The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-28
SIC MP LEAVES
FOR Il. OR|DA
To REST
Farewell Dinner Given Him.
Notables AttendSander
to Assume Duties


ice in the White House as secretary
to the President. q. Bascon slemp
was given farewell dinner last
night by the President and Mrs.
Coolidge.
At midnight Mr.. slemp left
Washington for Olympia, Fla,
where he will be the guest for two
weeks of Colonel Frank Murphy,
before taking up the practice of
law in this city
There were no speeches ut the
dinner, but around the White House
table were gathered q company OF
those who well knew the character
Of the services that had been rem
dered to the President oY the re-
firing secretary, and who expressed
their appreciation Of them.
Among those who attended the
dinner were Secretary Of War
Weeks, Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover, Speaker GilIett, Senator
Hale OF Maine, Congressman Long
worth Of Ohio and Madden of IL
linois, Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue Blair. Commissions Burke.
Of the Bureau Of Indian Affairs:
former Senator Sutherland Of
w est NlE&ln1At I1GlAEG u ~ sAAtNtssA
son, Of Richmond, and g Logan
Payne
IN Office at Trying Time.
The career Of g. Bascom Slemp,
secretary to the President, has been
one or the most efficiently managed
n recent White House history, ac-
cordiag to the verdict Of political OBJ
servers III Washington
Mr.. slemp took office ct a trying
perfod. President Coolidge had just
succeeded to his office by reason Of
flle death 81 President Harding, and
numerous fractional troubles within
the Republican party broke out
1T was Mr.. Slemp's duty to smooth
out these iIlter-party differences ana
r. nave the way for the President, =
nomination at the Cleveland conysils
fion last June, During the pre-
Convention period, Mr.. SIemp was
tl,a tr1rsfed counsellor and politlcal
adviser to the President He was
esneciallv effective in making the
Southern delegations a unit ~ sup
1,ortine the President at the ma
fional convention.
rlla personality Of Slemp proved
ii ha inst the very element needed
IN bringing together all the ele-
ments of the Republican party
IS support OF Coolidge. The
only element which did not como
r. fhe support Of the President was
the La Toilette, or radical bloc
which organized 81 third party
movement and cut loose from its
naoorfngs IN the Republican organl-
zation. Outside Of this faction, the
nomination OF Mr. Coolidge at
Cleveland was by acclamat1on
AS a White House executive, Mr..
Slemp's methods were marked
departure from those Of other secre-
taries. He dispatched his work 80
quickly that he never appeared TO
be hurried; his desk was always
clean and he never allowed routine
to pile up on him. No matter now
many callers appeared at his OIL
ces, he always managed TO find
room for all Of them and TO see
their legitimate plans were properly
taken care of.
He Liked The Work.
II was characteristic of Slemp
methods that when he left his
office yesterday he was able to say
that he found it not only the most
attractive place in the Government
service but a comparatively easy
job. He frankly said that it made
no great demands on either his
time or his energy and he expressed
surprise that other men had found
it burdensonle.
In the same way he explained
that President Collidge,. so far from
being worn or weighted down bJ
the stress of his duties, was u
better health than when he entered
the White House; that he dispatched
his work in such a way as to fine
time for adequate recreation ans
to care. for his health.
Mr.. Siemp always was careful Il
have the Presidents work at thu
Executives offices entirely completed
at / p. M. leaving the afternoon
, open to him for recreation and slicf
additional conferences as he chose
to hold.
Leaves Good Record.
Officers at the White House de
clare Slemp has never been sur
passed as an executive in his office
He had a rare combination of tao
and executive ability and left 6
record at the White House which
will always be remembered by those
who were in contact with him. =
The White House staff bade Mr.
9Ianp farewell vnaferda and ono NJ