Evening star., 1925-03-20
MURMURS FOLLOW
COOLIDGE CHOICE
DisapprovaI Of Personal
Friend in Cabinet Echo OF
Former Administrations.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The rnurmurs OF disapproval when
here and there are heard in political
quarters to the effect that President
| Coolidge has again chosen. friend
and A New Englander for the cablnet
are exactly in line with what has neen
heard in other administrations.
First there was the Rough Rider
bloc" In the Roosevelt administration.
Then President Wilson began the
Trenton, Princeton and New Jersey
bloc" in making appointments. Presl-
dent Harding was criticized Tor the
selection of men from Marion and
other points in Ohio, his native state.
Coolidge in Qunndary.
Mr.. Coolidge was perplexed in MAX
Ing an appointment to the Attorney
General.hip 10 succeed Harry Daugh-
srtv. He knew Harlan F. Stone from
Amherst aays. He felt he could rely
on him absolutely. when the time
came to nArna a man to the supreme
Court Of the United states. ne turned
to his personal friend again. Mr..
stone had had no record IN pon.Ics,
but Mr.. Coolidge felt ne was equipped
for ths bsner
when the Senate turned down the
nomination df Mr. Warren of Michi-
gan. the President zen back to his
New England trisnds again and chose
Mr.. Sargent ~ Vermont
Now the politicians Are saying there
we're other great lawyers available
in other sections 81 the country whom
Mr.. Coolidge could have chosen and
, kept party spirit alive. Politicians
don't like to see cabinet places go to
| persensi friends OF the Executive
when they think they have done so
much to win his nomination, IL not
| his election.
All In same Plight.
| The plight Of the Pre- esident in this
| instance Is exactly IKE that of other
| Presidents. They have been urged TO
! recognize party service. but they
| have been compelled again and again
| 10 turn TO men whom they knew
personally. MIR. Coolidge thought he
! was recognising party service in Sc
Letting Mr.. warren. But he was com
1 pelled TO make personal choice
| after all
Few Presidents know OF their own
knowledge the abilities OF public men
availablk for appointment 10 the cab
met. They have 10 take the word OF
! others That's VIII they like TO pick
| men they have known. Mr.. wilson
! circle was narrowed to his Princeton
! friends as is that of Mr., Coolidge 20
his Amherst FRIENDS. From such
| friends a peculiar loyalty is exscted
ahtirsiy apart from political support
| It Is not confined to parties. Just the
! othsr day Mr.. Coolidge Appointed AL
! trkd r. Dennis. a Princeton graduate
| but an old friend who taught In
Northampton In the days when Calvin
! Coolidge was unknown. They became
| friends then The Tariff Commission
/ needed a Democrat. That's how Mr.
Dennis came TO be chosen.
Harains Names Demserat.
| Thk lsts President Harding picked
/ for controller of the currency. ID. h
| Crissinger OF Marion. Ohio, although
/ he had always been a Democrat. One
or ths hitterest disappointment In the
| life OF President Wilson was the
| failure OF the Senate to conhrn
| Thomas .. Jones OF CHICAGO. a
| Princeton colleague and intimate
| friend, to be chairman OF the Federal
| Reserve Board. There was no question
/ of fitness involved. but Senator Reed
/ OF Missouri, Democrat. made the
! same night then, more or less, that he
| made AGAINST Mr.. Warren. He claim
| ed Mr.. Jones' connections with the
| so called harvester trust disqualified
hin. and the Senate did not back up
| Mr.. Wilson. although he had a work
/ ing majority. 49,,
| Personal loyalty or political service
t-which? That's the question avery
| President faces. And Calvin Coolidse
/ is going the way OF his predecessors
! picking the men he can personally
| vouch for in every particular.
tCopSrisht. 1881