White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-08-09
SPECIAL TRAIN NOT
DOG SAYS COOLIDGE
Necessity for Executive, Says
Former President.

New York.-Calvin Coolidge, who
went into the Office of President of
the United States with the idea that
travelling on special trains was official
pomp and swank, is now convinced
that 1t is necessity. Even If Presi.
dent chooses to ride on regular train
with other people, railroads cannot
afford to permit It, Coolidge declares
in his latest article In the American
Magazine.
However much he may deplore It,"
says the former Chief Executive, ''the
President ceases to be an ordinary
citizen. In order to function at all,
he has to be surrounded with many
safeguards. If these were removed for
only short time, he would be over
whelmed by the people who would
surge In upon him. In travelling II
would have been agreeable to me to
use the regular trains which are open
to the public. did so once or twice.
But found 1t made great difficulty
for the railroads. They reported that
1t was unsafe because they could not
take the necessary precautions"
Run as Extra Section.
The problem was solved, says the
Ex-President, by running an extra sec
ton of regular train for the ex-
elusive use of the President and his
party. Coolidge however, seldom
availed himself of private car on
the special train, which was always
offered by the railroads. Only once,
In his recollection, was the. offer of
special car accepted and then because
Mrs. Coolidge had been Ill and needed
extra comfort.
Coolidge declares he was not given
much to travel during his administra-
ton but the trips he made convinced
him that the government should own
private car for the use Of the Presl
dent when he leaves the capital. "The
pressure on him is SO great. the re-
sponsibiities are so heavy, that It Is
wise public policy, in order to Sc
cure his best services, to provide him
with such. ample facilities that he will
be relieved as far as possible from all
physical nconveniences," he declares.
On any Presidential trip much de-
tail is involved, Coolidge continues.
One or two secret service men must
60 to the end of the journey several
days ahead. His route of travel and
every street and building he Is to visit
must be inspected. The secret service
men also approve the order of cere.
monies and often, If the police force is
inadequate, they arrange for addition
al military or naval forces to aid local
authorities. The Presidents aides,
other secret service men, some Of the
Presidents Office force and house serv-
ants have to be taken along. Facili.
ties must also be provided for large
retinue of newspaper correspondents
and cameramen.
Take Precautions.
| Every switch that Presidential
train goes over must be spiked down
Every freight train that he passes is
stopped and every passenger train
slowed down to ten miles IN hour.
Speaking from the back end OF
trains is lost practice with the com
ing of the loud speaker, Coolidge says
adding: ut was never my practice to
speak from rear platforms. The con
fusion Is so great that few people
could have heard and It does not seem
to me very dignified. When the Presi.
dent speaks, It ought to he an event.
About the only time spoke from
train was at Bennington, In Septem.
her, 1925 where expressed my af
lection for the people and the state
Of Vermont. found that the love
had for the hills where was born
touched c responsive chord in the
hearts of the whole nation"