The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-08-03
NEW PRESIDENT SUBSCRIBES TO
OATH OF OFFICE BEFORE HIS
AGED FATHER


president Of the United States at 2:47
a. m. today, when he took the oath
OF office in the living room of his
fathers farm house here, three hours
after being notified of President
Harding's death.
Mr.. Coolidge left for Washington
at 1880 a. H., after the little farm
house, where his father administered
the presidential oath, had become the
mecca for hundreds. Mr.. Coolidge
said he would seek the cooperation
of President Harding's chiefs, and
continue his policies.
Coolidge Strong Character
/ Washington-(A. P)-With the
passing of Mr.. Harding, the office of
president devolves upon Calvin Cool
idge, vice-president of the United
States, a man silent in nature but
demonstrated as strong in emergen-
cies He was notified of the death
of Mr.. Harding at his home in Ply
mouth, Vermont.
Calvin Coolidge is perhaps better
equipped by experience to take up
his administrative duties in the White
House than was any of his predeces-
sors who have been called to that
high office by the death of presi-
dent.
Having won for himself in large
measure the e-presidential nomina-
tion by his executive forcefulness as
governor of Massachusetts, particu-
larly by his attitude in the police
strike, he has kept throughout the
Harding administration closely in
touch with the problems of the fed
eral government and has assisted in
shaping the administration policy by
his constant attendance at cabinet
meetings.
Although vice-presidents usually
have no other duties to perform than
that of presiding over the senate and
casting the deciding vote when that
body finds itself in tie, Mr.. Coolidge
has absented himself from its ses-
sions every Tuesday and Friday to
participate in the cabinet delibera-
tions. Thus he became familiar not
only with all angles of the major pub
lie questions but also with the rea-
sons actuating the president in his
decisions.
Not only has he given his best
ability to work but he has done as
much as any other member of the
administration to place its accomp-
ishments before the pec~le. He has
travelled a great deal making ad-
dresses, and is said to have made
more public addresses than the pre-
,ident or any member of his cabinet.
His intimate touch with administra-
ton affairs sometimes has brought
mon him considerable pressure and
md others who sought to obtain
through him information concerning
developments at the White House or
@ have placed before the president
particular views on pending issues.
He usually has remained reticent un-
ler these trying conditions. however,
.efusing to discuss cabinet meetings
)r to act as a go-between for those
Interested in having their views pre-
;ented to the president.
Born ON independence Day
President Coolidge was born on In
day, 1872, in Plymouth
, remote country village in the hills
If Vermont, the son of John c. and
Victoria ]. (Moor) Coolidge. Des-
,ended from John and Mary Coolidge,
Who had settled in Watertown, Mass,
lbout 1880, his ancestry runs through
| long line of farmers who lived In
Massachusetts until tie presidents
,reat great grandfather moved from
lancaster into Vermont. Here the
coolidge family, through generations,
illed the soil, raised livestock, pro-
luced maple syrup and sugar and
we're among the persons of influence
n their community
Received Heavy Vote
In 1916 he became lieutenant gov
rnor of Massachusetts and was nom
mated by the republicans for gov
rnor in 1917 and elected by 1900
otes. Under the now famous slogan
f "law and order" growing out of
he Boston police strike, he was re-
lected governor in 1918 by over 125,-
90, receiving the largest vote ever
iven candidate for governor in that
tate.
1t was his stand as governor during
he police strike that won him ma
on-wide recognitio< When this
risis developed and responsibility for
ction passed to him after the failure
the municipal authorities to settle
he trouble, he publicly branded the
trike as a desertion of public duty
nd restored order by the use of state
-oops.
President Coolidges belief in the
of party government is
ased upon his reading of history and
is conclusion that it is the most
Elective method of achieving the
leals of democracy. He knows his
urke almost as well as his idol
incoln. He has made a special study
so of economic questions and one OF
Is notable accomplishments in
massachusetts, was in connection with
lie reduction of taxation. He also
as instrumental in Iaving placed
BON the statute books an anti-mono-
)ly law.