U.S. PRESIDENCY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 July 1924, Page 7

U.S. PRESIDENCY.

‘ ANOTHER ROOSEVELT.” VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. (From Otago Daily Times 7 Own Correspondent;. SAN FRANCISCO, June 18. The Republican Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio, replete as it was with a series of tactical errors, amateur management, and lamentable confusion, was tremendously concerned in its breathless efforts to discover a running mate to President Coolidge, and when it eventually unearthed General Dawes, the multi-millionaire l|anker of Chicago, and obtained his consent to the important honour, there were signs of relief in the ranks of the officials of the big National Convention, as it appeared imminent that nobody in the United States would accept the position of second fiddle to the Chief Executive.

Everybody realised that the selection of General C. G. Dawes meant an attack on the Democrats on his labour record, for he is an avowed champion of the ‘‘open” shop and the head of the ‘‘Minute Men of America,” who were organised to fight union labour. Apart from his labour record and his financial connections, General Dawes is an ideal candidate, and he is recognised as a second Roosevelt. He is, in a word, dramatic, spectacular, straight from the shoulder, and is capable, appealing as he does to the ruggedness of the American nation. Were he a candidate for the Presidency, he would undoubtedly sweep the country into power, but he is not anxious for such arduous duties,, which would interfere seriously with his international work. He was the last mentioned in the race for Vice-Presidential honours, and in the balloting he easily nosed out Herbert Hoover, who at one time was fancied as. Presidential nominee. He lives in Evanston, Illinois, near Chicago, when he is not running down to Washington or over to Europe at the behest of Uncle Sam. Of recent years it would seem that he has practically become Uncle Sam’s right-hand man. Since the United States entered the World War in 1917 General Dawes has served his country in three giant capacities : First, as general purchasing agent for the American Expeditionary Force, with the job of keeping some 2,000,000 doughboys in food clothing, and supplies; second, as director of the Federal Budget, in which position he cut down the Government’s expenses somewhere between 250,000,000d0l and 300,000,000d0l in a single year; third, as chief of the Reparations Commission which recently returned from Europe, after partially settling the question. of German indemnities and starting the Old World back towards economic restoration.

In his spare time General Dawes is a banker, lawyer, author, exponent of hard work, pip© fancier, and composer of music. A few years ago his ‘ Melody of a Major” was published, and within a short time became, a best seller among phonograph records. Then, in 1921, he exploded nis famous “Hell’ii Maria,” whil© talking ‘‘cold turkey” to a Congressional Committee investigating the conduct of the. World War—and tlie expletive has been affectionately associated with Dawes by the voters of America ever since.

Tiie General’s ancestry runs back to YVilliam Dawes., who came, to America in 1628, and was prominent in the affairs of Boston and Salem. He is 58 years old, and was born in Marietta, Ohio. He graduated from Marietta College when only 19. Then he entered tli© Cincinnati Law School, emerging in 1886 with a degree of LL.B. The publication in 1894 of Dawes’ first work, “The Banking System of the United States,” brought him recognition as an authority on economics and finance, and was instrumental in gaining him the appointment as Federal Comptroller ot the Currency in 1898. He left the job in 1901, and ,the following year organised the Central Trust Company of Illinois, and he is still chairman of its board of directors.

It was after the Armistice that the General was called before the House Investigating Committee in Washington. At this time the official quizzers had been finding fault with everythiHg and everybody, and when they commenced criticising General Dawes, he burst out: “There are too many pinheads throwing mud,” and it- was on this occasion he gave vent the explosion of the laments “Hell and Maria” expletive. ‘‘lf you men would spend more time trying to stem the-millions of waste going on under your noses, we would have a hell of a lot better government,” he added, while the legislators almost fell over with surprise at the expressive words of the banker who in the World War had worked heroically to keep supplies well up to the front for the Americans who were in the thick of the fight, and were being hard pressed before the last onslaught of the combined Allies broke down the German attack and routed them. When the Investigating Committee found fault with the number of bandages General Dawes sent forward to use upon the wounded American soldiers, he again exploded with: “Hell and Maria, we did not waste time to count the bandages. Sufficient was it for us to knpw that more were wanted, and we sent all we could obtain.” He told the politicians this was not time to worry about expense when lives were at stake. Congress evidently took his advice, for a few months later, in June, 1921, General Dawes was called to the capital as the first director of the Budget. The General’s next job was as head of the Experts Committee which the United States sent to Europe to determine Germany’s ability to pav reparations. Incidentally, it should be recorded that the General has been decorated with the Distinguished Sendee Medal and the French War Cross, and was named Commander of the French Legion of Honour. The General is married, and has one daughter. His only son was-drowned at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1912.

The last recorded public speech prior to his selection as Vice-Presidential Republican candidate was that delivered a few days before the Cleveland Convention concluded. It was delivered at the Marietta College commencement ceremonies, and in the course of his remarks he told the graduates this: “The world and this country needs leadership fearless enough to facet the crowd and fight for an unpopular truth. If we’re sick and need an operation we can’t be cured by the soft, sweet words and honeyed medicines of the demagogic quack doctor. 1 “Our farmers of the north-west need the truth rather than the honey cure—all promises of the quack politicians. The more we listen to the promises of men like Hiram Johnson, the harder the cure will be.”

Thus said the fellow that they named the Vice-Presidential nominee at Cleveland during the' closing session of that long drawn-out convention. It can he depended upon that there will be plenty of good copy in the campaign when General Dawes speaks from the platform, and should lie ho. asked to sit at the Cabinet table, if elected, his comments will always be readable. He does not waste words, for when notified by reporters that he had been chosen

the Vice-Presidential candidate, he contented himself with exclaiming: “Well, I declare 1”

Later, when many thousands of people accorded him a tumultuous welcome on returning to Chicago from Marietta College ceremonies, the General maintained his smiling but characteristic attitude of refusing to make a statement unless he had something worth while to.say.