Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-02
COOLIDGE STARTING
4TH YEAR IN OFFICE.
Balanced Budget and Tax
Reduction Called Main
Achievements to Date.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Calvin Coolidge starts this week his
fourth year as President of the United
Ietates. The outstanding characters
yltie of his administration is a paradox
what 1t lacks in sensation has been
made up in Importance OF achieve
ments.
There is nothing so undranatic as
an economical and efficient admins
tration. Yet the spectacle OF the GOV
eminent of the United States eight
years after the war operating not only
on a balanced budget but actually alb
sorbing a surplus year after year 10
pay off national debts offers contrast
to the rest of the world. which consn-
tutes the principal accomplishment OF
the country.
Mr.. Coolidge by standing firmly be-
hind the budget system and at the
same time recommending continuous
cuts In taxation, has placed the I'M
press of his own thrift on the whole
administration in the last three years.
Public Supports Policy.
To no small extent has the President
been aided by a powerful public opin-
ion to which the Democratic members
of Congress have been as responsive
as their Republican brothers. But as
is customary in politics. the man AT
the helm of responsibility derives
credit not only from the achievements
of his own party, but from the CO.
operation given by the minority party
Next in Importance in cataioguing
the principal phases OF the Cooldge
administration in the last three years
is another thing about which the pub
lie hears little, but which counts
great deal in the efficient management
of governmental affairs. The Presi-
dent has permitted his Cabinet mem
bers a maximum Of latitude. This mas
been especially true of the Secretaries
of State, Treasury and Commerce. The
policy of settling the foreign debt ae
rapidly as possible has been SNAPPED
TO a large extent by Messrs. kellogg,
Mellon and Hoover. Each one or
these three men has in a sense made
the policy Of the Coolidge administra-
ton in his respective field. Mr.. Cool
idge has shown a disposition TO dele
gate responsibility to his Cabinet.
There are many unsolved problems,
some of which may yet prove thorn
in the political side, but there rarely
has been an administration which rep
resented so much the viewpoint or
10 different executives, each one OF
whom is really a chief executive so
far as his department is concerned
Farm Problem Important.
Agriculture has been very much in
the public eye as an unsolved con-
trovery. The difficulty Is entirely one
of economics Mr.. Coolidge and his
advisers have not yet become con.
WINGED that the corn belt school or
thought should prevail. Nevertheless
the progress of the Government in
coping with farm problems has not
been insignificant. Secretary Jardine
has developed the idea that the De.
partment of Agriculture shall use its
machinery to the utmost for the
farmer. Congress has provided credit
machinery for the financing of the
farmer and the next step unquestion-
ably will be an expansion OF existing
governmental agencies so as to assist
in the coordination OF farm groups
and organizations.
In the general field of foreign al
fairs Mr.. Coolidge has tried to play
safe. There have been no attempts
at world leadership, although the i'm.
pulse to lead has not altogether been
eradicated from the minds OF Wash
ington officials. The situation in Con-
gress has prevented Mr.. Coolidge
from taking a more active part In
disarmament and other world prob
lens. Even the entrance Of the
United States into the World Court,
which was voted by the Senate after
a long controversy. has been so en-
meshed in ambiguous reservations
that this particular policy remains
to be appraised fully, as 1t probably
will be next Autumn when the vari-
Gus nations of the world express
their opinions on the Senate reser-
vations.
Awaits Popular Verdict.
The acid test of Mr.. Coolidge's inter-
est in the World Court will then come
and it is freely predicted that when
he has received a favorable verdict
at the polls in November he will at
the same time have been encouraged
to go forward with the policy of par
ticipating In the World Court. Mr..
Coolidge does not regard the opposi
ton to the World Court as serious
political obstacle, despite the protesta-
ton of his opponents that it has
played a part in various primary cam
paigns.
The recent exposures of money
spent in the Illinois campaign, which
was heralded at the time as decisive
anti-World Court victory, have had
just the opposite effect now, because
Il is seen that many other vital infiu-
ences controlled the destinies of that
campaign.
tCopyright. 1920