Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-12
Senators.at.LarQe.

what to do with former Presidents
Of the United States continues to be q
subject of wide discussion. Senator
Fess of Ohio has just come forward
with a suggestion that when . man
retires from the White House he auto
rnaticallv becomes q Senator-at-large
for life at a salary Of $4,000 per
annum. There really seems little occa-
sion for excitement over the future
ot former Presidents Of the United
states. At present there are two hv-
ing former Presidents, william Howard
Taft. Chief Justice, and Calvin Cool
idxe. private citizen. Both appear to
be amply able to take care Of them
selves and their families. Rarely has
there been a time when there have been
more than two living ex-Presidents OF
the United States. -.
The best plan, probably, is 70 permit
former Presidents to do what they wish.
A man who has been Chief Executive
of the United States Is usually quite
capable Of looking after himself. This
was true of the late President Theodore
Roosevelt, for example, and OF Grover
Cleveland and others who have attained
the high office of President. When he
left the White House, woodrow Wilson
was q very sick man. Fortunately he
had made provision for his own future,
however, and his last years were passed
Ia comfort so far as money could make
them 20.
The proposal of Senator Fess is made
not only for the purpose Of giving ex-
Presidents q competence for the re-
,nainder Of their lives. but also that
the Senate may have the benefit Of the
advice of former Presidents. The Ohio
Senator argues that :l:-ir wide expert
ence and knowledge of public affairs,
rained In the White House. should be
used continuously for the public good.
However, 1t is possible for former Presi-
dents of the United States to get the
ear Of the public whenever they wish
to give the country the benefit Of their
advice. without their becoming Sena-
tors. Former President Coolidge today
Is busily engaged in giving expression
to his own views on public affairs
through writing magazine articles. This
latest ex-President has just made 1t
clear In one of these articles that he Is
DESTROYS Of entering again into active
life as q private citizen Of the United
States. He even considers it a privi-
lege, he says, to become once more q
citizen unattached to the Government.
but tnsa position to work for the good
of the country as q private citizen. APP
parSntly Senator Tess need waste no
sympethy upon Mr.. Coolidge.
MA Coolidge has been urged by
friet 81 Massachusetts, to run for the
eens5e next year. to succeed Senator
GIlleta.r If the former President de-
tekmfnes to enter the lists, he may be-
eoSns Senator by the vote Of the peo-
pie of his own state. Doubtless they
will be fully able to determine whether
they wish to be represented In the up
Der house by Mr.. Coolidge and how
long they desire to retain him in the
Senate, should he ever 60 to that body.
Every. other former President would be
la position also to seek election TO
the Senate If he desired to do 90.
In order to make effective the plan
proposed by Senator Fess it would be
necessary to amend the Constitution.
Amending the Constitution is no easy
nrocess, and the Fess idea of caring for
Sermer Presidents does not appear likely
10 be tried out.