Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-22
VERM0NTERS
TO SEEK FORMATION
OF COOLIDGE CLUBS

Grafton, VT. Aug. 21.-(By A. P.)
Approximately 10000 former
residents of Vermont, now voting in
Al other states. are actively sup
porting a national movement to or
ganize and enlarge Coolidge for
President clubs. JQohn Barrett, for
mer director of the Pam American
Union, announced today on his re-
turn home from Washington and
New York
In a formal statement, Mr.. Bar
rett, who conferred with President
Coolidge regarding Pan American af-
fairs while in Washington asserted
he had been invited to New York
yesterday to direct the movement,
but he feared other duties would
prevent him taking the chairman
ship of provisional committee tina,
already has been formed.
Mr. Barrett's statement followed
one issued recently by Senate:
Moses of New Hampshire, in wi ich
he asserted Mr.. Coolidge would be
q candidate for the Republican no.ni g.
nation in 1924 and that he should
receive the solid support of New
England.
In his statement. in which lie re-
called the fact that Mr.. Coolidge had
been reared on Vermont farm, NJ.
Barrett said:
Last winter a group of native
Nermonters began testing the atti-
tude of Representative and in1uer-
tial Vermont outlanders. as iryal
native and former residents living
outside the state are now described
towards organizing these 10000
from Massachusetts to California, in
to a powerful national Vermont AS
sociation which would cooperate
with the inlanders or permanent
residents in advancing the states
general welfare and prosperity just
as College alumni associations aid
their respective institutions.
THE program carried with it the
very popular suggestion that the
then vice president. Calvin Coolidge.
a native Nermonter. he chosen hon
arary president and Ambassador
Harvey. another native. honorary
vice president. Our appeal met with
most gratifying response and we in
tend to perfect the organization this
coming autumn or winter.
The original movement in itself.
of course. had. and will have If con-
summated, no political character
whatever. But suddenly and un-
eXpectedly the elevation of Mr.. Cool =
idge to the presidency has inspired
native Nermonters everywhere. to
suggest that some national movemen,
among them to form or join Coolidge
clubs be inaugurated.
I'VE have already heard. on their
OWE initiative. to this effect, from
prominent and influential men. most
of them leaders in agricultural. in
dustrial and educational activities.
residing in such distant states as
California. Oregon. Washington.
Idaho. both Dakotas. Minnesota.
Iowa. Nebraska. Kansas. Illinois and
Florida. Westerners so far seen,
even more interested than eastern
ers,. especially in tn agricultural sec
tons where Coolidge is looked upon
as n product of the farm.
yesterday in New York group
of these interested and representa-
tive Ncrmontcrs. including several
from the central and far west, form
ed provisional committee and in
vited me to act as chairman of a
general committee on organization
to advance this movement through
out the country as had done for the
National Vermont Association. While
l fear that my non political rcspon-
sihilties as arbitrator in several in
ternational commercial disputes will
prevent my present active associa-
ton with the movement. I can say
that there is no doubt of its strength
and significance"