Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-12-10
FROM VERMONT FARM
TO VICE PRESIDENCY
Another Interesting Chapter in Hes
neSSey'S Biography of Coolidge

Another Interesting Chapter in Hes
neSSey'S Biography of Coolidge
Orville Prouty white-haired treasu-
rer of the Nonotock Savings Bank,
tells of the first meeting with Calvin
Coolidge, then a law student in Ham
mond & Fields office.
Mr. Prouty was one Of the Seectmen
of the town of Hadley adjoining
Northampton A man while rowing on
the lake had been shot to death. A
question had arisen among the town
officials about their right to remove
the body before it had been viewed by
the medical examiner of the district,
Mr. Prouty decided to seek counsel
and for that purpose repaired to the
office of Hammond & Field in North
ampton.
When Mr. Prouty reached Ham
mond & Fields Office he found it de
serted, save by a slender, light-haired
young man, reading law book.
Prouty asked for the members of
the firm The young man informed
him that everybody was out. The
caller seemed disappointed, He moved
about the office for few moments
and then sat down, hoping th~4 one of
the members would come in, but no
body appeared after long wait
The young man was apparently
deeply interested in the law volume,
but he managed to keep a corner of
one eye on Prouty.
Can Remove Body
Proutv got up as if to go.
Anything l can do for you2' asked
the young man, looking up from his
book
Prouty drew over his chair and told
him the object of his call. Coolidge
listened. After a few moments thought
he said, you can move the body"
"Are YOU sure?" asked the Select
man, inclined to doubt the accuracy of
the advice
eyes" said the youth.
On his way out of the building hall
inclined to hunt up an older lawyer for
further advice, Prouty met Judge
Hammond coming up the stairs.
"Who the devil is that young tongue.
tied fellow you got up in your Office"
he demanded of Hammond. Doesn't
he ever get excited" inquired the dis
turbed and agitated Hadley town
official
Judge Hammond smiled That
young fellow isn't much on CAB, but
he's a glutton for work If he told
YOU YOU can move the body you can
bet he's right"
Come Again
A man of BUSINESS prominence had
laid before Gov Coolidge a new plan
regarding some State matter When the
speaker had unwouud the spool IF elo-
quence, he said: What do you Think
of it. Governor"
won't mount t anything"
When the man had recovered con-
seriousness, he said, lamely;
well, | guess I'll be going"
wal" said the Governor with the
Yankee twang, "any time you've got
you think W ought t hear,
come in"
Don't Let Me Deter You"
1t was during a hearing on the Salem
street car situation. The cars had
been removed from the streets OH ac-
count of itney competition, allowed
in spite of an order of the City Gov
eminent forbidding it. One hundred
thousand people were seriously incon-
The Governor instructed
the trustees Of the railroad % put
back the cars. and told the authorize.
of Salem to enforce the order prohibit
ing jitneys He also promised enforce
ment of the order by the State Police
if the local police could not handle II
"If you do that" said man, he
laobr people will go into every Gown of
the State and cruelty you po tically.
He had lot more to say as to what
would happen if Coolidge interfered
IN the situation. The Governor patient
ly listened for a while and then b. Ike
in with a drawl that convulsed Ike
listeners aud embarrassed the speaker,
saying:
Don't let me deter you Go right
ahead"
Passing the Buck
During the same controversy a COM
mittee of prominent people of Salem
held a conference on the situation at
the Governors Office After they had
talked for some time on the matter
some one of the committe remarked:
well. about all we have done 50 far
is to pass the buck"
The Governor looked right at the
speaker and said "Try it on me. l
won't pass the buck"
Advice He Refused
During the Boston police strike Gov.
Coolidge was the recipient of all kinds
Of advice. Men came to him with sug-
gestions of compromise one deputa-
ton made a final protest even as the
was on his desk waiting
to be signed.
"If you issue that proclamation, Gov.
Coolidge" they said, you will probab-
ly destroy the Republican party in
Massachusetts, you will certainly
make it impossible for yourself ever to
hold anV other public Office"