San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-03

Massachusetts until the President s
great-great- ther moved from
Lancaster into Vermont. Here the
Coolidge family through ratiOns
titled the soil, raised livestock, pro.
duccd maple syrup and sugar, and
were among the persons OF influence
in their community.
To him in bOyhood came the usual
experiences Of country boy living on Il
lonely farm, the son of the village
StorekePper Here was born in him the
industry, frugality and self reliance
which became notable in later years
His mother died when he was IL. and
four years later lie lost his only sis
ter. but there was always deep affec
ton and warm bond of sympathy
between him and his stepmother.
After attending the ungraded eoun-
try school in Plymouth. the future
President continued his studies at
Black River Academy in Ludlow. and
later went To the academy ut ST.
.Johnsbury. From there he went TO
Amherst College. where his career
was marked with persistency and
frugaiity. He paid So week for
his board because he could not find
cheaper lodging house. He was
Il keen student and great reader
of books. especially those on history
and government. Only in II modest
way did he enter into college ac-
tivitics. He took no active part in
sports.
Won Prize For Essay.
In his senior year in open compe-
tition with students in all colleges,
he won the first prize for the best
essay on the causes of the revolution
airy war. In 1895 he graduated and
not having enough money 10 90 to
law school he obtained employment
in the office OF Judge Hammond. one
OF the leading lawyers of the state.
There he devoted his attention as
siduously to the study OF law. with
the result that in twenty months he
was admitted to the bar. He has
continued since then TO practice law
in Northampton.
On October 1. 1905, he married
Miss Grace A. Goodhue. of Burling-
ton. VT. making home for his
bride in two family apartment
house which they still occupy i'll
Northampton. He has two sons.
John and Calvin Jr.
In 1899 Mr.. Coolidge was a men,
Der # the Northampton city council,
and in 1900 and 1901 was city soil
citOr. In 1904 he was appointed
county clerk but declined the nOmi-
m Il.
general court. and in 1910 and 1911
was mayor of the city. He was
elected state senator in 1912. and
served in that capacity during the
three following years. being president
of the state senate in 1914 and 1915.
A 42-wOrd acceptance speech he made
when reelected president of the SEN
ate became classic in Massachu-
sets state craft.
Elected Governor.
In this and in the speech Of accept
ance the preceding year he used two
phrases which his friends regard as
his creed, do this days work" and
be brief"
In 1916 he became lieutenant gov
ernor Of Massachusetts and was
nominated by the Republicans for
governor in 1917 and elected by 17.s
600 votes. Under the now famous
slogan of Law and Order" growing
out of the Boston police strike he
was reelected governor in 1919 by
over 125,O00, receiving the largest
vote ever given a candidate for gov
ernor in that state.
1t was his stand as governor during
the police strike that won him nation
wide recognition. When this crisis
developed and responsibility for action
passed 10 him after the failure OF the
municipal authorities to settle the
trouble. he publicly branded the strike
as a desertion of public utility and
restored order by the use of state
troops.
Lincoln His Idol.
President Coolidge's belief in the
of party government is
based upon his reading of history and
his conclusion that it is the most ef-
fective Of achieving the ideals of de-
mOcracy. He knows his Burke almost
as well as his idol-Lincoln. He has
made a special study also of economic
questions and one of his notable ac-
cOmplishments in Massachusetts was
in connection with the reduction of
taxation. He was also instrumental
in having placed upon the statue books
an anti-monopoly law. and he material
ly assisted in a codifying of the state
banking laws.
In physique the new President is
spare. but enjoys vigorous health. His
hair is auburn. his nose prominent. his
eyes gray. his lips thin and his man
ner dignified and reserved. He has
only one hobby and that is study.
He devOtes all his spare time to
reading works on law, government and
history. Although a member of the
governing board and n regular attend
ant when at home of the Edwards Con-
gregational Church of Northampton, he
is not a communicate. He has never