Evening star., 1927-05-14
CHAUNCEY DEPEW
PICKS COOLIDGE
Veteran Republican Leader
Gives Views on Political
and Economic Trends.

From the vantage point of 90 years
observation of American life and poll
tics, Chauncey Depew of New York.
one Of the Nations most prominent
commentators on the passing show OF
life, today gave forth his views on
modern political and economic trends
as follows:
President Coolidge will run again. is
immensely popular and probably will
win III 1928 on a platform of accom-
1lishment in his own elective admins
tration.
Al Smiths position rs political
leader has been greatly strengthened
bv publication Of the Marshall let
1eis. which Smith so maneuVered as
TO result in an advantage TO him. Yet
Smith has had Providence on his
side.
The American girl of today is not a
whit different from the American girl
of 90 years ago. or her predecessors
in the intervening years. 4
Breaking down of European tfade
barriers is certain to result IN en-
,anced prosperity in the United States.
oven though this Nation retains It's
tariff wall, as against European com
petition.
Terms "Crime Wave" Myth.
The so-called "crime wave" is
myth, enhanced by an eXtraordlnarE
amount Of publicity. The horrible
crimes of recent years have had their
counterpart in past years. and the
asarevalcnce of crime is not unuSuaf as
compared with the growth OF popula-
ton. Ore outstanding crime usually
brings on another or several crimes or
siaailar character.
These are a few of the pungent OBJ
sarvations of the near centenarlan,
made today as he sat in his suite at
4he New Willard Hotel and looked
back over the passing parade of more
than 40 wars in the whirl of Amer1-
can life. l.lr. Depew holds that Presi-
dn1t Cool ACE has built up tremen-
s1a,1s tradition around himself, ira
sfitfon thai is sure TO aid him IL ne
runs again in 1928.
and he will run again." Mr.. De-
neW said Ton platform of accom-
1,lishnaert which places him in one OF
the rnasI advantageous positions OF
any man who has ever occupied tiie
l White House"
I TIE outstanding achievements of
Il1e Csoo1i6 ge administration, Mr.. De-
1sy befiex Is, are settlement of the war
lsaht anaol nting to five billion dollars
nd reiuc ion of the public debt. IN
Aditior. lround the Coolidge name
grown mp a tradition of economy
10 n thrift hat has played a large part
q s.e present prosperity OF the United
, ales.
AID MIR. Depew believes that Amer
can \prosperity is founded on a sound
basis Apf business and economic prac-
tise and will not have a set back for
man bears. Mr. Coolidge has been
aided Al. dis momentous debt negotia-
sfions by Id of the most able lieuten-
ants any President ever had--Mr. Mel
ION and Mr.3 fsoover. Mr.. Depew said.
I.ausis Mellon.
Mr.. Melloh was declared to be the
ablest Secfetary Of the Treasury
since Alexander Hamilton. Third
term talk touching on President
Coolidge was declared by Mr.. Depew
to be foolish.
stThe third term is a religious
precedent, set up by George Wash
ington, but having no foundation in
law he said Roosevelt might have
had a third term and several Presi-
dents might have served three terms
in the White House had > the prin-
ciple not been SO strong. But / do
not hold that Coolidge will be serv-
ing a third term If reelected in
I928.'
Mr. Depew recalled his first visit
to Washington in 1868, when, as sec
retarys of state for New York, he
came to the war-ringed Capital to
secure the names and addresses of
voters in New York State.
81 spent the Winter here that year,
in the mud and squalor of an unlove1y
Capital Mr.. Depew said. ''Pennsyl-
vania avenue was little more than a
mudhole. Down below where Potomac
Park blooms and the Washington
Monument stands was then a moraSs
of quagmires and marshes. partly COW
cred with water at high tide. There
was little above X street in Civil War
days, and Pennsylvania avenue was
crowded with saloons and gambling
houses
Mr.. Depew declared that the City of
Washington has the finest foundation
of any world capital in the L'Enfant
plan for it's development. 'sIt should
he carried out as drawn, adapted to
modern conditions" the Tormer Sena-
tor said.
Views Unbiased.
A man of his age. Mr.. Depew said.
occupies an advantageous position as
a commentator on passing events.
when you are in the 90s you
have no bias, and you have no poll
teal ambition. Therefore you can
take a clear view of any situation
and appraise 1t at its true value. You
are on the shelf, politically speaking
and can speak your mind without
fear or favor. No one is afraid of
YOU"
Returning to New York politics, the
political school in which he was a
student for SO many years, Mr.. De-
pew declared that Al Smith has shown
great deXterity and true leadership
in seizing on the Marshall inquiry.
intended to reveal derogatory facts,
and SO utilized it that his position is
stronger than ever.
Il have known Al Smith since he
was born he said. II watched him
In his early struggles from a youth of
obscurity to one of leadership today.
! believe his handling of the Marshall
inquiry showed the true worth Of the
man and revealed his great qualities of
leadership. Smiths greatest assets in
the coming Democratic convention will
be his clear stand on the religious issue
and the certainty that he can carry
New York State
Smith entered the presidential race
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