Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-02
President Makes Statement
on Fourth Anniversary of
! Taking Oath of Office as
Harding Successor.
EXECUTIVE SAYS PEACE
/ OUTSTANDING FEATURE
Declares Prosperity, Lack Of Un-
employment and Reduction of
Nations Debt Are Other I'M
portant Accomplishments of His
Administration.

By the Associated Press.
RAPID CITY, S. Oak, August e.
President Coolidge today issued a
statement saying, Il do not choose
10 run for President in 1928"
The statement, which was type
written on small pieces of paper, was
handed out today by the President
on the fourth anniversary of his be-
coming Chief Executive of the
United States, without comment.
Calls Newspaper Men.
Mr.. Coolidge had asked newspaper
men to see him at II, o'clock today.
Until minute or two before there
Mas not the slightest knowledge
among the presidential staff of what
would occur at the conference.
Shortly before II o'clock Mr.. Cool
Edge sent for his personal stenog-
yapher, Edwin Geiser, and dictated
the brief message, which was then
transcribed onto small pieces OF
paper by typewriter.
After the newspaper men had come
into the room, the President asked
them to file past him.
He handed each the small slip OF
baper with the message.
The paper had been folded by him.
Refuses to Comment.
Newspapermen stopped to ask him II
there was any comment and Mr.. Cool
tdge replied not. The dash for >tele-
phones and telegraph wires was begun
by the newspapermen.
Besides the newSpapermen there
Mere in the room at the time Senator
Taper, a house guest Of the President;
Everett Sanders and Edward T. Clark,
his secretaries; Col. Blanton Winship,
his military aide, and DR.. James f.
Eoupal, his physician.
No word was spoken outside Of Mr..
Coolidge asking if every one was pres
ent, and inquiry of newspapermen if
there was anything more to say. 1t
Is safe to say that the President coun-
selled with no one in preparing his
Startling announcement.
Those closest to him in his official
Family had taken occasion on this
8hay-the fourth anniversary of Mr..
kCoolidge's taking the oath of office-to
Express the private view that he would
rot make any statement of his plans
for another term and would accept the
domination if given to him without ex-
pressing himself.
1t was pointed out later by those
|tame staunch supporters of the Presi-
fient that the door to the nomination
had not been closed by the statement
in the event of his selection by the
Convention.
Announcement Torrcoc Crprpv.sco
There is scarcely anything the Presi-
Gent might have said which could have
surprised those with him more. The
manner in which he made his an
houncement was almost as spectacu-
Tar as the statement itself. Not more
than a dozen words were exchanged
huring the entire conference. AS the
newspaper men filed into the Presi-
dents private office he sat looking up
10 them, smoking a cigar held in an
ivory holder and with just a trace of
b smile lighting up his face.
He rose before all had entered, but
seeing that more were coming in,
paused, and then asked: ''Is every one
here now?"
He was assured that all were pres
ent.
Then Mr.. Coolidge walked to the
Is his desk and stood there for a
boment.
A pile Of the little folded papers
were in his hand.
"Will you please file past me here?"
Nbe said. II have a little statement for
VOC"
The line quickly formed, and as each
filed by he was handed one of the
ttatements by Coolidge. No sooner
had they been given them than they
were opened. A look of complete
hmaZement spread over the CORE
kpondents' faces. Those who had not
yet received their folded paper looked
Utmost pleadingly at those ahead as
II for some ray Of light as to what
X disclosed.
Smiles at CONSERVATION.
Immediately after issuing his state.
ment the President put on his nat ard
pveecoat and smiling broadly, appa-
tently at the CONSERVATION he had
taused among his newspaper friends,
walked with Senator Capper to his
automobile.
A large crowd, as is usual upon the
Presidents departure, ndd gathered
end as Mr.. Coolidge walked down the
steps to his car he smiled continually.
Stepping into his car, he sank back
Into the cushions still with a broad
tmiIe and nodded TO an acquaintance
who stood close by.
DAWES DECLINES COMMENT.
Vice President Receives Statement at