New-York tribune., 1920-11-03
Coolidge, IL Times a Candidate
For Office, Won Every Race
Triumphant by Wide Margin
in Each Contest Except One-That for Legsla-
ture, When Plurality Was Only Sixtythree Votes

Calvin Coolidge is the twenty ninth
man to be elected Vice President of the
United States, and the fourth to be
chosen from the State of Massachusetts
He was not, however, like two of his
three predecessors in that list. born in
Massachusetts, but in the Green Noun
tain State, being the third Vice Pres-
dent of such nativity
His first American ancestors were
John and Mary Coolidge, who came
from overseas and settled at Water
town, Mass. Just twenty years after
the Mayfower Pilgrims landed at
Plymouth Rock. A later generation re-
moved to Vermont, and there, in the
little Hill town of Plymouth, dozen
miles trom Il railroad. a later John
Coolidge cultivated not over fertile
farm and kept a general store. To
him and his Wife, who died twelve
years later, was born on July 4, 1872,
son, 10 whom was given the name of
Calvin.
The boy was reared on the farm and
in the store, doing chores and harder
little red schoolhouse at Plymouth
Thence he went to the old Black Rock
River Academy, at Ludlow, VT, 10 pre-
pare himself to enter college, if ever he
should be able to go to college. Hap
PLY, he was able.
In 1891, older than the average fresh
man 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 his senior year he won a gold
medal offered for the best essay on
tho principles of the Revolutionary
War, the competition being open to the
undergraduates of all American col
leges. In 1895 he was graduated with
high honors.
Elected to City Council
Mr.. Coolidge was admitted TO the
bar in 1897 and began practice at
Northampton. Two years later he WAS
elected a member of the City Council.
In that campaign he was opposed by
Phil Gleason, Democrat and a black
smith by trade, who was personally
one of Coolidge's close friends.
"Im against you,' Gleason warned
Coolidge, but the latter said nothing,
and when he was elected never referred
to the subject again.
1t was shortly after this that Cool
idge made one Of those dry remarks
of which he seems to have an endless
fund, and which in drollerylovlng
New England community are probably
as effective in getting votes as cam
paign speeches.
As candidate for the office Of City
Solicitor he astonished the opposition
by the case with which he won over
his opponent A Democrat, meeting
him on the street the next day, con
graduated him on his victory, but ad-
,uitted that he lad not supported him
al didn'v vote for you, Cal,' the
Democrat admitted.
Well" drawled Coolidge, "somebody
did"
Coolidge was returned to the office
of City Solicitor the next year, and IL
1907 was elected to the Legislature
Taking into consideration the fact that
then, as afterward. he absolutely per.
sisted in violating what Judge Flelo
and others regard as the essential tao
tics Of practical politics, 1t IS an amaz-
ing thing that not once from the time
Calvin Coolidge entered politics up tc
the present day has he ever been de-
feated for public office.
Never Was Defeated
1Wlce CanClUdte loi MA VI VI
Northampton, twice for the state Leg
islature, four times for the state Sen
ate, three times for Lieutenant Gov
ernor and twice for Governor. he wor
each time and only once was the race
anywhere near close. That was wher
he ran for the Legislature the seconc
time and won by a plurality of only
sixty-three votes.
More tnan year ago Mr.. Coolidge
was rega rded as a leading candidate fol
the Republican nomination for Presl-
dent, ard at the national convention
last June he received thirty four votes
on the first ballot, support whict
remained pretty constant almost TO the
end After that nomination went &c
Senator Harding, however, Mr. Coolidge
was first and there was no second" il
the contest for Nice-Pres dent. He re
ceived 67412 votes, more than enough
to nominate him, on the first ballot
During the campaign he Travelled
much. speaking in many places, and
everywhere commenting himself, hi:
colleague and his party by his digni-
fed, scholarly and eminently lucid anC
direct appeals for the best type OF
American citizenship and patri otlsm.
One of the best revelations OF Mr.
Coolidge's spirit and also of his tersc
epigrammatic style of speech is founc
in one of his addresses to the Massa
chusetts Legislature. in which he said