Evening star., 1924-08-24
COOLIDGE SPENDS
DAY WITH FRIENDS
President Pays No Attention
to Politics While Neigh
bors Pay Visits.
By the Associate Press.

~ the Astocihted Press.
PLYMOUTH, VT, August 23.-Presi-
dent Coolidge gave himself into the
hands OF relatives and neighbors to-
day. and with Mrs. Coolidge and his
father spent the afternoon on the
lawn Of the fawiiy home here shak-
ing hands and Visiting.
IL his mind was on the campaign
and It's most recent Developments
bringing the ku klux klan into the
iimelight. Mr.. Coolidge did not dis
close IL.
The booming of the first ofrensives
Of the two parties. including the ad-
dress yesterday by John w. Davis.
Democratic candidate, and that today
by Charles G. Dawes, the presidents
running mate, came into this quiet
hamlet over newspaper wires, but
halted suddenly In the Office of c.
Bascom Slemp, secretary to the Presi-
dent.
No Political Comment.
Last night Mr.. Slemp informed Mr.
Coolidge of the suggestion by John
W. Davis that the President join by
explicit declaration" in eliminating
the Khan as campaign issue. Today
Mr.. Slemp received word of Mr..
Dawes speech, and late this afternoon
reported it to the President. Both
messages were received without COM
ment by the Republican nominee.
1t was said earlier in the afternoon
by Mr.. Slemp that to his knowledge
the President knew nothing of the
proposed declaration by Mr.. Dawes on
the Klan. The silence of Mr.. Coolidge
also made it impossible to predict. he
said. what course he would pursue in
regard to Mr.. Dawes speech. Mean
while, Mr.. Coolidge. except for his
social visit this afternoon. the first
with the townsfolk since he arrived
a week ago on his l2-day vacation,
kept close to his fathers home, in
company only with members of his
family as usual.
Holds Public Reception.
For more than an hour this after
noon the President and Mrs. Coolidge
stood in front of the family home and
received the callers, who came in
from all sections of the State. 1t
was the first really public appearance
OF Mr.. Coolidge since his arrival here.
and the relatives, townsfolk and
natives of this section were on hand.
Frederick B. Pierce of Key, N. H..
describing himself as one of the old
est Republican voters in. this terri
tory, was the first in line, which also
included the numerous cousins.
HCPnc"s, HlcCeS' duHC, uHClcs anu
more distant relatives of Mr.. Cool
idge. The President had a word OF
greeting for each, but the line became
clogged several times between him
self and Mrs. Coolidge as she stopped
to visit with some Of the folks.
A clear day and bright sun de-
veloped one Of the warmest after
moons of their visit here, and several
Of those in line stopped to visit with
John Coolidge. the Presidents father.
who sat in the porch swing.
Busy Day for Father.
1t had been busy day for the elder
Mr.. Coolidge. The general store
corner was crowded by noon with
neighbors from the hillsides. and he
was soon down among them welcom-
ing old friends and with good humor
posing for pictures with the children.
1t was a gala day for this village. and
John Wilder, the Presidents uncle.
expressed regret that he and friends
hadn't hired a band to come here for
the occasion
Earl Kinsley, Republican national
committeeman from Vermont; Mrs.
George Orvis, national committee
woman from this State. and Repre-
sentative Gibson OF Vermont, were
among the callers but during the re-
ception the President confined his
talks to friendly visits and renewing
of old acquaintances.
Those who passed in the reception
line turned to the church yard across
the road and waited for the visitors
to pass, but at the conclusion Mr..
Coolidge retired to the porch with a
few OF the relatives, bowing in recog-
milton OF applause, but making no
speech.