Evening star., 1926-03-19
BIG ISSUES HELD
PRESIDENT IN CITY
Wanted to Bid Father Fare
we'll, But Answered
Call to Duty.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Time, which respects neither Presi.
dents nor Kings, played fatefui
trick on. Calvin Coolidge. He strug-
sled to solve the conflict between pub
lie duty and private devotion and
found himself today defeated on both
sides.
! For it is not generally known just
! why Mr. Coolidge stayed on in the
National Capital the last few days
] while newspaper bulletins told OF the
gradual decline in the health of his
father in Plymouth, Vt. The Presi-
! dent was face to face with one of
those frequent climaXes in the
, handling of public business which
somehow seem to prevent considera-
ton of anything personal. He was
waiting to see Alanson B. Houghton.
the American Ambassador to Great
Britain. to consult with him on i'm
portant decisions of policy that had
to be made while the League OF Ma
tions was meeting in Geneva.
Other Issues Pending.
He had other public questions that
crowded every moment of his time. II
his father was to have a prolonged
illness MIR. Coolidge felt that he could
stay in Washington at least few
days longer to clear up the interna'
tional business at hand. The physi-
clans who kept in touch with him
bv telephone gave the impression that
the elder Mr.. Coolidge had wonderful
vitality. They did not feel the end
would come as suddenly as 1t did.
The President had known, OF course.
ever since last Summer that his father
never would recover from the attacks
suffered last year. When the Presi'
dent went to Plymouth last Summer
it was whispered that at the most the
elder Coolidge would not live more
than five or six months. There was
an atmosphere of sadness at the last
visit. Yet the President did not linger.
because his father did not want him
to neglect his tasks in Washington
The excitement Of having Presi.
dent around was said at the time to
he too much for an Ill man. Mr..
Coolidge withdrew, but insisted on
having a private telephone installed
80 he could talk frequently TO his
| father. These long.distance converse
/ tions have been comfort to both
father and son. But 1t was the Presi
dents wish that he see his father
/ again. And he wanted his son John
! who Is at Amherst COllege, 10 De al
| Plymouth for the end.
| Fate Upsets ALI Hopes.
/ But fate permitted neither wish tc
De fulfilled.
As for the work in Washington. ev
cry President feels that he simply can
! not let go, no matter what the per
sonal call. Mr.. Coolidge's experience
| Is not unlike those OF his predeces
sors. Woodrow Wilson struggled
bravely with the arduous tasks Of
! public Office in August. 1914, wher
Mrs. Wilson was dying. The world
war had broken out and the White
House was in some respects the center
! of the world. for 1t was believed 6
step in media ton initiated from there
might stop the conflict before 1t hac
proceeded very far.
MIR. Wilson was dividing his tim'
between the bedside of his wife anC
his study. where he was kept at worl
night and day deciphering cablegrams
from abroad and sending instruction.
i to amba ssadors and ministers. He wa!
denied the opportunity to give tims
to his personal affairs.
And so with Mr.. Coolidge. A Presi
| dent of the United States feels {
pressure and urge that is hardl,
paralleled in any other case. It's {
struggle between public service ant
the cali of family and the heart. Mr.
Coolidge chose to err on the side o.
! public business, and that's why he los
| his race with time.