THE PRESIDENCY: The White House Week: Oct. 25, 1926

¶ The President signed a formal proclamation which reduced the tariff on paintbrush handles from 33 1/2% to 16 2/3%, thereby culminating a two and a half year investigation by the Tariff Committee. This is the second reduction Mr. Coolidge has made, his other cut being on the duty of live bob white quail. He has increased the tariff on seven commodities (including straw hats and wheat). Under the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922 the President is empowered to change duties within limits of 50%.

¶ A dark little man, wearing an outlandishly gorgeous uniform, strode into the White House; shook hands with a plain little man who had an uncommonly serious twist to his mouth. The one was Alejandro Padilla, recently appointed Spanish Ambassador to the U. S.; the other was Calvin Coolidge. They talked of cordial relations.

¶ The President appointed R. K. Smith, Democrat, of New Orleans, as commissioner on the U. S. Shipping Board to succeed John H. Walsh, Democrat, of New Orleans.

¶ Last week in Washington the “World’s Champion Schoolboy Orator” was evolved (see p. 32). President Coolidge was on hand to greet the contestants with a speech. Among other things, he reminded all citizens of their “solemn and binding obligation” at the polls on election day. Many a radio listener waited in vain to hear the President’s speech. At the broadcasting station, engineers said the aurora borealis had interfered with their telegraphic connection with Washington.

¶ A battered, snub-nosed taxicab snorted up the White House driveway. The President came out from his office to inspect it. Two Frenchmen explained to him that the cab was a member of that heroic fleet which had carried poilus to the Marne in 1914.

¶ President Coolidge received 100 volumes and a gold medal last week. Within the ponderous volumes was a testimonial signed by 5,000,000 Poles, expressing their admiration for the people of the U. S. The document announced that the Fourth of July had been proclaimed a holiday in Poland.

¶ All-metal Cigarette IV won the First National Speedboat Regatta on the Potomac last month. Last week Mr. Coolidge presented the President’s Cup to L. Gordon Hammersley, owner and pilot.

¶ An airplane dropped roses from the sky. Some came to rest upon the roof of the Memorial Chapel at Mercersburg Academy, some drifted into trees, others fell to the ground where schoolboys later picked them up as glorious souvenirs. Within the chapel a cluster of white roses, the gift of Mrs. Coolidge, rested on the altar. The chapel was dedicated last week to the Mercersburg boys who had lost their lives in the World War. During the service Mrs. Coolidge bowed her head, praying. The altar cross was given by President and Mrs. Coolidge as a memorial to their second son, Calvin Jr., who had died in 1924 while on a vacation from the academy. ([ The American Girl, official publication of the Girl Scouts, had a series of articles prepared by Mrs. Herbert Hoover entitled “When Mrs. Coolidge was a Girl.” Without consulting either Mrs. Hoover or Mrs. Coolidge, the magazine voluntarily offered the articles to the North American Newspaper Alliance. Mrs. Coolidge heard, was displeased. The articles will not be published.

¶ President Coolidge, thoughtfully observant, dispatched a letter to the Very Rev. Michael J. Ripple, National Director of the Holy Name Society, congratulating him on the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a Dominican priest.

*More precisely, the same thing that causes the aurora borealis had interfered— unusually large discharges of negative electric particles (or Hertzian waves. or cathode rays) by the sun, whose countenance was blemished last week by great irruptions (sun spots). The normal electric content of the earth’s crust is about five, volts negative. Last week electricians at Chicago noted a surcharged terrestrial negative current of 100 volts, sufficient to deaden telephone and telegraph wires except where specially sheathed to combat just such effects. Transatlantic cables and land lines were out of commission for hours on the day the President spoke.