Milford chronicle., 1923-08-10
The Rise of Calvin Coolidge.

ate and both years functioned as Pres
ident of that body. Ills speeches when
he assumed the gavel on both occa-
sions are remembered in Massachus-
etts.
In his first speech on such an oc-
casion he said, among other things:
"Do your days work. If it be to
protect the rights of the weak, who
ever objects, do it. If it be to help a
powerful corporation to better serve
the public, whatever the opposition
do that. Expect to be called a stand
patter, but don't be a standpatter. Be
prepared to be called a demagogue,
but don't be demagogue. Don't hesi-
tate to be as revolutionary as science.
or as reactionary as the multiplication
table. Don't expect to build up the
weak by pulling down the strong. And
don't be in a hurry about passing leg
islation. Give administration it's
chance to catch up with the laws you
already have"
His second speech was shorter. By
actual count it consisted of forty-four
words.
Honorable Senator's" he said, my
sincerest thanks I offer you. Conserve
the firm foundations of our institu-
tions. Do your work in the spirit of a
soldier in the public service. Be loyal
to the Commonwealth and to your
selves. And be brief; above all things,
be brief"
At the conclusion of bis fourth term
in the Senate Mr.. Coolidge became a
candidate for Lieutenant Governor. He
served three terms in that office, 1916,
1917 and 1918. He won by rising plu-
ralities each year. The returns give
these respective pluralities for Cool
idge in the years when he ran for
Lieutenant Governor: 52,194, 84,939,
1O1,7S1.
In 1919 he was elected Governor and
was reelected in 1920, the year when
he was nominated for his present Of
flee.
Record in Office as Governor
He was the first Governor OF Nassa-
chusetts to submit an Executive bud
get to the Legislature. Aside from his
handling of the Boston police strike,
the outstanding achievement Of his ad-
was the forcing through
OF legislation providing for a reduc-
tion in the number of administrative
agencies in the State Government,
which were cut from more than a hun
dred to twenty. This legislation had
been provided for by a constitutional
adopted in 1918 under
which the Legislature had until 1920
to act.
The Legislature seemed disposed to
take advantage of the leeway thus
but Governor Coolidge insist
ed that the reorganization bill be pass
ed and he had his way. AS Lieutenant
Governor he had become familiar with
the operation Of the party steam roller
and did not hesitate to take advan-
tage of his knowledge when the popu-
lar welfare, in his opinion, called for
drastic action.
Work on Transportation Problem
He also was instrumental in bring
ing about an investigation to devise
means for solving the transportation
problem of the State, which had be-
come acute during the war. Many of
the electric railroads, both urban and
lnterurban, could not make both ends
meet with the proceeds OF the fve-cent
fares they collected and the prospect
that many such lines would have TO be
scrapped was facing the State. Under
the circumstances the Governor call
ed for the appointment of a legislative
committee to investigate and report to
a special session of the Legislature,
which was finally summoned to meet
on November Is, shortly after he had
been reelected for a second term.
In his message to the special ses-
sion Governor Coolidge said that in
creased fares or State or local aid to
The tottering street railroad corpora
lions furnished he sole alternatives
for their rehabilitation. State aid, he
said, would shift but not diminish the
burden of the public which the users
Of the lines would assume if a higher
fare were granted.
Public ownership" he said in his
message, "is no answer to this prob |
EN-, as it would not provide increased !
President Coolidge has become
known through his many years i'll pub
ic life as a man of few words but |
plenty of action. One of his many say
ngs of which notice has been taken is |
his: eve need more of the Office |
iesks and less of the show windows I
n politics"
He is a man of extremely simple
habits. Up to the time of his election
% the Vice Presidency he lived with
lis family in two-family dwelling in !
Northampton, where he had occupied
of the house as tenant since