The Washington times., 1923-08-04

return Of President Coolidge to
Washington. Lightning flashing in
termittently, thunder rumbling in
the Maryland hills, and fitful rain
squalls-all heightened the feeling
of loss and depression which has
overtaken the city since the fateful
news from San Francisco.
Welcomed at Station.
A mere handful Of people, hardly
thousand In all. were present to
greet the incoming new Executive
as he stepped from the special
train which brought him from his
New England home. There were no
cheers, the crowd standing in SOL
emn silence.
Secretary Of State Hughes sat in
the Presidents room from 8:43
o'clock until the train pulled in.
He was joined by Postmaster Gen.
eral New, Acting Secretary Of
Labor Henning, and j. Butler
Wright, Third Assistant Secretary
of State.
Secret service operatives and a
large detail of detectives from po-
lice headquarters moved within the
lines, forming guard at the train
shed entrance.
Secretary Hughes entered Presi-
dent Coolidge's stateroom immedi-
ately upon the trains arrival, and
was followed by the other officials.
After five minutes, during which
time the crowd grew increasingly
restless, the new President de-
scended the train steps. Clad in
a dark suit, he wore black tie
and a panama hat. He was &C.
companied by Mrs. Coolidge, dressed
simply in brown and a black straw
hat.
Outside the Willard Hotel the
temporary executive mansion-an-
other scene of the strange drama
of sorrow was enacted. A thous-
and persons stood waiting for an
hour to see the new President
reach his temporary white
House" Suddenly the White House
Mrs. Coolidge, guarded by secret
service men, rolled up to the hotel
and the President entered. The
crowd never noticed him, but con-
tinued its vigil while policemen
went about explaining the Presi-
dent had already entered the hotel.
Ten minutes passed before the
crowd was convinced. banding
as silently as it had formed.
Calvin Coolidge - former Vice
President and now President-had
come home an unknown.
Will Use Capitol Office.
Until the extensive alterations
and repairs being made in the
executive offices OF the White
House can be completed President
Coolidge. it Is said, win probably
utilize his quarters IA the Capitol
for administrative purposes. He
will visit the Capitol today and
confer with officials as to the posi-.
biltty Of carrying out such a plan.
Rush orders to complete the work
in the executive offices were issued
yesterday and will be carried out
as expeditiously as possible.
AS Vice President a suite Of two
rooms were assigned President
Coolidge in the office building. The
quarters are cramped and will
greatly inconvenience the Chief
Executive in carrying. on his. ad-
ministrative work. Two additional
rooms, adjacent to those already at
his disposal are available. In an
emergency, 1t is said, Senators &C.
CupyHS TOOInS on In0 opposite Sl0e
of the hall would be willing to
temporarily Vacate them for the
President.
In the Capitol moro pretentious
quarters are available. But at the
best they would be make shifts. AS
Vice President, Mr.. Coolidge oc.
cupied a small room off the Senate
chamber to which could be added
the marble room and the Presidents
room at the other end. A corridor
| connects the Vice Presidents room
| and the lobby used during Senate
sessions as an anteroom for the re-
ception Of visitors. In turn this
is connected with the room used by
the Senate Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia which could he
utilized for administrative purposes
If required.
The rooms as indicated consti-
tute unit which can be shut off
from the public assuring absolute
privacy for the President and nd.
ministrative workers. The District
Committee room, It is pointed out.
would provide suitable quarters for
Cabinet meetings as 1t is fully
furnished for such purpose.
Work under way in the Senate
chamber would not interfere with
the Presidents occupancy Of the
quarters indicated.