Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-28

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visiting citizens, who have come and
gone in clouds of caravan dust. He
has ridden over the beautiful noun
tains, he has posed in group pictures,
and posed not only for the motion pic
ture and news camera men, but Tor
amateurs. He has mingled in crowds
and rubbed elbows with those in over
alls and Bingham as well as the more
prosperous. He has patted scores of
YOUNGSTERS on the head, asked their
names and praised them to their
doting parents. He has attended
church regularly. He has studied the
animal and bird life, as well as the
trees and flowers Of the mountain
country.
Added to all this, the President has
acknowledged thousands OF letters that
bid him welcome to the West, lie mas
found time while transacting his busi-
ness at the executive Office to receive
great numbers Of callers and to listen
to what they had to say.
Silence Has Helped.
With all his friendliness and socia.
bility there is one thing Mr.. Coolidge
has not done-he has INDUCED in no
speechmaking. He did offer a. few
words of greeting on two occasions
when large groups called upon him at
the lodge, but other than these merely
perfunctory responses his lips nave
remained sealed.
Peculiarly enough this absence of
speechmaklng on the Presidents part
has added to his popularity In the
West. The effect OF the Presidents
holding his tongue is that a majority
are crediting him with great wisdom
and understanding.
Moreover, it has helped him politi-
cally. AS the President remarked
only a few days ago when explaining
why he did not make a speech on a
certain recent occasion, mo man ever
regretted anything he never said. He
has nothing to repent" The power
Of silence In regard to his presence
out here in a section that was sup
posed to be somewhat hostile because
of his veto of the McNary-Haugen
farm relief bill, has been tremendous.
President Coolidge took a day off
from the Office yesterday to attend
the annual observation Of Gold Dis
covery day at Custer, the oldest town
in the Black Hills.
The most thrilling incident Of the
day was not on the program, and, for
it might have a tragic ending.
Runaway Causes Scare.
Frightened by Indian war whoops
and gunfire, a team of horses broke
away from a covered wagon of the
community pageant and plunged mad.
ly through crowd 20 feet from a car
occupied by President and Mrs. Cool
fdge.
"Stop those horses"' yelled the
pageant director as the terrified
beasts, released midfeld, but held to-
gether by their harness, dashed past
the presidential party with a lone
cowboy in pursuit. The President
sprang to his feet, Mrs. Coolidge bu-
ried her face in her hands; Secret
Service men surrounded their car, and
the crowd parted in confusion as the
team charged through an opening in
a frail wooden fence to the right, gal
Hoped furiously between parked cars
and disappeared over a hilltop in the
distance, a score of Indians and cow
boys giving chase.
With the Custer celebration over at
noon, the President and Mrs. Coolidge
were back at the lodge In time for
luncheon, after which Mr.. Coolidge
went to his favorite fishing ground.
The President brought home seven
good sized trout.
The fact that It was raining hard
this morning did not keep the Presi-
dent away from the Office. He was
there at o'clock.