Mr. Coolidge's Week

Mr. Coolidge's Week

To Swampscott came a lank stern Senator, gray-haired, level browed. In 1906-07 he had delved as an explorer into the wastes of Peru. Later he lectured on his discoveries at Yale and Princeton. Once he had been Governor of Connecticut for a few hours (TIME, Jan. 19, POLITICAL NOTES). During the War he had acted as Commandant of the Allies' largest flying school (at Issoudun, France). In the last three months he has made an investigation of Government air bases and air routes. President Coolidge, conscious of all this, shook the Senator's hand warmly, bid Hiram Bingham, Honolulu-born Yankee, a hearty welcome, conversed with him for two hours.

P: Towards Swampscott rushed Lucius J. M. Malnin, Federal Judge of the Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, purchased by the U.S. from Denmark in 1917). Judge Lucius had a tale of "maladministration of the Virgin Isles" by "seven U. S. Governors, all navy officers, in seven years," to unfold to President Coolidge. He was told by Secretary Sanders, at Lynn, to hold his peace until the President should return to Washington. Then and there an interview will be accorded him. Said Judge Malnin:

"I shall keep fighting until the people of the islands get what they are entitled to--a civil, not a military or naval government."

P:A 100-pound watermelon, perambulating in a tin washtub was sighted by railroad men at Fitchburg, Mass. They told reporters. Agog at its clearing papers, which named President Coolidge as the addressee, the reporters heralded by wire the approach to White Court of the ponderous aqueous gourd. P:At White Court the President presented Lieut. Reginald de Noyes Thomas, of Boston and Squantum, Mass., with the Herbert Schiff Memorial trophy for having been aloft last year 583 hours "without serious accident," longer than any other naval airman.

P:Correspondents attended a Presidential Press Conference. For a moment it looked as though they were going to have a chance to feature something besides the President's taciturnity. He was "obviously annoyed." It seemed for a time as if he might pound his fist. Then the Coolidge lips pursed themselves. From between them escaped "vitriolic sarcasm." Without raising his voice the President dealt scathingly with open and covert opponents of his debt funding and budget slashing plans.

France and Italy shall profit not a jot by the easy terms accorded Belgium, if Mr. Coolidge has his way. They will be examined impartially as to paying power, and then fitted out with an inflexible outfit of liquidation terms, cut along a take-it-or-leave-it Yankee pattern.

It was also made clear that the Leviathan will not cease to shuttle across the Atlantic, or the Navy to protect U. S. interests; both of which eventualities had been envisioned by tars and admirals carping at low appropriations. The Army, the President felt, will not languish into nonexistence while the present $300,000,000 a year appropriation is in force.

P:Lulled by the soporific drone of Swampscott katydids, two members of the Marine detail guarding President Coolidge were found asleep on post by Lieut. Wright, Mayflower officer. In wartime the sun would probably have risen on their execution. Since the U.S. is at peace, there is much talk of extenuating circumstances.

Employes of William Randolph Hearst, belted champions of the under dog against officialdom, did not hesitate to headline: "WiLD PARTIES LAID TO COOLIDGE GUARDS." The wild parties, they alleged, were participated in by the sleepyheads only as waiters upon their dissipated officers "and fashionable young debutantes of North Shore society." The Hearst press related that the poor underlings "were compelled to take down the covers of their pup tents, and make an arch through which women visitors could enter the officers' quarters without detection." In a final burst of sympathy, the victims of Lieut. Wright were declared to be tender "rookies who have been taught little by their superiors"--despite the fact that it was announced last June (TIME, June 15) that all members of the Marine detail guarding President Coolidge had been "hand picked" by General Lejeune himself.

In official circles dishonorable discharge was said to be the worst fate possible in store for the sleepers. It was recalled, however, that a marine of the White Court detail was court-martialed in June for refusing to bathe in the untepid bay near White Court, that his ablutions are now performed in the Navy Prison at Charleston, Mass.

P:Captain Adolphus Andrews, kind-hearted skipper of the Mayflower, was requested by the Navy Department to sift all charges arising out of the sleeping Coolidge guard scandal to the bottom. Officers who have commanded their men to act as servants at "all night parties" (if there have been any such) are likely to face an unprecedentedly stern Skipper Adolphus.

P:With his departure Washington-ward definitely in sight, the President for the first time opened the doors of White Court to the public and greeted callers. Delegations and individuals poured in by motor. By train, by street car and by the aid of his pedal extremities came Robert J. Taylor, 80-year-old bewhiskered Negro elevator operator, who has carried 15 Governors of Massachusetts up and down the Boston State House. The President, who was one of the Governors whom Mr. Taylor had levitated, shook his hand in amiable recognition.

P:"Blue Blood!"; Blue Blood!! Blue Blood!!! chugged the engines of the Presidential yacht. Captain Adolphus Andrews thrust an ordinary pin into the spot on his chart which marks Plymouth, Mass., instructed his helmsman to make for that pin with all speed.

With every chug the yacht drew nearer to the squat boulder from whose eminence New England society finds itself able to look down. And when the helmsman at last ran to earth Captain Adolphus' pin, the President and Mrs. Coolidge disembarked " amid many direct descendants of the original Pilgrims,"; who were swelled by unabashed plebeians into "an enthusiastic crowd."

In addition to Plymouth Rock, the President visited the old burial ground, where three of the original pilgrims now rest. At the tomb of William Bradford, who antedated Mr. Coolidge as Governor of Massachusetts by 298 years, the President paused.

Later he motored to Marshfield, paused before the tomb of Daniel Webster.

Still later he lunched with C.W. Barren, Publisher of the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Barron is a large breeder of Guernsey cattle, and Mrs. Coolidge asked him why it is that some cows' horns curl up and other cows' horns curl down.

Aboard the Mayflower once more, Mr. Coolidge left historic scenes for Swampscott. Tired, he slept.

On awakening, Mr. Coolidge motored to Camp Devens, and proceeded to interest himself there in a certain Corporal, who marched and countermarched with 1,600 other citizen soldiers.

Came the moment when prizes were to be awarded. Afterward the Corporal stepped forward in his turn, stood at attention, saluted.

The President started to return the salute. Stopped, took off his hat, inquired: "How have you been getting along, John?"

"Fine, Sir," replied John Coolidge.

Later Corporal John was made the focus of countless lenses. "Click," went expensive focal plane press shutters. "Clickety-whurr," purred Bell and Howell cinema cameras. The noted corporal "squads righted," "squads lefted," and "righted by squads".

Interrogated, he said he hoped to return next year (as a sergeant, opined "reliable authorities").

Queried the curious: "What was your object in coming up here this year?"

"Ask father," retorted Corporal John, as he slipped away to don "civies" and lunch with the President and his mother and the Camp Commandant.

P:Although a definite date for the President's return to Washington had not been set last week, it was expected to take place shortly after Labor Day. The chief uncertain factor was the question of how soon the White House redecorating-- consisting mostly of fresh paint and needed repairs--is completed.