The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-06
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER, BREWER
(ncorporated
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Calvin Coolidge


Calvin Coolidge
! Elk President Calvin Coolidge was a
typical American. He was Yankee
through and through. Vermont has
given the nation some of its most
conservative citizens and meticulous-
" regular politicians. Mr.. Coolidge
was the personification Of conserva-
tism and regularity.
He was a great stickler for prece-
dent. Reading deeply his American
history, he was guided by the precepts
OF his forefathers. He Stunned the
new. the progressive and always kept
his feet firmly on paths which were
charted as safe and not too tortuous.
But withal he was most useful
citizen. His was not magnetic per-
sonality. He appeared almost diff
dent. Sparing Of words, he could be-
come stubborn and stand firm and inn
movable. Governmental experiments
were abhorrent to him. He was al
ways barking back to the fathers. In
government he was strict funda-
mentalist. He stood for the principles
of the party as handed down at its
birth. They were to him as sacred
as the law of Moses.
Mr.. Coolidge's idiosyncrasies, how
ever. gave him the publics confidence
in great measure. His administration
was regarded as safe and conservative
and history doubtless will judge him
for what he did not do rather than
for what he initiated. Mr.. Coolidge
believed that his party should recon-
mend policies. He never drove the
Congress but he got along with its
members very well and accomplished
In a quiet way much more than some
presidents have by breaking through
precedent and forcing legislation.
His famous utterance to the news
paper men that he did not choose
to rum" was probably the tersest
statement for a momentous decision
In all American political history. His
associates knew that when he said
mo" or yes. he meant just that and
he disliked to amplify and explain the
obvious.
His state papers were not erudite.
He had an easy style but not bril-
liant one. He could not turn phrases
rs neatly as Woodrow Wilson nor
were his utterances as yirile as Theo-
dore Roosevelt's, but there was no
escaping what he meant. There was
no sophistry about his public utter
ances. He was usually blunt and Of
ten platitudinous. His motto was:
do the days work and be BRIEF
History will not record Coolidge as
one Of the greatest presidents. He
entered public life early in his career
and party regularity and a modicum
Of political luck carried him to the
highest office within the gift of the
people. He served his nation faith
fully and honestly, if not always bril-
liantly.
Some critics felt that he allowed
things to drift. Others were annoyed
because he fought against extending
governmental functions for this and
that kind Of relief He vetoed bills
aimed to benefit agriculture on the
broad theory that it is impossible to
legislate prosperity. Whether he saw
the present depression coming, he
never specifically said. He did not
believe it presidential function to
issue jeremiads or warnings to pro-
tect those who insisted on an orgy
~ obCSNA0CAVA1s
In his decision to retire, he may
have felt that the next few years
needed q different temperament than
his to cope with the many distressing
problems Of state. When he left the
White House. he almost completely
severed himself from active politics.
He entered journalism for awhile but
his writings never had wide appeal.
His discussions were along the most
conventional lines. His accumulation
OF the obvious gave platitudinous
flavor to his political discussions.
M. Ooolidge's last important pub
lie appearance was ct Madison Square
Garden where he spoke IN behalf Of
Hoovsr's candidacy. His was . stock
political speech. Mr.. Coolidge had cut
loose from political affiliations he
was powsrless to stem the popular
tide that had set in for Roosevelt.
That address reflected Mr.. Coolidses
pnlitical philosophy. He believed that,
givsn ttms enough. the Republican
rnsty could bring the nation out Of =
l1epge1nion. II WAS the party Of his
IAtlAaE3 and The only politics be knew
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GEO