Evening star., 1939-03-07
Frank W. Steorns, Adviser
OF Calvin Coolidge, Dies
Become Known as
FIoorwuIker'of
White House
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON,, March 7.AFrank w.
Stearns, the Boston dry goods mer-
chant who became known as the
White House floor walker" during
the administration of Calvin Cool
1dge, is dead.
The 82-year-old department store
executive died at his home last night
OF pneumonia, second of the close
advisers to the late President to die
within two days. John G. Sargent,
Attorney General in the Coolidge
cabinet, died in Ludlow, VT, Sunday.
Mr.. Stearns became a national
figure because of his discovery" Of
Mr. Coolidge and because of his I'M
relenting work in the Massachusetts,
Governors behalf. His faith in the
quiet Vermonter was one of the
factors which carried Mr.. Coolidge
from post as State Senator in
Massachusetts, to the presidency.
His floor walker" title came to
him because of his capacity for
Intervention to save the President
from inconveniences. OF his place
in the White House circle he once
said: "Oh, I just run a few errands."
He became known as a mystery
man" because of his reticence.
Frequently at White House.
Mr.. Stearns, after his first contact
with Calvin Coolidge in 1914. rapidly
became known as Mr.. Coolidge's
most trusted adviser and most in
innate friend. He and his wife, who
observed their 59th wedding an
niversary nine years ago, were the
most frequent visitors at the White
House during the Coolidge admin
istration.
Mr.. Stearns went to the National
Republican Convention in 1920 to
fight for his friends nomination for
the presidency and saw him win
second place on the ballot. SUBJ
sequently, through the death of
President Warren G. Harding,
Stearns saw his goal realized. He
never accepted political post from
his friend.
One son, Foster, United States
Representative from New Hamp-
shire. and two daughters survive.
Generally, the Boston police strike
while Mr.. Coolidge was Governor of
Massachusetts, is credited with hav-
ing brought the former President
into national prominence, but it ap-
pears that that strike was merely
psychological incident that aided
and abetted plans upon which Mr.
Stearns had been working for sew
eral years.
How Acquaintance Began.
The real discovery of Mr.. Coolidge,
according to Mr.. Stearns, was made
while the former President was
member OF the Massachusetts, Sem
ate. The dry goods merchant was
an alumnus of Amherst: so was
Coolidge. Up to 1914 they had never
met. Mr.. Stearns later said until
then he never had heard of Calvin
Coolidge.
Amherst College sought State per-
mission to build sewerage system,
and Mr.. Stearns. a trustee of the
college, went to the Statehouse
In the interest of a bill for the i'm
provement. Naturally, he sought a
brother alumnus to sponsor the bill.
Coolidge told him something like
this: TOO late to put the bill
through this session. Come back
next year"
When he got around to it the next
year, Mr.. Stearns again went to
the Statehouse, only to learn that
the thing had been attended to.
The quiet, business-like manner with
which Coolidge acted impressed Mr..
Stearns. The relatively unimportant
matter involving Amherst made the
two men warm friends and later
close companions.
In the early days of their &C
quaintance, Mr.. Stearns later said,
he was convinced, but did not know
why, that Calvin Coolidge was one
of the great men of Massachusetts.
When Coolidge was President of the
State Senate his sponsor gave a
dinner in his honor and introduced
his guest as coming Governor Of
the State.
When that prediction became a
reality, Mr.. Stearns began casting
his eye toward the White House.
Disturbed by Quiet Manner.
In the early days of their ac-
quaintance, Mr.. Stearns was greatly
perturbed by the reticence which al
ways has been characteristic of the
former President. Recalling those
days after Mr.. Coolidge was Presi-
dent, Mr.. Stearns said:
Il often used to ask myself: For
Heavens sake, why doesn't this man
make a little noise and let folks