The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-05
SILENT CALVIN COOLIDGE OFFERS STRANGE PROBLEM
 70 OFFICIAL WASHINGTON
Newspaper Men Quick To See Genial Harding Has Been Succeeded By Entirely Dif- ferent Kind Of President
By RAYMOND CHAPTER Leased Wire to The Asc-Herald)

Geased Wire to The Agc-HeraId) l WASHINGTON, August 4.-Agair official Washing gton-which includes cabinet members. senators, congress- men, office holders and office-hunt- ers-must change it's gait to fit a to- tally different kind of President.
 After Calvin Coolidge had been on the job as chief executive twelve hours here Saturday. it was apparent that the country now has a Presi- I det who is the essence of the silent l Yankee type, all business during of l flee hours, accommodating to a fault, a patient listener but stingy with his words
 Politicians went to Wilson, some what awe-stricken, keenly conscious that they were standing in the pres ence of a great intellect. When Harding came into the White House they soon learned that the best way to approach him was with new story and fresh line of banter. Coolidge New Problem.
 | But Coolidge offers a new problem. l He has all of the Yankee caution, all l of the neighborliness of the folks down east, and the silence of seven l sphinxes those who expect to have conference with him might as well be prepared to do all of the talking l Coolidge knows when to say yes l and when to say no. Beyond that he | takes Rfuge in silence.
 Yet he is democratic as his humble 1 beginning on the farm in Vermont. l The test of this is his willingness to pose in any way news photag- raphers suggest He will climb into new outfit of overalls, put on farm CT boots and a jumper, and milk 8 COW, pitch hay, and do any Of the j score of freak stunts which the in genuity of photographers suggest, Unless a man has democratic in stincts in his heart, he usually balks at such antics.
 He Is sincere.
 Coolidge will keep the White House doors wide open as they were under Harding. He cannot seem to muster the easy-running fire or | chatty conversation which Harding used with such skill when he faced a long line of handshakers. But Coo lidge will shake hands cordially. lie may lack ready conversation but his sincerity shows all over his face.
 He announced Saturday that he would continue the semi-weekly con ferences with newspaper men which were a feature of the Harding ad- ministration. But, even discountins the temporary strain he is laboring under, and of atmosphere of sadness under the shadow of Harding death, Coolidge's first press confer ence lacked the feeling of under standing which Harding, by virtue of his newspaper career, was able to maintain.
 Coolidge stood near the door of his suite in the temporary White House at the Willard hotel just before noon' Nearly two hundred newspaper men were ushered in, single file-the first delegation to visit him formally since he became President.
 O Q O
 Economy In Words.
 The men filed by shaking hanos' Glad to see you" replied Coolidge to each one, with an extra Word oI greeting he came to know while pre- siding over the Senate. Then came the greatest exhibition Of economy in words that has been seen since he delivered his 4o-word inaugural when he became governor of Mas sachusetts Here is a typical yer batim excerpt from the conference which lasted less than ten minutes,
 Q. Have your physician ana sec retary been appointedF
 A. MT. Christian Is the secretary to the President and pr. Sawyer ls the physician to the fresloent' GV- ,, erything stands as it is until you are notified to the contrary.
 O. You said there will be no an- nouncement of the administration s uolicies until after the funeral. Does that mean you will then simply sum- marize your views?
 statement Stands.
 A. There is no Interpretation nec- esary to be put on my statement
 My statement stands just as l gave
 it.
 O Will that also apply to any cuestion relative to an extra session , of Congress? l A. I think that question IS an swered by my statement.
 o. Are the absent cabinet mem- , bers returning to Washingtoh' A. Yes, they are
 O. Have you any date in mind for a cabinet meeting at any time soon' A No. ,, For the first time since Roosevelt , there will be no golf bag around the
 White House. Coolidge played few
 times before he was married ano three or four times since he came f to Washington. He walks TOT rec , reation.
 Walked To Capital.
 As Vice President. he made the one-mile trip from his hotel, to tht csuitol on foot in good weather. As | governor of Ma ssachusetts. he took waks arund Boston with his body
 guard eacn night after clearing oil his desk He goes to the theater. As ' a congre gationalist of the cd schoo ' he does not play cards. ! His intimates have never knowr . him to swear.
 He smokes long, black cigars bu' 7 doesn't hold them at coclly angles like Uncle Joe" Cannon. s He is the one l,uown exception | that proves >he rulv that oonversa tion is the chief tool of the politi' - cian He seems to get along with but this supposed necessity and thai l is why he is such mystery tC
 Washington. Somehow, the capita = refuses to believe that it knows the f real Coolidge. During the next few = months, while the glare of persona t publicity be1ts down upon him, ever as he eats his frugal breakfast o1 . smarp-eyed deniZen of the capita . wil peer an dpeer, looking for tho I real Coolidge that they firmly be , Nlieve must be rolled up somewhere f inside the new President. r JAPANESE WOMAN