO any President in recent years.
They WELD tremendous power Very
few general conferences OF the cabi-
net have been held Almost every
decision of policy affecting depart
ment Of the Government has been
made as result of the consultation
by the President with one or possibly
two members Of his cabinet who are
familiar with the subject in hand.
There is no question that the heads
Of the departments feel sense OF
satisfaction over this method of ad-
ministration. The subordinates in the
departments know that if n recon-
mendation wins the approval of the
head of the department IL is most
likely to be approved by the President
and become a national policy.
Mr.. Coolidge has kept in remarka bly,
close touch with the workings of the
Government, and while he has gone
along with his cabinet officers on
learn Of document returned with his
disapproval and with reasons given.
The President takes advice readily.
but he does not swallow all Of il.
Insists on Respect.
One thing that Mr.. Coolidge has
insisted upon is a proper respect for
the presidential Office. He has not
encouraged familiarities in his friend
ships, even though he has endeavored
to be cordial. He keeps a large sized
American flag on a standard At the
side of his desk in the White House
and he has a. similar flag al his desk
here at his Summer residence. Some
one was passing the grounds Of the
Executive Mansion in Washington not
many months ago and the President
happened to be near the gate.
Hello, Cal. god morning., was
the tourists greeting. The President
answered with q frigid good morn
ing" that must have left the visitor
wondering If he hadn't overstepped the
bounds. On the stump. Mr.. Coolidge
might have made laughing response.
In the White House he would feel
differently. He has the same pune
tilious regard for the Office of other
officials. There's story which Illus
trates this clearly.
The dignity of the Office OF Governor