The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-13
SILENT CAL
OWES MUCH
TO WILSON
War President Gave Coolidge
Opportunity for LimeIight
During Strike,
BY JOHN CARSON
Times Staff Correspondent

XVII ASHINGTON, Aug. 13.-Presi-
IWI dent Calvin Coolidge. has not
forgotten he owes much, in his
rise to power, to Woodrow Wilson.
Discussions of Coondge's life and
the paths he took to the presidency
have overlooked entirely the fact the
then President Wilson die more to
make opportunity. for Coolidge than
did any other person during the time
Coolidge was Governor Of Massa-
chusetts.
Coolidge knows and remembers,
however. And there is a bond Of
regard and sympathy between the
President and the wounded veteran of
the White House, who is living in
seclusion through the twilight hours
of his life in a little house on S St.
Credit is Argued
Coolidge gained prestige during the
Boston strike Of policemen. How
great, credit is due him for the little
part he played in the strike is a mat
ter for argument among those who
know the intimate history Of the
strike. But almost invariably those
strike insist city officials of Boston got
and kept the situation in hand before
Coolidge asserted any of his power as
the Governor. Coolidge did make the
declaration law and order would be
preserved and he would use all his
power TO enforce order and he did
criticise the policemen who went on
strike.
But the history Of the strike will
show that Immediately following his
entrance into the situation, Coolidge
was given little recognition. even in
Boston. 1t was accepted he would do
what he did and say what ne said.
There was nothing else to be said and
nothing else for him to do. Oppor-
tunity came then to him and it came
from the White House, where Wilson
was the chief executive.
A national political campaign was
brewing. President Wilson was being
attacked with great vigor as the lead
ing figure in the campaign. The Re
publicans were making their fight
on him.
Wilson Wires Congratulations
Suddenly there came from the
White House the announcement that
Wilson had wired his congratulations
to 'Coolidge-that a President elect
ed by the Democrats and then being
denounced by the Republicans had not
hesitated to praise a Republican Gov
ernor. The telegram from Wilson I'M
mediately threw the spotlight on
Coolidge and made him the big figure
in the Boston strike.
Just why President Wilson took the
step~he did was then and is today a
point for debate. 1t is a fact many
Democratic leaders, blinded by their
partisanship, criticised Wilson.
Charges were made that some Of the
White House politicians had inspired
the telegram There was even the
charge that Wilson had not written
it. a charge which was so absurd IL
gained no credence. The Republicans
Joined in and denounced Wilson for
playing politics, big politics. They
were irritated and sore because they
contended that Wilson was capturing
some glory out OF the Boston situa-
ton.
Wrote Telegram
The full truth of the story may
never be told, but such facts as can
be had indicate that President Wilson
not only wrote the telegram. but that
also it was his idea that brought 1t
about and that it was a spontaneous
and sincere expression of regard for
Coolidge.
That was the doorstep to opportun-
ity for Coolidge. Wilson built the
doorstep himself Immediately Coolidge
jumped upward in Republican poll
tics. That he had done little else as
Governor, that he could not make a
speech and that he was a burden as
campaigner, meant nothing. He
won his fame then and there and the
telegram was the vehicle.