The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-12
Conspiracy of Silence
Shields John COOLIDGE
Son of President of United
States Just Young Railroad
Clerk
By HORTENsE SAUNDERS

New Haven, Conn.,, Dec. H.
(NEA)-His father holds the most
important office this country offers.
but John Coolidge goes his incon-
spicuous way-the young man no.
body knows.
II don't know him myself-but
he's really a fine young man-and
he ought to be allowed to forget his
position" is the answer you get us
ually, If you ask the townspeople
here about him.
When he was hired as a clerk
in the offices of the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad, the
company sent out three line item
to that effect; that is all they made
of it.
Zone of Hundreds"
"After all, he's just q clerk, and
no different to US than hundreds of
other clerks we employ" depart
ment official declared.
IF he were constantly being
pointed out, and treated as a celeb
rity, it would be bad for him and
for his immediate associates. He
wants to make good, and he can't
unless he has at least an even break
with the other fellows"
For the first few days after his
arrival in New Haven, a crowd used
to gather at the station restaurant
where he usually eats his lunch
often sitting on stool at the coun-
ter with others from his office.
But conspiracy of silence stopped
that. Now if you ask the manager
of the restaurant about John Cool
idge, he will say:
I'VE can't give out information
about our patrons-that's not busi-
ness, you know"
"Not Interested"
Ask a waitress if she ever has
waited on the presidents son and
she will reply, with whitening dig
nifty:
Being a waitress is a most i'm
personal occupation. We have hun
dreds OF people in here during the
day-we can't possibly know who
they are. You can't become inter-
ested in personalities, you know"
In the personnel office of the rail-
road, several people told me they
never had even seen the young man.
Eyes, guess I've seen him." said
the elevator man, who probably takes
John up and down each day, "but
he's no different from the other fel-
lows. Nothing high hat about him.
We never think Of his being the
presidents son. I guess he's glad to
forget it himself. He's quiet, you
know, like his father"
"At first he had secret service
man with him." the red-haired youth
at the information desk told me, "but
they let him 60 after . few days.
Just think how guy would feel with
. secret service man patrolling out
side his door al day!"
Young Coolidge works in a
rambling yellow brick building that
overlooks the railroad yards. From
his window he looks upon q net
work Of telegraph wires and signals
smoke covered shanties and tracks.
There's constant din Of rumbline
trains and shrieking whistles.
He lives z mile or 30 away, over in
the section around Yale University
and he rooms and boards" with Pro-
fessor Benjamin w. Bacon, retired
professor Of the Yale faculty who,
until this year taught New Testa-
ment Interpretation.
Leads Quiet Life
Eyes, Mr.. Coolidge happens to be
70 member Of our family, and most
delightful one" Prof. Bacon said,
"But he wishes to be most incon.
spicuous, and we respect his wishes
in this extent. You can zee the sort
Of : life he leads here-most quiet
He Indicated the living room with
= sweep Of his hand-an old-fash'
Toned. big room with delightful oli