Evening star., 1928-10-20
PRESIDENT STUDIES
EFFECT OF SPEECH
Virginia Trip GratifieS Execu-
tive by Warmth of Recep-
tion-Speaks Tonight.
RY !. RUSSELL YOUNG.

Rf j. RUSSELL YOUNG.
President Coolidge was back at his
desk early today after trip yesterday
to Fredericksburg, Va. where on the
outskirts of that historic old city
he delivered an address at the cere-
monies dedicating as national me-
mortal battlefield park the battlehelds
of Fredericksburg, SpotsylVania, Will
derness and Charlottesville.
The President greatly enjoyed his
visit to that section of the Old Do
minion which was the scene of hard
fighting during the Civil War. 1t was
the first time he had seen that country.
The hospitable manner in which he
and Mrs. Coolidge were treated and
the appreciation accorded his address
impressed him greatly.
He mentioned to friends afterward
that he would like to have had more
time in which personally to visit all the
battlefields in that region as well as
many other places of historic interest.
Some of these were pointed out to him
as he rode through the ancient city OF
Fredericksburg and through the open
country on his way to Mansfield Hall
from the portico of which the dedica-
ton ceremonies were held.
Reads Press Reports Closely.
Upon reaching his desk the President
carefully read the morning newspapers
before entering upon routine tasks. He
had taken great pains in the prepara-
ton of Yesterdays address and he was
anxious to see how it had been treated.
1t is known that the President spent
more than 10 days writing this speech
and he naturally was anxious TO meas
ure the reaction.
1t was too soon to determine this
definitely. Several kilograms OF con-
| gratulations were received at the White
House this morning, but 1t will take
several days before the full reaction Will
be determined.
The Presidents interest in the recep-
| ton of this speech may be attributed TO
| his desire to see just how closely 1t
| might be linked up with the present
political campaign. 1t was his honest
| Intention to completely disassociate 1t
from anything bordering upon politics.
Nevertheless, the White House has rea-
son to know that there Is some feeling
that between the lines OF the speech
1
| mendation for the present administra-
| ton. However it is pointed out the
only possible excuse for such an inter-
| probation was the fact that he so
| graphically painted picture OF the
| Nations prosperity and its progress
since the days of the Civil War.
Notes Progress Of South.
! 1t has been explained in his behalf
that he placed such emphasis on the
progress and prosperity of the Nation
as a means of showing that the Union
which the Civil War preserved was re-
sponsible for this happy situation In
| this country. He also wanted to re-
mind the Southland that the rest of
the country was proud Of the gigantic
strides it had made commercially ana
industrially. In this connection he de-
clared that in the Southern States
alone the wealth, manufactured, min
eral and farm products, the banking
resources and exports are OF about
the same value today that they were
| in the whole United States in 1900.
| The President was represented also as
wishing to remind the country that the
| prosperity of the Nation has resulted
in standards of living the levels OF
which have never before been expert
enced by any people In human history.
He also wanted 1t understood that
during these remarkable strides the
door of opportunity has been open to
all the inhabitants and that the benefits
of the Nations prosperity has been
widely distributed among the great mass
Of the people and that all this pros
perity has been accompanied by evil
dences of the great moral power OF
the Nation.
Party With President.
The President made the journey to
Fredericksburg on special train of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg g. Potomac
Railroad and accompanying him. be-
sides Mrs. Coolidge, were Senator Swan
son of Virginia and Mrs. Swanson, Ad-
miral Charles F. Hughes, chief Of naval
operations; Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune
commandant of Marines; Brig. Gen
Briant H. Wells, acting chief of staff OF
the Army; Col. Osmun Latrobe, mil
itary aide; Capt. Wilson Brown, naval
aide; Everett Sanders, his secretary;
Col James Coupal, his physician, anc
Erwin c. Geisser, his personal stenogra.
pher. In his party also were score OF
more newspaper correspondents, pho.
tographers and secret service men. Tht
train arrived in Fredericksburg at 2:3(
o'clock yesterday afternoon after an un
eventful ride. The journey back Il
, CONTINUED on Page 8, Column 81