The Coolidge Week

The hour approached when the Senate would say whether or not the Coolidge Era should be crowned by the Kellogg-Briand multilateral treaty-to-renounce-war-as-an-instrument-of-national-policy. As usually happens in the U.S. foreign relations, a group of Senators was seen forming to pass strictures. Their reasons ranged from the super-patriotism of New 'Hampshire's Moses to the wordy scorn of Maryland's Bruce, who called the treaty a "futile gesture" and an "anemic pact" for which he would vote only to move the U.S. closer to the World Court and the League of Nations.

President Coolidge, determined not to be frustrated by what President Wilson, in like circumstances, called a little group of wilful men, sent for two of his own party's unsympathetic members--Johnson of California and Connecticut's McLean. What he said to them or they to him was not divulged.

President and Mrs. Coolidge dined with Secretary Mellon while Under-Secretary Ogden Livingston Mills entertained Vice President and Mrs. Dawes. Two evenings later the Justices of the Supreme Court of the U. S. and their wives, and twoscore other guests, drove to the White House to dine. Among the twoscore were Railroader Daniel Willard. Drugman Louis Kroh Liggett, Oilman Clay Arthur Pierce (who tendered his late father's fishing lodge at Brule, Wis., for Summer White House last year), and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford. It was by no means the first time the Fords had visited the White House but Mr. Ford made it a memorable time by giving out, in a press interview at his hotel before the dinner, some advice to young men which seemed a flat challenge to the economic legend embodied in Calvin Coolidge. Said Mr. Ford: "No successful boy ever saved any money. They spent it as fast as they got it for things to improve themselves." Mr. Ford obviously did not have Calvin Coolidge in mind while uttering this maxim.

President Coolidge sent a cable: "His Majesty, George V, Buckingham Palace, London--I am greatly pleased to learn of the distinct improvement of Your Majesty's health and trust that your complete convalescence will now be but a matter of a short time.--Calvin Coolidge."

As honorary President of the American Red Cross, President Coolidge appointed members to its Central Committee--to continue as chairman, John Barton Payne; to represent the State Department, Undersecretary Mills; War, Surgeon-General Ireland; Navy, Captain Charles Edward Riggs; Justice, Solicitor-General Mitchell.

President Coolidge shook hands with Lux, gigantic police dog of blind Senator Thomas David Schall of Minnesota. He was the first man, excepting Lux's master, to perform such a feat.

To Speaker Longworth of the House. President Coolidge transmitted news that the Treasury Department had underestimated its requirements for tax refunds in 1929 by 75 millions.

Pegasus, Daedalus & Icarus, Archytas, da Vinci, Mongolfier, Santos-Dumont, von Zeppelin, Langley--with these names, the historical roster of aviation, President Coolidge led up to his tribute to the Wright Brothers, in an address to the 125 delegates at the International Civil Aeronautics Conference (see p. 23), which President Coolidge had called to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Wrights' first flight at Kitty Hawk, N. C.