New Britain herald., 1923-09-11
Former New Britain Minis. ter. Classmate of Presi- dent. Tells of Latter's Life
 at College.

Rev, Herbert 4, Jump, formel
 pastor of the south Congregations
 church in thls city. has written an in'
 teresiins article about President Cal
 the president, al Amherst college, The
 article follows;
 If fl had not been for Amherst co.'s
 iese. perhaps Calvin Coolidge today
 would not be president of the United
 States. This fact has great Interest
 for me for spent three Of my college
 years as a fellow-student al Amherst
 with the man who is now doing his
 arduous days work in the offices Of
 the White House at Washington.
 How comes l. that small New
 England college Is able thus to thrust
 itself into the affairs Of nations and
 help 10 make the chief executive of the greatest republic in the world? it Is an interesting and not very eompli- eated tale in two chapters.
 Some years ago quiet man named Coolidge had modestly worked his way up in politics until he was prcsi- dent Of the Massachusetts State Senate. Meanwhile in Boston man named Frank Stearns had worked his way up to a position of influence in the business life of the Hub" Into the possession of some time that he wanted to spend on a worthy object, and Into the possession of some money that could be devoted to what ever cause his judgment approved. Both Calvin Coolidge and Frank ..-.arns were graduates of Amherst college. So when on certain day etearns, representing his Alma Mater. sought audience with the president of the senate asking for some help in securing special legislation In behalf of their common college when Mir. Coolidge politely but firmly declined to promise assistance, a situation was created that clicited surprise from etearns and other Amherst men. Didn't this taciturn fellow named Coolidge care for the college that had given him so much?
 However few months rolled round. and early In the next season measure was introduced, pushed, and speedily became a law accomplishing the very end sought by MT. Stearns and his associates. The person who accomplished this was Calvin Cool idge. Then it appeared that all along Mr. Coolidge had held no antagonism to the proposition, but that the re- quest for the measure had come in so late that to give it the right of way would have done violence to the pub lie veal. Cal Coolidge loved Amherst | college and appreciated the interest | of Stearns and others in it's welfare. | But even so, he was not willing to all low his private royalties to take pre-, cedence over his senatorial duties asi a servant of the whole common wealth.
 Won Lifelong Friend.
 That incident won for Cal Cooldge'l the lifelong admiration and friend ship of Frank Stearns Stearns inn mediately said to himself, Here is the cause have been looking for. l.. will make this man of integrity, per- sonage. He lacks the electric quali- lions of personality that will win rec ognition unassisted, perhaps. I will!l talk him up in season, out of sea- son" And Frank Searns set about this purpose. How much ,f any great mans success Is due to he contributing personalities that.i Iurround him can never be measured They say that if it had not been for Booker T. Washington's brother, who ( an the business end of Tuskegee, he fame of that wonderful orator ( Ind prophet would never have be- ,ome what H was. They say that ( many a man is really made by his { wife. Anyway, because Coolidge was s unwilling to work his 'pull'' in be- t ialf of his own college, he won the l bllegiance of one whose brains, time, T