Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-30
Boston Merchant May
Be Big Factor
FRANK w. sTEARNs is DESTINED
TO PLAY LEADING PART IN
SHAPING PROGRAM

4
Is Frank W. Stearns, the Boston
merchant and closest personal friend
of the new president, to be the right
hand man of the Coolidge admins
tration?
In the opinion of many persons he
is to be what Colonel House was to
the administration of Woodrow Will
son. Some believe that he is destined
to play an important part in shaping
of a legislative program others, who
have been watching him with critical
eyes, fear that he may become an
administration nuisance.
During the first few days following
the elevation of Coolidge to the presi
dency, Stearns was seen constantly
in and out of the executive suite. He
enacted the role of major domo
around the presidential hotel. 1t was
during this period that, in order to
arrange an audience for Justice San
ford of the Supreme Court, who had
called, Stearns intruded on Cabinet
conference the president was holding
The Boston merchant was the first
caller to enter President Coolidge's
office at the executive mansion after
the new president took up his duties.
He has been with Coolidge almost
continuously since he arrived in
Washington following Harding's death
Frank Waterman Stearns is well
known in his own state. He is chair
man of board of directors of R. H.
Stearns Company, the great Boston
department store founded by his ia
Their, and for years has been the
strongest political advisor of Calvin
Coolidge.
Stearns is trustee of Amherst Col
lege, from which the President was5
graduated, a director of the Childrens
and Homeopathic hospitals of Boston,
South End House and Bunker Hill
Boys Club, a member of the execu-
tive committee of the American Trust
Company and of the investment com
mittee of the Provident Institution of
Savings in the town of Boston mem
Der of the Congregationalist Church,
the Chi Psi fraternity and the Mass
achusetts, Middlesex, Algonquin, Brae
Burn Country and University Clubs
While Republican leaders are hold
ing many political conferences which
are the order of the day in Washing
ton, they are wondering how much
help this right hand" man will give
the Chief Executive during the next
ten months, the brief time which
Coolidge has to write a record of
achievement, before the next Republi
can Convention
Many observers around the execu
tive mansion attached considerable
political Importance to the fact that
Stearns brought additional influence
and support for the President with
the visit of the Massachusetts Repub
lican organization last week. This
was the first concerted action from
any state to put themselves and their
state organization behind the new ad
ministration.
Political leaders also see signifi-
canoe in the fact that it is believed
that William NJ Butler, Boston law
yer, and intimate friend of Stearns,
will be named Attorney General if
Attorney General Daugherty resigns,
as is looked for. Butler lately became
Republican National Committeeman
when Secretary of War Weeks retired
Together with Butler and James B.
Reynolds, the Washington banker
who also halls from the Bay state,
the three are acknowledged as the
new Presidents closest political adj
visors. 1t is expected that they will
help develop and put through pro-
gram fashioned after the New Eng
land business plan.
Taking in consideration the Presi
dents three advisors and with the
executive support, the speaker of the
House, Gillette, Weeks in the Cabi-
net, Winslow, Greene, Treadway and
Rogers as House leaders, and Lodge
in the Senate, all from the Bay state
Massachusetts is in an excellent
position to get what it wants before
Congress-
With these developments Boston is
fast becoming the Hub of the politi
cal wheeland the hand of Frank
Waterman stearns is seen spinning
it around.
Well Named