Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-02
QUIET CAL COOLIDGE
Governor Of Massachusetts Won Sue
cess by Doing Much and Saying
Little and by Being as Good
as His Word

Little and by Being as Good
as His Word
BY Arnold D. Prince, in New York Tribune.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass, is being be-
~ sieged these days by a host of investi-
gators commissioned to inquire into the
strange report that the chief executive of
great commonwealth, although safely re-
elected, persists in scorning the heshpots of
easy living and the stratagems OF practical
politics.
Should it fall to your lot to be one of
those seeking a ''close up" intimate i'm
preston of Governor Calvin Coolidge, here
is a word of advice
When trying to get the governors home
on the telephone be careful to say "W''
very distinctly in giving the number to Cen
tral. Otherwise you may find yourself talk
ing to the Rev. Amber Garnett and ex-
planning that your business has no connec-
tion with the First Methodist Church, but
with the governor of the state. Both men
are on the same party wire and Governor
Coolidge only answers-and he will generally
do it himself when he is there--when the
bell rings once. When it rings three times
the pastor answers.
SHOULD you, however, decide to go to the
to give the taxicab driver specific directions.
Else you may subject him to embarrassment,
as did visitor recently.
This visitor asked the driver of taxicab
standing in front of the railway station if
he knew where Governor Coolidge lived.
''I know the house" replied the chauffeur,
and drove off with his fare.
He drove confidently for about ten
minutes, but upon turning into pretty
residential street seemed suddenly seized
with misgivings. Drawing up finally in
front of large frame house, painted white,
he shook his head doubtfully.
Thought you said you knew the house."
remarked his fare observing his perplexity.
'Oh, this is the house, all right" re-
piled the driver, Hbut Cal only lives in
half Of it, and I'm DANCED if en- remember
which half it is"
NORTHAMPTON, where Governor
~ Coolidge has lived for more than twenty
three years, is about $50 miles north of
New York city, and about the same dis
tance west OF Boston.
Its population is divided into three classes,
French, Irish and Yankee" and the city,
save when "Cal" Coolidge is running for
Office, is subject to violent political tluctua
tons. Sometimes it goes Republican and
lidge is a candidate it is almost undoubtedly
Coolidge.
Why this should be, however, is mystery
to the inhabitants Themselves
THERE is "Phil'' Gleason, for example.
"Sure I'm Democrat" he said. "But
when Cal wants something he gets it, so
far as I'm concerned.
81 guess it's because he's never gone back
on a friend in his life. Or maybe it's be-
cause when he says he'll do a thing he does
it. The mans q very divvil when it comes
to that. And maybe again it may be be-
cause he'll help you out any time you go to
him. Anyway, I'm too good a Democrat
to wreck the party by voting against him.
If this sounds somewhat disconnected and
emotional more polished and well balanced
explanation may be had from Henry p.
Field, associate judge of the Probate Court.
calvin Coolidge is a Vermont Yankee
with Massachusetts education," he will
tell you solemnly, after settling himself
comfortably in his big leather chair, "and
that is a combination hard to beat.
I've never known man who could say
what he means more concisely than Coolidge.
Moreover, he has an amazing faculty for
reducing what he wants to say to epigrams
No man has ever known Calvin Coolidge to
go back on his word He has lived in this
city for more than twenty three years, and
you won't find man or woman, Republican
or Democrat, but will tell you that this is
true. I've never known any one who was
better judge of men. I've never known
any one who doubted his courage. I've
never known cleaner man. a more decent
citizen, a more loyal friend"
LIE WAS admitted to the bar in 1897 and
IL two years later was elected to the City
Council.
A candidate for the Office of city solicitor,
he astonished the opposition by the ease with
which he won over his opponent.
A Democrat meeting him on the street the
next day congratulated him on his victory.
''I didn't vote for you," the Democrat ad-
mitted
"Well" drawled Coolidge. "somebodv
did,"
Coolidge was returned to the Office of city
solicitor the next year, and in 1907 was
elected to the Legislature. Not once, from
the time Calvin Coolidge entered politics I'D
to the present day, has he ever been de-
feated for public Office. Twice candidate
for mayor of Northampton, twice for the
state Legislature, four times for the state
Senate, three times for lieutenant gov
ernor and twice for governor, he won each
time, ana only once was the race anywhere
near close.
This was when he ran for the Legislature
the second time against Alfred ]. Preece,
| the present deputy sheriff. His plurality on
that occasion was sixty three votes.
''I don't know how he beat me-" Preece
will admit, ''except that he refused to answer
any of the questions asked him. I chal-
lenged him again and again, when on the
platform, to tell the people what he would
! do if elected, but he never would do it, and
he never replied to any of my questions. /
guess that's the way he beat me-"
| NTEANTIME Coolidge had met Miss Grace
AN1 ,ioodhue, teacher in the Clarke School,
| in Northampton, and in 1905 they were
married at her parents home, in Burling-
| ton. VT.
Up to the time of his marriage Coolidge
| lived in Rahar's Inn, a humble establish.