Life — December 20, 1923 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DECEMBER 20, 1923 “While there is Life there's Hope” Published by LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY President 598 Madison A English Offices, Rolls Hou Crartes Dana Ginsi “(OO and sin no more” is the verdict of the adminis- tration on the Craig-Mayer case. Presi- dent Coolidge contributes the “go” and Attorney-General Daugherty the “sin no more,” with emphatic disclosure in detail of what he thinks Mr. Craig's sins had been. Well, that will do. The general opinion of observers was that Mr Craig ought not to serve the sixty-days’ term in jail. That opinion was upheld even by persons who thought he had done wrong, so the administration’s ver- dict ought to satisfy a large proportion of the watchers, and perhaps those who remain disgruntled furnish addi- tional evidence that the verdict is about right. Mr. Coolidge is himself a lawyer and has practiced in Massachusetts, and seems to have a good deal of respect for existing legal processes and even for judges. Difficult situations do not seem to embarrass him. He got out of the coal difficulty pretty well and now again emerges from a bramble bush without any bad scratches. From another difficult duty he has emerged also with credit. He has sent a message to Congress that reads well. There has been a great deal of curiosity to know what sort of thoughts his mind contained. Did you want to know what he felt about tax-reduction and the rival claims of the bonus? About foreign affairs, our relations with Europe, the League of Na- tions? When you had read his mes- sage you knew. He did not quibble and he did not straddle. He used plain language. About Secretary Mellon's plan for reducing taxation he said: “The plan of the Secretary of the Le Roy Miter, Sec’y and Treas. venue, New York Breams Bldgs., London, E. C. Treasury has my unqualified approval.” When he spoke of the bonus he did not say anything about adjusted compen- sation. He said the demands and sug- gestions of the American Legion should be carefully examined and met in so far as they seemed good, but he said: “I do not favor the granting of a bonus.” No straddle, therefore, either on tax- ation or on the bonus. As to the League, he said that it s as a foreign agenc: but that there is no longer any chance of our joining it. He favored, he said, the es- tablishment of a world court cf justice. As to the plan that has been offered for a permanent court of international jus- tice, he was willing to accept it as the ‘st practical measure in sight, though it did not wholly satisfy him. That in itself takes him out of the cl of isolationists. He is not moved by the spirit of the Senators who killed the Treaty nor yet by the mood of the Ambassador who thought some years since that we went to war to save our own skins and were damned well out of Europe. ‘0 be sure Mr Coolidge would stay out of Europe in one sense, but in another he recognizes Europe's claim on us as well as some claims of ours on Europe. He speaks of debts owed to us over there and of our proper business interest in coming to some un- derstanding with our debtors there, and especially to that end in examining the fiscal state of Germany and what she can pay. But the spirit with which he regards Europe is best disclosed in the last paragraph of his message when “The world has had enough the curse of hatred and selfishness, of destruction and war. gh of the wrongful T power. For the heali must be good harity, confidence and pea time has come for a more p: use of moral power, and more reli ance upon the principle that right makes its own might. Our authority among the nations ‘must be repre sented by justice and mercy, It is necessary not only to have faith, but to make sacrifices for our faith. The spiritual forces of the world’ make all its final determinations. It is with these voices th America should speak. Whenever they clare a righteous purpose there nee be no doubt that they will be heard, America has taken her place in the world as a Republic—free, in dependent, powerful. The best serv i in be rendered to humanity is the assurance that this place will be maintained.” In those remarks there is a good de: of comfort and also a good deal o meat. They do not betoken an isol: tion policy. They recognize a grea obligation and contemplate sacrifices where necessary, to fulfill it. Let u see now how that “more practical us: of moral power” which the President would have can be contrived. T is an unprecedented thing that Mr Mellon and Henry Ford suggest themselves to so many minds as proper timber for President. One hears that Henry Ford is now the richest man ir the country and that Mr. Mellon is the next richest. Where Mr. Mellon got so much money does not appear, but that is no matter. He is a very rich man and yet is regarded as so admirable and useful a public servant that people think he might make a very good Presi dent. Of course, the chance that he will be an important candidate is small but that he should be talked about and that his political standing should warrant the thought is really very in teresting indeed. That Henry Ford should be so much discussed as a can didate is not so surprising, Henry is a remarkable character, uni- versally known and thought about, and is a man of the people. Not so Mellon. who is a man of the millionaires. Is it possible that the use of riches by those who possess them has so much improved that the curse on them is in process of abatement? Not since George Wash- ington has a millionaire been President. E. S. Martin. because comicbooks.com