White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-11-30

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III per.
Never in the history of the United
States has any man become Presi-
dent of the United States like Cal
vim Coolidge.
| A group of Amherst alumni and a
book probably had as much to do
with Governor Coolidge, of Massa-
chusetts, becoming President, as
anything else. Because those alumni
finally convinced Governor Coolidge
that he was wanted by the repre-
sentatives of the Republican party
to head the Republican ticket with
Senator Harding, and the book car.
ried to thousands of editors through
out the United States the story OF
Calvin Coolidge, statesman.
Soon after the Boston police stu.
alton which made Calvin Coolidge a
national figure, certain Of the alumni
of Amherst College, from which Mr..
Coolidge had been graduated, and
notably some Of his classmates, met
and decided that Coolidge had presi-
Dental possibilities. Included in this
group was Dwight Morrow, A. s..
Wilson, and Bruce Barton, of New
York. James Reynolds, of Washing
ton and Frank w. Stearns, of Bos-
ton. But Governor Coolidge asked
these good friends of his not to
think Of him in connection with any
candidacy for national Office. But
the loyal Amherst alumni acuated
by their loyalty and admiration for
the man and for what he stood, con
tinued and each day their enthusi-
asm grew greater.
Mr.. Reynolds even opened a
Coolidge for President" office in
Washington which Governor Coolidge
asked to have closed. 1t was closed.
But finally the Republican delega-
ton from Oregon asked that Coolidge
be nominated for vice-presidency.
Most Of the college group could
think of nothing but the presidency
SO they opened an office at SOL
Fifth Avenue and from there car
ried on their nationwide campaign,
without question a unique one in the
history of American politics.
Alumni Publishes Book
AS first step these alumni, with
the help of Mr.. Stearns, had pub
lished book known as "Have Faith
in Massachusetts" a collection of
state papers and addresses by Gov
ernor Coolidge. In the preface to
this volume the editors said:
"There are certain fundamental
principles OF sound community life
which cannot be stated too emphati
cally or too often. Few public men
Of today have shown finer combi-
nation of right feeling and clear
thinking about these principles, with
a gift for the pithy expression of
them, than has Governor Coolidge.
1t was an accurte phrase that Presi-
dent Meiklejohn used when, in con-
ferring the degree of Doctor of Law
on him at Amherst College last June,
he complimented him on teaching the
lesson of adequate brevity.'
"His speeches and messages abound
in evidence of this gift, but in the
main the speeches are not easily
accessible. 1t has seemed to some Of
Governor Coolidge's admirers, as it
has to the publishers of this little
volume, that real public service
might be rendered by making care
full selection from the best of the
speeches and issuing them in at
tractive and convenient form. With
his permission that has been done,
and 1t is hoped that many readers
will welcome the book in this time
of special need of inspiring and
steadying Influences.
ut Is time when all men should
realize that, in the words of Cover
nor Coolidge himself, Laws must
rest on the eternal foundations of
righteousness; that Industry, thrift,
character are not conferred by, act
or resolve. Government cannot re-
lieve from toll 1t is time when
we must have faith in Massachu-
sets. We need a broader, firmer,
deeper faith in the people,-a faith
that men desire to do right, that
the Commonwealth is founded upon
a righteouness which will endure u
This book, properly the most ex
traordinary campaign document ever
published, was the means Of the Am.
herst alumni of acquainting the
American press and through the
press the public, the kind of man
Coolidge is. And the method of dis.
tributing these books was unusual.
Editors Get Books
1t was my privilege to be en-
trusted with the task of distributing
some of these volumes. With Am
herst alumni, stimulated solely by
love and admiration for the man, WIG
started out into various communities
meeting with editors and others who
have daily contacts with the public
National politics was usually the sub
ject Of conversation and somewhere
this question was asked:
What do you think of Coolidge?
"a good man." was invariably the
answer, "but l understand he isn't 8
candidate" :,
"That is true" the editor would
be advised. But possibly If enough
public interest and enthusiasm car