Evening star., 1926-03-21

| ~ OIL. COOLIDGE, fatner or tne
President, was a man or MS
unchanging hills. About less
er men than he have sprung
up legends.
His position in the simple village
for years was that Of a business man
| in a. farming community. AS store
keeper, postmaster insurance agent:
bank officer, town agent" justice or
the peace and tax collector he was
keeper of the fiscal secrets of the
town.
/ He was man of affairs, to be con-
| suited on the troubles of his neigh
bors, about their borrowings and
failures to repay. the value of their
! holdings, the state of their crops. the
capacity Of their land to stand a
| mortgage.
| He stood between the plain people
of the hills of Plymouth and the COM
ltplicated affairs of the world of trade
and politics. He had, from his less
sophisticated neighbors. that half
, awed respect that those who are slow
at figures so commonly pay to the
more nimble- minded. To this extent
he was a sort of village squire. But
also he had kept the general store,
and it's hot stove was to his last year
his favorite haunt.
He was probably never a popular
man. But he was recognized az a
substantial citizen. whose shreWdness
in his own affairs recommended him
to handle the affairs of the town. The
town records show that his neighbors
voted him into office 127 times from
1872 to 1926. In that period he held
a round dozen separate offices and
| most of these he held almost contin-
uously for nearly half a century.
Elected Constable.
AT 2S he had already become a man
! of mark in Plymouth. That must
have been a momentous year for the
young storekeeper. At town meet
ing in March he was elected con-
stable and tax collector. On the Fourth
of July a son was born, in a room
behind the store, his only son, des-
tined to become President of the
| slected him to the Vermont Legis-
/ ature.
Not year went by in the next 40
that did not find John Coolidge elected
or reelected to one, two or some years
four or five town offices.
When he was 80 he was made super
intendent of schools. At the same
time he was town agent" an Office
akin to town counsel. He was still the
legislator from Plymouth. the tax COL
lector, constable and postmaster.
eI3ecame Town Auditor.
Two years later the Office of auditor
Of town accounts was added to his
functions. He remained town auditor
up to his death. When he was 35 he
served a term as selectman. In 1894
he was elected justice of the peace, an
office under which, 80 years later. he
was to summon authority to admins
ter to his son the oath Of President.
The next year he was made road
commissioner. a post of Importance in
the days before the state took over
the heaviest burden that a country
town knew. In 1897 he became land
juror.
AS late as 1909 the colonels fellow
citizens found a new post for him to
fill. He was elected State Senator that
year at 65. His title of Colonel is
the fruit Of still another office. He was
on the staff of his old neighbor, Gov.
William c. Stickney.
Calvin Coolidge cannot be said to
have lacked background in politics.
Sold Fire Insurance.
But the colonel did not devote him
self to Office, to the neglect of his
private enterprises. Nor did he have
to drop plow in furrow to serve war
rants or sign deeds. Rather were his