Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-08
PRESIDENT FACES PROBLEM.
Coolidge Enters Upon Busy Week a,
Summer Capital.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
Staff Correspondence of The Star.


STATE GAME LODGE, BLACK
HILLS, S. D., August S.-President
Coolidge today entered upon what
promises to be the busiest week he
has had since coming to the Black
Hills for his vacation. Not only are
a number of important conferences
scheduled for this period, but there
are problems confronting the Presi-
dent which must necessarily be given
time for study.
The death of Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood, governor general of the Philip
pines, which was u great shock to
President Coolidge, adds to the prob
lens before him, as 1t is believed the
President will desire to fill this highly
important post as soon as possible.
Immediately following Gen. Woods
brief visit to the Black Hills Presi-
dent Coolidge let it be known that
he was given to understand that the
generals condition was not serious
and that he expected him to return to
his post in the Philippines in the Fall
and remain there indefinitely"
Woods Successor.
Although the President felt very
hopeful Of the generals recovery and
resumption of his duties in the Phil
ippines, he is known to have given
some little thought to the matter of
a successor and now that the task
of filling this post is before him he is
not entirely empty handed. so far as
possible available material to select
from is concerned
The persistent reports that Gen.
Wood planned to retire when he Wis.,
tied the President here, but which
were denied both by the President and
Gen. Wood himself, nevertheless
brought numerous suggestions to the
Summer White House for the success
sion. Henry l.. Stimson, former Sec
rotary of War, and who several
months ago, as the representative of
the President, brought about a ces-
sation of warfare in Nicara qua, is
known to have been suggested. Other
names presented are those of former
Senator Means of Colorado, Col.
Carm1 Thompson of Ohio, who last
year made a political, economic and
social survey of the Philippines for
the President, and Fred Fisher, for
mer member of the Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
Associates of the President are in.
clined to think that he is in a better
position to appoint new governor
general to the Philippines than he
is successor to James r. Sheffield,
who has resigned as Ambassador to
Mexico.
President Coolidge had a very high
regard for the ability of Gen Wood
and liked him personally. He was
delighted with the generals recent
visit at the game lodge and he was
happy to receive from him such a
clear. unbiased and intelligent report
upon the Filipinos and the Philip
pine situation. Although the general
was helpless to walk unaided, the Pres
ident understood it to be only a tenn
porary condition. When he learned
Saturday that the general had under
gone q surgical operation in Boston
he gave instruction to keep HIM in
formed of the generals condition.
The news Of the latter's death was
communicated to him as he walked
into the breakfast re m at the lodge
yesterday.
During his visit here Gen. Wood
spoke lightly Of his physical con-
dition, referring to himself as "a
banged-up freight car that is still run.
ming on it's wheels" He was positive
that he would soon recover and would
be back in the Philippines in the Fall.
The talk about his resigning he at
trlbuted chiefly to interested Fill
pinos."
DIR. Work Expected.
Dr. Hubert Work. Secretary Of the
Interior, who has been travelling in
the West, VIII arrive at the Summer
White House tomorrow for an over
night visit, during which time he will
take up with the President the more
important matters affecting his depart
ment which are now pending. Gen.
Lord, director of the budget, who has
been going over the preliminary esti.
mates of the departments, prepare
tory to make up the national budget
which will be presented to the next
Congress, will arrive Friday.
On Wednesday President Coolidge
will make his first formal speech since
coming to the Black Hills. 1t will be
upon the occasion Of the exercises
marking the beginning of the memo.
rial to be corved into the stone of Rush
more Mountain, short distance from
tile Lodge. Gutzon Borglum has been
commissioned by the State to carve
the figures of Washington. jefferson,
Lincoln and Roosevelt into the side of
the mountain, as memorial to these
American patriots.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge at
tended church as usual yesterday at
the little church at Hermosa. The
President arose at his customarily
early hour today. but he did not leave
for his office in RAPID CITY until nearly