The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-03
COOlidge's Decision


Often it is difficult to determine what actuates
man in some of the most important actions Of his
.lifc-and it is so with President Coolidge's an
nouncemcnt Tuesday that he will not be candidate
for the presidency in 1928.
Unqucstonably this is one of the most important
decisions made by the President. One which
will have reaching effect. To it doubtless
scame disappointment. These felt that the coun-
try needed the President for another term. His
policies have been successful. He has guided
public affairs that private industry has had an OPP
sportunity to prosper. The only major industry Of
the country that has not felt the masterful touch
Of his careful aid and administration is that Of farm
ing, and here doubtless he has been of little help
only because he not what properly might
sbc done to aid permanently the farmer from the
slough into which he had fallen.
His cold New England judgment could not sub
scribe to the methods advocated by the socaed con-
gressional farm bloc. His veto of the McNary
.Haugen bill may may not have been popular with
the country generally 1t is doubtful if it was
.pcpuar in the agricultural west some politi-
.c.nns would have had the nation believe. But re-
:iarlcss Of its popularity unpopularity the sin
ccrity of the never questioned. Even his
.cncmics gave him credit for having strength Of
character sufficient follow the dictates of his own
Judgment, regardless Of the pressure brought to
bear upon him.
Some persons doubtless hailed the announcement
with delight This number includes not alone the
.potentia candidates for the Republican presidential
nomination Of which there will be swarm. 1t in
scludes all those people who have been opposed
to Coolidge for any
To the mans very strong points appeared
as a weakness. His cool businesslike conduct Of
public affairs lacked the theatrical touch which
Americans have often come to demand of their
public He benefited the pocketbook but failed
Ito fire the imagination To these. and many Of them
would have supported him had he elected to run
again, Coolidge was like medicinal prescription
He good for the body polite but unpleasant to
1.-THE taste.
They onged for the flash and fire of a Roosevelt.
sSomeonc who could picturesque language AMI
with enough bombastcism to make the front page
Interesting. This group longed for someone who
could say "nature-faker" of another public with
Just the proper malicious infection. president
who could interest and amuse well as concervc
the public treasury. 1t just isn't in Coolidge to dc
things like that. He has been careful, methodica
-safe and sane and those who might wish he
sparkled more will not deny it. He never satisfied
the nations thirst for hero worship because he
pretended to be hero and never acted like He
was simply great business man doing his daily
job as best he could just like every other sound
American citizen devotes most of his waking hours
to his job his business.
AS head of the greatest business nation in the
world, he set example which anyone could emulate
with profit.
But these things did not enter into his decision
not to for office again. He simply did not want
to run and that personal preference expressed
in the COOL calm way which is natural to him. An
sothcr man might have taken advantage Of the ob-
svious opportunity to indulge in taste for the
dramatic lesser man. and one with greater
gift for the histrionic, would not have missed the
opportunity to reveal himself the super-patrio,
sacrificing his ambitions in order to preserve
GLORIOUS national tradition-that which presumes to
forbid any president to for third term. Roose
welt had he been doing it, would have had more dash
But then Roosevelt eventually decided that he want
ED third term.
The politically minded, Republican. Democrat Soc
ialst what not, agree that Coolidge could have
been renominated and reelected in 1928 without
much difficulty. Barring political miracle a
political catastrophe, announcement Of his can
didacy would have led to third Inauguration. And
the politically minded probably would have grasped
The opportunity
With this conceded by practically everyone Sin the
know" it is real question why the president decided
not to run again.
The safest guess probably is that he is tired.
Tired of the heavy burden. Tired of the continual
invasion Of his privacy which president must SUI
fer. Tired Of the enormous pressure which is the
price every president must pay for his high dstinc
ton. Tired Of situation which prevents him from
exercising the normal incinations of the ordinary
human being.
Keen Warrington observers often feel sorry for a
president They say the chief executive Of the ma
1ion hives almcst n the public eye as gold fish
His comings, biz goings, his actions, mannerisms
smiles, frons ars ala recorded and various inter
bretations ars plaeAd upon them. presilent has
rs q careful 81 every word lest by some unfortni-
1cas eircusence nal harm to the nation result u
Sane qparter. II 4 : pressure whia the ordinary
7t1issn cennot iaaGine. 0as It which he woala
uh11. Oily hieb eubiitien Or a unusually stroal