Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-08-04
President Coolidge
Much Happier Since
He Quit the Race

RAPID CITY, S. D. Aug. tP) =
A marked change in the general atti-
tude of President Coolidge-like one
who had "got something off his chest"
has been noticed since he made the
announcement yesterday that 81 do
not choose to run for president in
1922
Mr.. Coolidge is described by those
who are brought into closest contact
with him as a much happier man. He
is more talkative, although still far
from loquaciouS, freer in his greet
ings, and he seems to get more en-
joyment out of the little incidents of
daily life.
This change has been noticed for
several days before the statement was
issued and it is believed by many to
show that he reached his decision some
time before it was announced.
Meanwhile the surprised Coolidge
household is split asunder into two
groups which argue on the definiteness
of the pronouncement. The argument
RACES about the word Choose" used
by the president and whether he would
accept the nomination now even if it
were rendered him.
Whatever may have been in the
presidents mind, it is believed from
circumstances yesterday that he knew
exactly what he wanted to say some
time before he said it.
Between the time of the regular
Tuesday morning press conference and
the hour when he had asked the
neWSpapermen to call again for an
announcement, the president was oc-
cupied almost constantly in receiving
visitors and in taking care of routine
work of his office.
Exactly 20 minutes before the hour
when he expected to make the state
ment he called in Everett Sanders, his
secretary and handed him piece OF
white note paper on which the an
nouncement was written in pencil in
the presidents handwriting and asked
] him to have this message typewriter
on small pieces of paper. There was
/ then no opportunity of miStaking what
/ he meant to say.
/ These papers were handed by the
! president to the correspondents. Until
! 20 minutes of IL o'clock yesterday, it
i is safe to say that not another person
| had the slightest inkling of what Mr..
Coolidge intended to announce. How
long ago he reached his decision is not
known In his only discussion OF the
statement with private individual,
i it is known that the president merely
added that he gave out the announce
ment yesterday because it was the
fourth anniversary of his taking office
on the death of Mr. Harding.
Obviously enjoying the consterna-
+;o1o +I,o anToO1JY0onY11nT1t has created the
president has given no indication that
he will say anything more about it in
way of explanation.
It is the opinion of some who hove
been associated with him for many
years, that Mr.. Coolidge's statement
means without doubt that he will not
run even if rendered the nomination.
It is further argued by these men,
who it must be said have been as
sociated with the president long
enough to know him about as init
nately as any man knows him, that he
did not use the words twill not'' be-
cause it might have been preSumptive
on his part to assume he would be the
logical candidate.
The other school of thought which
includes men just as close to the presl-
dent-men also from Massachusetts
and more significantly his close friend
and political manager, William M
Butler, is Just as convinced that Mr..
Coolidge would accept the nomination
if rendered him, although he Will not
make race for it.
: These persons argue that the words
"do not choose" were selected with
care and leave the way open to the
president to accept the nomination
They feel that the statement does not
show that he is satisfied and willing
to retire at the end of his term and il
any other course is to be taken, II
must be at the explicit bequeSt OF the
people.
In the summer White House itself
there is no discussion whatever as tC
between the president and Mrs. Cool
idge or their guests OF the statement
Last night a few hours after he nae
made the announcement, the preslden
had Governor w. j. BulOW, the demo
cratic executive of this state, and Mrs
Bulow as dinner guests at the lodge
Neither Governor BuloW nor his Wlt'
had heard of the announcement befor'
they went to the summer White HouS'
and it remained for them to find ou
about it when they returned home lat
in the evening and saw for the frs
time the afternoon papers.
indicative of the apparent relief MI
Coolidge feels in getting the announce
ment off his chest is the information
that he surprised even Mrs. Coolidg
last night by the hearty manner il
which he laughed while witnessing
comic moving picture at the gam
Ir lodge. 1t is unusual for the presiden
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