Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-03
Intended to Be
Final, View at
Black Hills.
TERM CHOSEN
AFTER STUDY
Coolidge Declines
to Amplify Brief
Statement.
BY ]. RUSSELL YOUNG,
staff { ,suOndeut of The Star.

>
terday that he does not choose to
run for President in 1923, it was his
sincere purpose to remove himself
definitely from consideration for an
other term in the White House.
Whether the phraseology of his
electrifying announcement calls for
different Interpretation being placed
upon his declaration, the fact re-
mains that President Coolidge has
made up his mind not to accept an
other nomination and that he hoped
his statement of this determination
would be accepted in that way.
Belief of Associate.
This is the positive belief of one
of the Presidents associates, who
has been closely identified with his
political fortunes for many years and
who is known to have been taken
into the Presidents confidence con-
siderably in advance of the an
nouncement In fact, the writer has
reason to believe that this intimate
was consulted. at least to some ex-
tent, by Mr.. Coolidge before pub
licly setting forth his attitude to-
ward another term.
1t is admitted that the Presidents
use Of the word Choose" in his state
ment undoubtedly will call for much
speculation as to his real purpose In
the matter. Moreover, there will be
those who will signal out the use of
the word Choose" as a direct eva
sion. Also there will be those who
will interpret the Coolidge mode of
expressing himself as meaning that he
is not finally barring the door to the
presidential political arena behind
him-that his phraseology Is ambigu-
Gus, and that his statement is merely
an indication that the President is
not an aggressive candidate.
On the other hand. there will be
those who in their speculations will
accept the Presidents publication of
his attitude in the sincere manner in
which it was intended, but who will
be inclined to think that despite his
own desires in the matter ne will
respond at the eleventh hour to the
popular call for him to become the
party's standard bearer.
Given In Good Faith.
OF course, there will be all sorts Of
other points raised during the debate
which has arisen so closely upon the
heels of this surprising news from
the Presidents vacation spot.
Nevertheless, the Presidents an
nouncement of his attitude, no matter
how equivical or debatable it may ap-
pear to many, was given in absolutely
good faith and was intended to be
final. And those who have been close
ly associated with Mr.. Coolidge and
who are familiar with his traits of
character are satisfied In their own
minds that this is final and that under
no circumstances will he change his
mind.
There is every reason to believe that
the President will remain resolute, and
will refuse to be moved in his decision.
He will turn deaf ear to appeals and
urgings from personal friends and
party leaders to reconsider later and
permit his name to be placed before
the next Republican convention.
Aside from all this speculation and
debating and political calculating there
are few who can admit honestly that
they anticipated the President doing
precisely what he has done. Without
idge's principles and motives. 1t was
pretty generally assumed that the
President was going quietly about his
business, all the time building up his
political strength preparatory to the
! forthcoming campaign for delegates
to the nominating convention. Of
course, there was no basis for this
conviction, at least from anything the
President had said or done. But mas
much as he is not in the habit of say
ing anything, his silence only added
| to the general belief that he would be
| a candidate.
Followed Tradition of Silence.
Running true to form, Mr.. Coolidge
at no time Sid anything to correct
this widespread feeling concerning his
attitude. Neither did he see fit to
make any response to the frequent
criticism of what has been described
as his political motives and his vote
getting activities.
The President followed the Coolidge
| tradition-silence. He has known for
| a long time that he would not be a
| candidate to succeed himself. His an
nouncement yesterday was not the re-
| suit of any sudden decision. He de
! termined this point, according to one
| of his intimates, while discussing 1t
| today, farther back than any one
would imagine. He is not man to
decide things suddenly or in a hurry.
| Even If he did, he would be In no
haste to make it known.
Therefore, In consideration OF all
this, 1t is little wonder that the news
of his decision caused such profound
shock. 1t would be putting it mildly
to say that politicians here were gen.
timely surprised. They could hardly
believe the news when it went flying
over this city.
Senator Capper of Kansas. who was
q house guest at the game lodge and
| who was at the executive office when
the announcement was made. gave
| the impression to correspondents only
| the day previous that he thought the
| President would be candidate. Sena-
| tor Norbeck of this State, who has
been in the Presidents company fre.
quentiy this Summer, said afterward
! that he was greatly surprised, and q
similar expression was made by Rep
resentative Chindhlom Of Chicago. who
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