The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-20
Politics and People
BY RAY TUCKER

That shy little man who never tcok an actVe
part in public life until six years ago Should have
leading role in all Republican presidential councils
furnishes evidence of the confused state OF national
politics at the moment. This unassuming figure Is
Secretary Mellon, whose influence may go long way
toward determining the identity OF the G. o. f.
nominee.
Mr. Mellon of course was political power before
he entered the Cabinet and became known to public
and politicians No can occupy the place ne helo
in the banking world without exercising influence on
the course of politics and politicians The main dill
ference now is that Mellon must perform dowpstage
instead of behind the wings. If it were not for his
age he might conceivably be the Republican nominee
Instead, he may be only a president-maker His AID
in obtaining the support of Pennsylvania seventy
nine delegates will be feverishly sought by candidates
and their hackers.
1t is quite an advance from the days when word
came from Marion in 1920 that Andrew Mellon would
be Hardings secretary Of the treasury. Few except
business and bankers had heard of him; the man
on the street outside Pennsylvania did not know he
existed His first conference with the correspondents
indicated that public office would prove trial to the
Pennsylvania
He was awed by the young men who invaded his
expensive office and the questions they fired at him.
He stammered and suffered, and lighted on tiny
cigar after another, throwing them away before the
tip had begun to glow Efforts to draw him out we're
fruitless; with deprecatng gesture he said there
was nothing notable in his life nothing that would
interest the public. To this day he has never en-
tirely recovered from his embarrassment before the
press representatives or public audience.
He has made only two speeches since entering the
Cabinet despite the fact that he has been of the
bulwarks of both Harding and Coolidge. One was
an economic talk before the Philadelphia Union
League Club and the other address at Pittsburgh
on behalf of the waning political fortunes of George
Wharton Pepper The latter speech tragic
failure; the newspaper men called it "hzze. He
was awkward and stage-struck a school boy;
his voice did not carry beyond the first of seats.
His appearance bellies his wealth and eminence;
he conveys the impression of loneliness and WEAKNESS
This third richest in the world who is hailed by
Republican admirers "the greatest secretary of
treasury since Alexander Hamilton, excites sympathy
rather than envy Looking forward to his vacation
last summer he explained that he wanted most of all
to collect his scattered family the close quarters
OF pleasure yacht and visit historic places along the
Mediterranean which he had read about boy.
Invited to attend the Lndbergh reception guest
entitled to box, he threw up his hands regretfully
with the comment that he had nobody to go with
him and wouldn't need box.
He detests references to his age and his wealth.
He recently characterized such descriptions of himself
sloppy writing" Tuning and suffering he
scanned newspaper article which called him "the
72yearod secretary of the treasury and third richest
man in the world"