The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporator the West Coast Times) SATURDAY. JUNE 14th 1924. UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporator the West Coast Times) SATURDAY. JUNE 14th 1924. UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY.

Al.rmu fill the actual eicilion ol the new President of the t’liited States dot si not. take plate till about the -Ith. November, the political light is now on in iud blast. Amoiiea, the laud ol big iliiugs lias had some big seanilals of late, and all political paitics have lilt'll besmirched mine or less. In iliiit respect tlieie lias not been much advantageous gain either way, but the course of events lias served to fan the flames of political feuds with the result that the political campaign which lias now opened in such earnestness round about the presidential selection, is certain to be a strenuous one. The descriptive account of the opening of tile Republican convention now sitting, cabled this week, was eon.piled evidently by a writer v ho saw the humorous side of the struggle. Certainly he touched oiT the course of events with a light band which gave the impression i hat in politics it' in all other things the Americans wish to do everything in a big spectacular way. The pies.mt fvmvemioii has ended in tic choice of Mr Coolidge. nr. 1 it was not any exception to the ordinary rule. The stigma of the scanda's is being glossed over: the delicacy of the situation with Japan is not being referred to prominently. In fact noise and clamour are the features of the occasion, and it would appear that at any moment when anything unpleasant might be said or done, a brass band is always at hand to blare out its rousing music as may be required. We know according to the time wont saying that music hath charms, and the Americans put that into practice as occasion demands. In one of the popular operas of the day. a principal character extols a hand as a necessary adjunct to his travelling entourage, and in American polities it would appear that there are times when a band is indisl' ' ■

pcnsiblc also, mid tliat is certainly so at a convention called to select a party nominee for the presidency of the (treat country. These elections recur every four years, and the events happenin'; nloiifv so often always ensure the political pot in the United States bein'; at boilin'; point. The scope of the I’residential election is a wide one. and for the rich parties of the times must afford a fine field for lavish expenditure. The revelations in the re tent scandals indicated that high bids ian be made for 1 1 i” 1 1 party offices. It might bo thought that the disclosures would have a sobering effect on the political bent, but it is evident that the niceties of the situation are being ignored, and the country has entered upon the conflict as light, heartedly yet as determinedly as the ttaditions of the past support. It is a. very wonderful procedure, and is in accordance with the provisions of the great American Constitution which have been extant for over a century of time. Wo nitty tithe it that the good Americans arc well satisfied with the procedure; in fact we should say from the account cal'lcd this week of the preliminary convention procedure, that the business of selec ting a candidate is very much enjoyed, and is made tin- subject "of a huge entertainment stage managed with remarkable skill and ability. The keynote speech favoring,Mr Coolidge was pitched in a good key. and no doubt carried the day. desj jto the schisms. It remains to l>c seen how the- Democratic patty '-'ill organise, but it is evident that the struggle will Is* a strenuous one even for America, and Mr Harding’s majority of four years ago will not he eelipsed.