AMERICA'S NEW PRESIDENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1923, Page 7

AMERICA'S NEW PRESIDENT.

MR. CALVIN COOIIDGE. EQUAL TO JOB. iFrem Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANiCISCO, Auguefc 17. Although Americans have deeply de plored the lamentable death of Warrer Gamaliel Harding , , they are convinced that Calvin Coolidge will prove a worthj successor at the White House, and theri were many factors which immediately forced the presence of President Coolidg. into the favour of the people of tht United States. At the time of writing, President Coolidge had just emerged from a close oflicial acquaintanceship with scores oi newspapermen, who have scrutinised his personality in his first twenty-foui hours of active duty as President of the United States. It was his first official weekly gathering witli the scribes, and they voted him' as a man of common sense, orderly thinking and alertness oi mind. Explicit in his statement, adroit withirat being evasive, there came from the new President such a direct exposition of his ideas as to surprise even those who had sat at the Cabinet table with him for two years, and who thought they knew their man, for the Cabinet Ministers were also present with the scribes on this initial occasion. The surprise was a pleasant one, for if Calvin Coolidge keeps step with the universal impression he'made the first Jay he will indeed have risen to the xeasion and saved the American people from the shock of change in Government iffairs which might have come with a person of different temperament and .mpulse. •MORE LIKE HUG'HES. Those who were privileged to .be present declare that the new President is more like Mr. Hughes, the Secretary oi State, in his methods of handling- the I'refis than anyone else. He sees not Dnly the question asked .him, but the possible effect of a mhinderstanding ir his answer. It is not too early to pre lict that however one may find reasor to differ with Calvin Coolidge's views ir the future.'there will never t>e any doubi o! what his policy is. or what he mean: H'hen he says something. The- first conference with the Press md Cabinet was not productive of any thing sensational for publication, bill Coolidjze was really being tested b\ penetrating eyes, although he did no! seem conscious of it. He went aboul his business with ease and grace thai made it difficult to believe he had nol been on the job always. Coolidge had not .become a Rooseveli overnight, but there was a force fulness about the quiet dignity of the new Presi lent which was unmistakable. He Wai systematic to a fault. He does not in tend to be bothered with detail and he will give his Cabinet officers all the lati tude in the world, but he will hold then to "strict accountability" for their acts rhere was severity about Mr. Coolidgs n-.hich was in direct contrast to his pre ieeessor, who was suavity exemplified One amusing little incident is recorder if President Coolidge just after he hac labilitated himself in Washington. Hi strolled through the streete of Washing ton early in the morning with the milk man. It seems the new President ha; sut in practice a schedule of early morn ing walks for exercise that is denied hin luring the day. Since lie was a farmei boy he has been getting up at aboul 5 a.m. Two secret service men wh< juard hia door day and nisrht. Accom janied him when he started from tin temporary White House at 5.45 a.m. H< renerally is out a.bout .half an hour fo tiis "breather."

1 A meeting of the residents of Takapuna was held in thq local Council chambers to discuss the Question of forming a municipal band for the borough. The meeting was opened by the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Gould), who expressed gratification at the largo and enthusiastic attendance. It was unanimously resolved to ' form a band, and in the course of the ieveuing thirty-two members were enrolled. )