Imperial Valley press., 1923-08-18


Aug. 18.-Knowing that Roger Bah
son is a neighbor of President
Coolidge, he has been continually
asked during the past two weeks to
make statement as to the prob
able attitude of the new President
toward business. Mr.. Babson has,
however, refused to do so until to-
day, believing that it was no time
to talk business, and furthermore
that President Coolidge should be
permitted to make his own an
nouncements. Now that the Presi-
dent has done so Mr.. Babson has
answered the question put to him.
President Coolidge will be
found to be a true friend to the
agricultural, industrial, and conf
mercial interests of the United
States,' he said, che is the first
President to ever have had Il thor
ough economic training. ~While at
Amherst College he majored in eco
nomics. Ever since graduation he
has devoted a large part of his time
to economic resea--:h. Those who
have heard him speak or have read
his books recognize the thorough
ground work which he has along eco
nomic lines. The country is very
fortunate to have a President who
possesses this background. Other
Presidents may have possessed GER
tain qualities which President Cool
idge lacks but none have equalled
him in judgment and ability to
handle the great economic agricul-
tural, industrial and commercial
problems today facing our country.
Wide Business Contact
Manufacturer may feel very
safe with President Coolidge, owing
to his training and environment.
William M. Butler, whose name has
been so constantly in the papers
the past two weeks, is the head
of the great group of Butler Cot
ton Mills in New England. These
mills are located in New Bedford.
North Adams and elsewhere and
employ about 5000 operatives. Mr..
Butler is also president of the Bos-
ton and Worchester street railway,
a high speed double track, electric
line operating between Boston and
Worcester, which is the most sue.
cessful interurban line in New Eng
land. Mr.. Butler combines a legal
training with practical business
experience, and from him President
Coolidge has absorbed a tremendous
amount of industrial experience
President Coolidge's closest person,
al friends is Frank Stearns, the head
of r. ii. Stearns and company, one
of the largest department stores OF
New England. Mr.. Stearns is q
merchant who not only thoroughly
understands the commercial world
hut purchases good deal from
Europe. Most of our Presidents
have been trained in legal or poll
teal life without being thrown into
contact much with practical busi
ness men. President Coolidge has
continually been in an industrial
commercial and agricultural envir
Onment,
"'On the other hand" continued
Babson, "President Coolidge also
understands the problems of the
masses. He himself was born poor
has always been poor and is poor
now. His father was born a Yer,
mont farmer and is one yet. Presi
dent Coolidge was working in the
hay field the day before he became
President of the United States. The
last time 1 talked with him he was
especially troubled with the condi
tion of the western farmer. Oul
conversation covered n broad field
but he continually came back tC
the problem of the farmer and said
'We must do something for thu
western farmer. What is the san
est and best thing we can do?'
Appreciates Agriculture
"No one better realizes than hi
that agriculture is the basis OF
American prosperity and that will
thirty-three million people dcpen
dent upon agriculture for their in
come we must have prosperity il
the west before we can have it ia
the east.
"The home life of the new Presi
dent was illustrated by the new,
item which appeared in the papers
on the eventful morning of Friday
August 8. The press dispatcl
read: 'Mr. Coolidge came dowl
stairs in his slippers, entered hi
fathers sitting room, lit the lamp
and read the telegram telling hin
that he was President of the Unit
ed States. Those simple words
slippers, sitting room Git th'
lamp tell the whole story. Busi
ness has nothing to fear from thu
man with that environment ant
with such friends. Moreover, bes
of all, he is grounded on thos
fundamentals of religion which pu