Evening star., 1925-03-04

half, the Office of Vice President Of
The United States today was filled by
a 5s-year-old American of strangely
complex capacity-Charles @. Dawes
or Evanston, Ill.
Tender as philanthrop!st
and musician, hard-fisted as a table
pounding orator of sensational dra-
matte power and sharp witted as an
exponent of the "brass-tacks'' method
of American achievement. Dawes Is
virtually a human paradox. He can't
be pigeon -holed.
The general is reused to righteous
wrath by sham. pretense and pa
rade," He hates fuss and feathers"
he cares not for the limelight for
himself personally, yet he has delib-
erately resorted to the most spectac-
ular of devices at times to catch the
public eye and ear in behalf OF causes
championed with the fiery enthusiasm
of a crusader.
Dered Many Powers.
He has waved brooms and shaken
his finger in the face of the Presi-
dent and cabinet in sensational fash
lon as director Of the budget; he has
stormed about a committee room of
congress uttering with explosive ex-
postulation his now-famous epithet,
He'll and Maria" while bitterly criti-
c1sing a congressional investigating
committe for its attitude, toward
those who had won the war Yet his
mind has been pointed in the direc-
tlon OF progressive conservatism. He
has championed the Constitution.
hung down the gantIet to all reds
and pinks," and, most important Of
All, as head of the so-cared Dawes
committee of experts pointed the way
10 economic restoration of Europe.
Dawes might be characterized as a
spectacular conservative, and tho
country now awaits eagerly to see
now he will behave as president of
that precedent-bound and conserva-
tive body OF deliberation-the United
States Senate.
AS an apostle OF direct results"
the new Vice President comes fresh
from a long line o. achievements into
the presiding officers chair of par
ilamentary body long noted for it's
ability to protract the issue, should
1t desire. Solution to the pertinent
question, What will happen?" rests
with the future only.
Onice Vacant Since 1928.
The vice presidency filed today be-
came vacant upon the death of Presi-
dent Harding, August 2, 1929, and a,c-
cesslon to the presidency early the
next morning of Calvin Coolidge
Vice President .-- -
Gen. Dawes (who won his soldiers
stars by rising precipitously out OF civil
Ian life to the exalted post Of member
of the military board for supply of the
allied armies in Europe), Is one around
whom his public loves to gather char
acteristic anecdotes, to tell the IMAM
ner OF the man." .-.--,.-
Among the freshest of these anec-
dotes, which came to light within the
past rev days, Is one revealing typicalfy
the generals disgust at formality.
II is related that when he was direc-
tor OF the Bureau of the Budget there
was a certain colored functionary about
the place whose delight was in bowins
and scraping to his superiors, obseoui-
ousiy opening and shutting doors, and
ooing many pleasing personal services.
Opens His Own Doors.
The generals informal soul stood il
as long as possible Then, one day. as
the colored functionary jumped to swing
open the door with great dignity before
the director of the Bureau Of the
Budget. Dawes is reported to have said
brusquely:
Cut that out, I can open my own
doors"
Yet, with all his abruptness, which at
times had been characterized by those
who feared him as a ard-boiled" at
htude, Gen. Dawes Is said by those who
worked with him long and faithfully in
the Government service always to have
oeen kind and considerate to his tmne-
diate official family.
Did some minor bureau chief dare
10 oppose openly, however, the ex-
pressed desire Of the President that
economy be instituted and that per
sonal and bureau ambitions be swept
away for the new and shining ideal OF
a businesslike budget for Uncle Sam,
Gen. Dawes could roar and storm.
Brought Big Men Down.
Il have seen some of the biggest
men in the Government service come
out Of their Offices almost with tears
in their eyes," said one who was with
him in those days. But the budget
was established, and the precedents
OF years were overthrown in favor Of
economy.
By wav Of contrast to this man OF
the Nations and the worlds affairs,
who helped set in order, not only the
finances of his own country, but of
war-ridden Europe, is the loving
father, and accomplished musician,
who in his magnificent home at Evans
ton, finds delight in entertaining
groups of his friends at musical.
Often he invites in about 200, his in
Inmates say. and entertains with the
orchestra from the Chicago Grand
Opera Company. and some of that
company's artists. Perhaps the gen.
eral participates in the music by play.
ing either the flute or the piano, on
each of which he is said to be pro-
fictent =.
Jibed by some Of his self-styled
practical friends concerning his musf-
cal Temperament" Gen. Dawes is re-
ported to have put the soft pedal
on the musical side of his nature. so
far as the public is concerned, for
fear that some may get the false no
ton he Is not manly, or addicted to
pink teas" But his musical reputa-
tion will not down. Fritz Kreisler,
the violinist, has been largely respon-
sible for forcing to the front a COM
position by Gen. Dawes, which was
published in the first instance. not by
the general himself, but by friend
in whom he confided.
Ovation for Musical Competition.
Within the past month here in the
National Capital public demonstra-
tion to the popularity of Dawes and
K~Sisler was rendered at an afternoon
recital of the violinist when he played
the generals Melody" Applause
amounting almost to an ovation
greeted the number, and Kreisler was
obliged to respond by repeating his
interpretation. The official program
of that occasion has this interesting
sidelight on the Melody:
Several years a.-o Mr.. Kreisler dis
covered the charm of this little mel
ody by the Vice President-eiect. Mr..
Dawes career Is far from the usual
one allotted to composers. He has
been a lawyer and financier, and has
held all sorts of political positions.
While in the overseas Army of the