Evening star., 1925-03-15
BY THOMAS II. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President of the Unites
states.

The average individual is fascinat-
ed by that which he does not under
stand. He likes intrigue. stratagem,
mystery = anything that perplexes
In this fact is to be found the popu-
larity of puzzle pictures now printed
In every newspaper. 1t explains why
every one is chewing the ends OF pen
ellis, consulting dictionaries. scratch
ing their heads. Here is something
we do not understand. is the uni
versal, If unconscious comment. Here's
something we are for. 1t enables us
to while away our hours pleasantly
1t furnishes diversion. A bibulous
lawyer at a pre-prohibition banquet
voiced some such thought when he de-
Glared that the crowning glory of the
practice of the law was its delight
full, devilish, darned uncertainty. He
touched, / thought at the time, one
of the great moving impulses OF the
American people. -.-...
Explanation of the attitude of the
people Of the United States toward
President Coolidge perhaps may be
found in the suggestion / have Just
made. Everywhere one goes ne hears
from all scrts Of people what / feel
we always should hear--kind words
for the President. Personally, i am
not interested In the discussion
whether he is the old Coolidge or
whether he is new Coolidge. AL
ways he has been kind and gracious
TO me. | do not like his politics, but
| do like the man. ! believe I should
continue to like him even though he
became garruious. But the fact that
discussion exists as to whether he is
the old Coolidge or new Coolidge
is interesting to me, as 1t reveals a
perplexity in the minds Of the people
The President, il seems, IL a mystery
TO those who are in the habit of tell
Ing all about everything all the time
/. Various reasons are advanced for
MIR. Coolidge's success, particularly
for his hold on the people which ed-
mittedly is very strong. Good will
for him is universal. Some assign as
the cause his intellectual attachments;
others, his political acumen; still
others, his sympathetic grasp of
problems. Again L have heard that
the Presidents common sense was
his dominant trait, while not a few
have emphasized his industry and
honesty as fundamentals of his char
acter which have won for him sue.
cess and popular. favor. In any event
the Coolidge popularity has in II
something of mystery. No single con.
elusive Reason for 1t has been gener.
ally accepted. The question has been
Z IN
been numerous and not particularly
satisfying.
1t is related that Mr. Coolidge
himself, was asked by some Of his
intimates how he accounted for his
success. 1t was at one of his class
reunions at Amherst when he was
Vice President. With that freedom
which men exercise at college re-
unions his classmates reminded him
that he had not been more brilliant
as student than the rest of them
How had he risen to the high office
Of Vice President. they wished to
know. His answer, somewhat non
commtttal. is said to have been IT
must be due to Dame Fortune"
But that does not EXPLAIN one as
soCiate interposed. What did you
do to Dame Fortune?" When the
laugh had subsidized, Mr.. Coolidge re-
piled. soberly enough, Well. maybe
| nudged her a little"
Undoubtedly one of the reasons
for the good Will Of the people is
their well founded belief that Mr.
Coolidge is an honest man and that
he is sincerely determined to be as
economical in public service as he
is in private life. His private econ
omy. as background for his de-
mand for economy in public ex-
penditures. serves as a splendid ex-
ample. This private economy. ii is
related, once deprived Representa-
tive Allen 7. Treadway of Massa-
chusetts of one of the Presidents
latest photographs. With Mrs. Tread
way, the Congressman had called on
the Coolidges in Vermont Mrs
Coolidge had graciously bestowed on
Mrs. Treadway a photograph she had
ardently admired, whereupon Mr..
Treadway told the President he
would prize very much one of his
photographs. "It seems to me | gave
you my picture some time ago."
countered Mr.. Coolidge. "Yes, you
did" acknowledged Treadway. but
that was when you were Vice Presi-
dent" We'll, Allen" drawled the
President, I'm wearing the same face
yet"
Part of the mystiication over Mr.
Coolidge Is due to the fact that he
is product of practical politics
a finished product, withal. AS COM
mented on by himself, his only sport
has been running for Office. He al
ways has kept in touch with the or
EaniZation of his psrty-slways been
regarded regular party man.
No wonder some of his acts as Presi-
dent have alarmed the politicians and