Evening star., 1923-11-11
by JAMES A. BUCHANAN.

cupies the White House, but few have
ever had a Closeup" of the action
behind the scenes. The public has
not had a chance to note how the
men who sort out the thousand and
one things that are put up to the
President every day perform their du-
ties. A large portion of the general
public thinks that all the personal
secretary to the President has to do
is to dictate a few letters each day,
welcome a few friends and have q
real good time in general, but II one
camped on the trail of Edward Tracy
Clark, personal secretary and lifelong
friend of Calvin Coolidge, one would
find that this earnest sort of a person
has no cinch job, and would mentally
capitalize each of the letters in the
mo cinch job" part.
Contrary to general belief, the
Presidents friend and very able as
sistant did not come from Massachu-
setts-that is, originally---for he was
born in Kingston, N. Y, but at the
age Of two he left the place of his
birth and removed to Northampton,
Mass, where Calvin Coolidge settled
after having come down from Ver-
mont. There always has been a fas-
cination about the town for many,
and it is matter of general talk that
many a big political deal has had its
birth in that hamlet.
Clark was rather young wl&n he
first met the man who was to take
the little chap whose father was the
pastor of Edwards Congregational
Church to Washington with him. as
his right-hand man. 1t will be re-
membered that the Coolidges, for
many years attended the church over
which Mr.. Clark, ST., presided. The
man who now occupies the White
House took a liking to the young
man, although there are not really
so very many years difference in
their ages. They often chatted upon
the questions of the day, and Calvin
Coolidge saw that there was young
fellow who had. according to his no.
ton, the right perspective on things
in general.
ssT>ED" CLARK. as his intimate
i friends call him, grew up just
like any other normal New Eng
land boy. He was not milk-sop,
he played the games just as earnestly
and as roughly as did the other boys,
and they say in that part of the coun-
try that he could not be bullied. He
attended the public schools and was
considered a bright pupil. not "phe-
nom," just a real good student who
applied himself to his tasks and
learned what had been set out for
him to learn.
After finishing the course at the
public school in Northampton, he en-
tered Amherst and graduated near
the top of his class in 1900. During
the time that he was in Amherst the
same institution that had as pupils
Calvin Coolidge, Frank w. Stearns'
and many other men who have
achieved fame, he paid particular at
tention to political economy. Mem
hers of the class of 1900 say that
Clark was mighty hard to down in an
argument that concerned that sub
ject, or any other for that matter
as he had an extremely clear and
ANALYTICAL mind. They seem to be that
way in Northampton.
Clark graduated with the degree o.
A. B., and then came to Washington
as assistant clerk to the committee
on the Philippines. which was under
the direction of Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge. The senator is without doubt
one of the best read men of the pres
ent day, and this association with
him proved to be the turning point
in the Northampton mans career. for
Lodge, appreciating the young mans S
worth. appointed him his private sec
retary. The position was more than
that Of a secretary, however; it had a
closer and more intimate touch. Clark
had q chance to meet the leading citi-
zens, not only of this country. but
also of the world. He has sat in"
as they say UP at the Capitol. on more
important conferences and committee
meetings than most any man of his
years in the country, and never once
was he guilty of making a break. He
was always nice to the reporters and
gave them all that he could give out,
but when it came to saying some thing
that should not be said, he had the
sphinx beaten the proverbiah mile. He
could just exude silence.
a MOTHER angle that he secured
"A while with the Massachusetts,
senator was how they do things in
national conventions, for he was with
ha Ph ha irY,r n N
many times that memory faileth. and
who, when he was not holding the
gavel, was chairman of the committee
on resolutions. This experience in
itself is an education, for large pro-
portion of the work that is done at
national conventions by all parties is
finished before it reaches the floor
that is, finished except for the neces-
sary motions and the form Of voting.
1t has to be so. for delegates to a con-
vention have other things to do at
home, and they cannot spend days and
days doing the things that the COM
mittees should do.
The reader may understand that this
sort OF a political education is Of
great value to any man, and Clark
was studying all the time that he was
with the distinguished senator from
his state. He studied law at night
and graduated with honors from
George Washington University. Those
who have heard him speak say that if
he had embarked on a personal po-
litical career he would now be ono of
the leading figures in his state.
One thing to be noticed about the
personal secretary to President Cool
idge is his ability to keep his head