The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-08-08
Harding Funeral Train Arrives
New President
Assumes Duties
COOLIDGE WILL CARRY ON
HARDING'S PROGRAM WITH
OUT CHANGES.

| Calvin Coolidge took the oath as
president of the United States at 2:47
a. m. last Friday morning in his faith
er's home in Plymouth, Vermont. He
received the news of President Hard
ing's death from his father who had
risen to take the telegram sent by
Secretary Christian. After reading
the message he dicated his own state
ment, setting forth in brief his ex-
ecutive policy. 1t follows:
Reports have reached me which
fear are correct that President Hard
ing is gone. The world has lost a
great and good man. / mourn his
| loss. He was my chief and my fri
end.
1T will be my purpose to carry out
the policies which he has begun for the
service of the American people and
for meeting their responsibilities
wherever they may appear. For this
purpose / shall seek the cooperation
of all those who have been associated
with the President during his term of
| office. Those who have given thei.
efforts to assist him wish to remain
in office that they may assist me.
have faith that God will direct the
destinies of our nation"
Shortly after the newspaper men,
who had hurried to the Coolidge home
had left, a second telegram arrived.
This was a copy of the presidential
oath and in the sitting room of his
old home with it's braided rugs, its col
onial furniture and it's wood stove in
one corner, Calvin Coolidge, with his
hand on the old family Bible, took the
oath OF office from his father and be-
came Americas thirtieth president.
He raised his right hand and re-
peated after his father:
II do solemuly swear that I will
faithfully execute the office of Presi-
dent of the United States, and l will,
to the best of my ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution
of the United States"
Coolidge left for Washington as
soon as arrangements could be made
to that end. He took up temporary
quarters in his private office in the
New Willard Hotel and became i'm
mediately immersed in the work that
fell to him by the death of President
Harding. Following are the out
standing developments of his first ac-
tive day as the nations head:
A proclamation was issued declar-
ing Friday, Aug. 10, a day of
mourning for the late President Hard
ing.
In conference with the press. Mr..
Coolidge made it plain that the Hard
ing policies, the Harding personnel
and the Harding cabinet would be
continued.
The president conferred with Sec
retary of State C. E. Hughes, Sec
retary Edwin DENLY and Postmast-
er General H. S. New on matters per-
tanning to their departments.
President Coolidge will continue the
Harding program without change ac-
cording to statements given out by
him. The cabinet will remain intact
with the possible exception of At
torney General Daugherty who may
seek to return to private life in the
near future. Matters of foreign
policy, chief of which is the Mexican
recognition conference now in pro-
gress, will remain unchanged accord
ing to present announcement. He is
known to be opposed to special ses-
SiOii VI OOuSICSS OCllcNluS tldt Dc-
cember will be early enough to trans
act any business now before the ma
tion unless the gravity of certain
situations should become intensified.
An order has been issued that all
government flags fly at half mast un-
til September 3rd and no official en-
tertainments will be held until Decem-
Der 1. All government action in Of
ficial matters will be deferred until
after the funeral
Following is a resume of Coolidge
record in public matters:
Northampton City Council, 1899.
Northampton's City Solicitor, 1900,
1901.
State Representative, 1907, 1908.
Mayor of Northampton, 1910, 1911.
State Senator, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1919
President of the Senate, 1914, 1919
Continued on last page)