New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

Back in His Home Town
the People Say He Knows
Nothing About Politics

reckoned with, not only in the Isl
Ward, which was, and is, plentifully
peopled by the sons of Erin. but
also in the Bloody 5th,' which was
also Democratic.
I'm against you" Gleason warned
Coolidge, but the latter said MOTH
ing, and when he was elected never
referred to the subject again.
1t was shortly after this that
Coolidge made one Of those dry re-
marks of which he seems to have an
endless fund, and which in a
drollery-loving New England com.
munity is probably as effective in
getting votes as campaign speeches.
A candidate for the Office OF
City Solicitor, he astonished the op.
position by the ease with which he
won over his opponent. A Demo-
crat. meeting him on the street the
next day, congratulated him on his
victory, but admitted that ne had
not supported him.
II didn't vote for you, CAL the
Democrat admitted.
well" drawled Coolidge, some.
body did
The Legislature
Coolidge was returned to the Of
flee of City Solicitor the next year,
and in 1907 was elected TO the
Legislature. Taking into consldera-
ton the fact that then, as after
ward, he absolutely persisted in vlo-
lating what Judge Field and others
regard as the essential tactics OF
practical politics, it is an amazing
thing that not once, from the time
Calvin Coolidge entered politics up
to the present day, has he ever been
defeated for public office. Twice a
candidate for Mayor of Northamp-
ton, twice for the state Legislature,
four times for the state Senate,
three times for Lieutenant Governor
and twice for Governor, he won each
time. and only once was the race
anywhere near close.
This was when he ran for the
Legislature the second time, against
Alfred J. Preecc, the present deputy
sheriff. His plurality on that oc-
casion was sixty-three votes.
IL don't know how he beat me-,
Preece will admit, except that he
refused TO answer any of the ques-
tons asked him. ! challenged him
again and again. when on the plat
form. 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-
/ Meantime Coolidge had met Mss
Grace Goodhue, a teacher IN the
Clarke School, in Northampton, and
in 1906 they we're married at her
parents home, in Burlington, VI,
which is not 80 very far from Plym-
outh, VT. where the present Cow
ernor was born.
Up to the time Of his marriage
/ Coolidge lived in Rahar's Inn. a
humble establishment just off Main
Street, opposite the Draper Hotel.
After he was married he and his
wife moved into the two-family
frame house at 81 Massasoit Street.
in which he lives now, paying S27
month rent.
To-day they and their two sons.
Calvin, jr.. aged eleven, and John.
aged twelve, live there still, paying
1872 month rent. The house is
owned by former Mayor O'Brien, .
Stanch Democrat.
The Governor invariably goes to
his home when his duties do not re-
quire his presence in Boston, and
after arriving in Northampton gem
orally walks to his home, after drop
ping in for a few minutes at his
Office in the Masonic Building and
chatting. with his law partner, Ralph
". Hcrnen~Say-
-. ~: ltee :3S, $500 N l., an ; ..t,,'1 10.
tie ctty 10. Re ou'Hs 10 real estate.
and has occupied the same law office
ever since he opened it after being
Admitted to the bar aud quitting the
firm Of Hammond & Field. He is as
quiet and friendly as ever, as un-
obtrusive in his habits as when no
moved 10 Northampton, and there is
little framed legend over the
cheerful open fireplace in the par
Tor Of his home which may or may
not have bearing on his character.
1t reads:
A rise old oui lived IN an oak,
The more he saw, the less he spohe.
The less he spoke the more he heard.