The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-03-21


Yatpd him, To that office? And has he,
N the course of his hfty-two years,
o..ices sufficiently important 70
dlctle whether he is iii for the pres
dengy?
HISS attitude toward public Office is
IS best shown by his message TO
lature of Massachusetts, when
Ded tie bill TO raise salaries OF
enbers from 81 900 TO $500 a
Ia part. he said:
Ice i'm the General Court (the
= is not obligatory. but OPP
I, "a. II is not To be undertaken as
a profession or "a means of livelihood.
1t is a voluntary public service.
"ltor the searching out OF great prin.
ciples ON which legislation Is based
there is no adequate compensation. IL
value for services were the criterion,
there would be $50 different salaries.
Wien membership is sought as u
means Of livelihood, legislation will
pass from a public function to pri.
vate enterprise. Meh do not serve
here for pay; they seek work and
places of responsibility and find in that
seeking, not in their pay, their honor
And he vetoed the bin.
Calvin Coolidge began at the very
foot of the ladder so far as public
Office Is concerned He had gone
through college at Amherst, had stud
led law In Northampton, Mass, and
had established himself as lawyer
in that town. His steady ways and
good common sense were noted by his
townsmen and In 1899, when he was
only twenty-seven years Of age, he was
elected a town councilman Of North.
ampton. He did not scorn the posi-
ton because Ii meant hard work and
10 pay--his ideal then was the same
as now. that men do not serve for
pay"
That experiment confirmed his fel-
low citizens In their estimate OF young
Coolidge as man TO be entrusted with
their business affairs, and the next
year 1900, they elected him city sollci-
tor. That election was not unanimous.
1t is told OF him that soon after the
election Coolidge met a member Of the
council who said:
well, | see you're elected city solici-
tor; but didn't vote for you"
Makes Long Speech.
Coolidge made-for him--a long
speech. He said, with q smile:
Well, somebody did"
His next office was that Of Clerk
Of Courts Of Hampshire county, to
which he was appointed. He declined
TO be candidate at the next election.
Then he was sent down to Boston
as member Of the lower house OF
the legislature.
He served capably. as always, giving
to the position the best that was In
hiln, seldom speaking, but discharging
with the utmost fidelity the trust re-
posed in him.
Wien his term expired, his city of
, Northampton chose hini 10 be It's
~ yor. Ills administration was noted
to he reduction he made in the city's =
Indebtedness.
After his mayoralty term Coolid q
;ls elected state senator, and served
IN 1872 to 1915. In his second term
he state senate. SO much had he
essed the other senator's with his
llty and his fairness, he was chosen
thout opposition-president Of the
ate.
aadily the people advanced him In
arvice. He was elected lieu
50 az governor In 1916.
.snole Country Finally Sees Him.
That work being carried out with all
he Coolidge thoroughness, he was
elected governor Of Massachusetts, In
1910.
Through all these years the people,
first OF the little village Of. Plymo nth.
VI. then Of Northampton, Mass, then
Of the county. and finally Of the state.
had come to know and appreciate Cal
vim Coolidge. 1t was while he was
governor that the opportunity came for
the people of the whole nation to get
a revealing glimpse Of the silent.
strong. capable, self-eAfacing man who
guided the destinies OF the Old Bay
State That opportunity came with
the strike Of the police force Of the
city Of Boston. w
The policemen organized a union,
and when their demands were not
granted, went on strike. leaving the
city to anarchy.
Elected Vice President.
His overwhelming victory for the
right, though his political advisers
warned him he was committing politi-
cal suicide, brought him to the atten.
tion Of the nation. and he was nomi-
mated as the running mate Of Warren
G. Harding, and In 1920 elected vice
president. &
Then. on Aug. 3, 1924. when Presi.
dent Harding had been suddenly taken
~ death, Calvin Coolidge became
President Of the United Shtes.
Ills attitude there has been In every
respect exactly what 1t has been al
lis life Strong, cool, silent. intense.
~