The White House Week

The Executive Mansion hummed as usual with the tireless labors of its occupants.

P: Mrs. Coolidge held her first "at home" for ladies of the diplomatic corps, a function that has been held at the beginning of every season by every White House mistress since Mrs. Roosevelt. There was neither music nor refreshment, since Mrs. Coolidge is observing mourning for the late President.

P: President Coolidge let it be known that he would favor an annual appropriation of from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 to bring about a gradual improvement of the housing of the executive Departments in the Capital.

P: The Southern Jurisdiction of the Order of Scottish Rite Masons in convention at Washington, sent its felicitations to the President, saying that it would not subject him to a handshaking visit. The President replied by letter: "It is an example of friendly thoughtfulness."

P: Mr. Coolidge made public the fact that he would not abrogate some 30 commercial treaties with foreign countries to put in force a preferential tariff on goods imported on American ships. Congress had authorized such action under the Jones (Shipping) Law. Presidents Wilson and Harding both declined to comply with the direction on the grounds that it was unpractical.

P: The Presidential pup, Laddie Buck, Airedale, was rechristened Paul Pry by Mrs. Coolidge. He now alliterates with his Wire-Haired companion, Peter Pan.

P: The President formally became a member of the Congregational Church and was elected Honorary Moderator (see page 18). His wife, his two sons and his stepmother have been members.

P: A group of Camp Fire Girls presented Mrs. Coolidge with a bag of cookies, five feet long, baked by themselves. Mrs. Coolidge ate two, said that they were very good and that she would send some to her boys at Mercersburg Academy.

P: Collier's Weekly, after making a fruitless poll several months ago to show that President Harding would be renominated by the Republicans next year, took another poll of 120 political leaders, and announced that President Coolidge would be renominated almost without opposition.

P: The President decided that he could not take the time from official business to attend the Army-Navy, Princeton-Navy football games. He let it be known, however, that he heartily approved of football at West Point and Annapolis.

P: Mr. Coolidge gave a luncheon to the Governors of 34 states and conferred with them afterwards, thus fulfilling the plan for such a conference laid by President Harding (see page 5).