New-York tribune., 1920-06-13
strike of Boston Police
| Made Coolidge Famous
Law yer of Northampton
Mass, Has Never Been Defeated
i'm His Politi cal Career

! "Let US have faith in America" That
was the exhcrtation of Calvin Coolidge
st one Of the most crucial moments in
the recent history Of this country, and
that expresses tersely, yet compre-
hensively, the spirit and purpose of the
mans whole career. He has faith in
america, faith in American principles
Ind institutions, faith in the ability Of
this nation to work out the destiny
foreseen for it by it's founders, and
he proves his faith by his works.
He inherits that faith from those
who conceived it. His first Amer
lean ancestors were John and Mary
Coolidge, who came from overseas and
settled at Watertown, Mass, just
twenty years after the Mayhower Pill
grims landed at Plymouth Rock A
sater generation removed to Vermont
and there in the little hill town of
plymouth, dozen miles from a rail-
road, later John Coolidge cultivated
p not over.fertile farm and kept gen.
eral store. To him and his wife, who
died twelve years later, was born on
the ourth Of July, 1872, son, to
whom was given the name of Calvin.
The boy was raised on the farm and
in the store, doing chores and harder
work than chores. He attended the
fiittle RED schoolhouse" at Plymouth
Thence he went to the old Black Rock
River Academy, at Ludlow, VT, to pre-
pare himself to enter college, if ever
he should be able to go to college.
Happily, he was able. In 1891, older
than the average freshman because
scanty means had delayed his leaving
home, he entered Amherst College.
There he was an admirable student,
ranking high in his class each year.
In mis- senior year he won gold medal
offered for the best essay on the prin-
ciples of the Revolutionary War, the
competition being open to the under
graduates OF all American colleges. In
1880 ne was graduated, with high
honors.
Law and Politics
! Mr.. Coolidge was admitted to the
bar in 1897 and began practice al
Northampton. Two years later he was
elected q member of the city council
In that campaign he was opposed by
PHIL Gleason, Democrat and a
blacksmith by trade, who was person
ally one of Coolidge's close friends.
/ I'm against you," Gleason warned
Coolidge, but the latter said nothing,
and when ne 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
tndless fund, and which in & drollery-
loving New England community are
probably as effective in getting votes
as campaign speeches.
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. con-
graduated him on his victory, but
admitted that he had not supported
him.
81 didn't vote for you, CAL" the
Democrat admitted.
! well" drawled Coolidge, "some-
Never Defeated
Coolidge was returned 20 the office
OF City Solicitor the next year, and in
1907 was elected to the Legislature
Taking into consideration the fact that
then, as afterward, he absolutely per-
eiotSu III NioidtlHE Wnat Judge fleld
and others regard as the essential tao
tics 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.
Tw.ce a candidate for Mayor of
Northampton, 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. That was
when ne ran for the Legislature the
second time and won by plurality of
only sixty three votes.
One Of the secrets of his success
has been his ability to win support
from the opposing party as we'll as
from his own. Thus Gleason, his one
time rival for the Council, recently
said:
"I'm Democrat. But when .cap
wants something he gets 1t so far az
Am concerned. I've voted for him for