Evening star., 1927-10-02
PRESIDENT KEEPS
SILENCE ON CHOOSE
Plans No Elaboration of IT,
Word Statement, His
Friends Declare.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge has no inten
ton at this time of celebrating upon
the brief statement he issued in the
Black Hills announcing that he did
not choose to be a candidate to sue
ceed himself
He has made it even clear to those
close friends and party leaders who
have recently discussed the matter
with him that he considers the now
famous 12-word announcement suf-
f1ciently clear and needing no am
plification.
AS matter Of fact the President
is known to resent suggestions or
hints that it might be advisable for
him to make another statement tend
ing to clarity situation which some
of his friends believe needs Clarity
ing.
Subject Held Distastefui.
1t is known that a close friend of
the President, high in the councils of
the Republican national committee.
took up the matter of another state
ment with him within the past few
days. The friend was given 10 un-
koldiiN All uiiIiioNo manly pam
language, that no matter what others
thought about it. the President him.
self is satisfied with his brief state
ment of attitude and proposes to
stand by it to the end.
That the subject is distasteful TO the
President. especially when hints are
dropped that the sincerity of his pur.
pose is questioned in some quarters,
and that his words have been misif-
terpreted, Is learned from several Of
those who have had the temerity to
suggest the issuance Of something
more specific. To one Of his congress
sional callers who broached the sub.
ject during the past week, the Presi.
dent was represented as replying with
unusual feeling that if the gentleman
had failed to read his Black Hills
statement. he would be glad to mail
a copy.
Within the past few days one of the
most intimate friends of the Presi.
dent is understood to have gone
away, certain in his own mind that
those who are expecting Mr.. Coolidge
to follow up his II don't choose" state
ment with something more elaborate
are going to be disappointed. This
friend represented the President AS
being distressed that any one should
question his motives regarding an
other term or that there should be sc
much discussion and debate about in
| terpreting the word CHOOSE" in his
announcement.
| Friends Have Little Doubt.
! Furthermore, the President |!
! known to have given some OF thos'
who have talked TO him on this sub
! iect the impression that he is lookins
/ forward to the time when he can cas-
| aside the heavy burdens of his offlc'
and retire to private life. He ha!
been represented as having hat
enough of the presidency, and tina
March 4, 1929, cannot come any tot
soon to suit him.
Those who know the President wei
| have not the slightest doubt about hi
meaning exactly what he said. wheI
! he announced his decision, ant
others who, because of their part.
affiliations, see him more or less ire
quently, are coming around TO thi
same belief.
But, regardless Of this unshakel
belief in the Presidents honesty o
purpose and the knowledge Of his de
sire to be rid of the cares Of his of
flee, there Is an opinion that h
should defend his position more clear
iy and at least he should let 1t b
known one way or the other. that de
spite what he may choose himself. h
will or will not accept another nomi
nation. That would clarity the situa
ton, II is pointed out. and would per
nit the Republican Presidential fiel
10 take on more definite aspect. ]
the President would announce def
nitelv that he will not accept the nom
nation under any circumstances, hi
political friends contend that can
paigns on the part of other candidate
| DE- z Nnl1 =