VOL. XXII., NO. 3313.
JUNEAU, ALASKA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1923.
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS.
PRICE TEN CENTS.
T
Calvin Coolidge Takes Oath: Becomes U. S. President
GOOLIDGE TAKES
OATH OF OFFICE |
EARLY THIS A. M.
Official Oath Is Administered
in Father’s Farmhouse |
at 2:47 A. M. Today.
NEW PRESIDENT LEAVES
FOR CAPITAL AT ONCE
Coolidge Issues Statement
that He Will Carry Out j
Harding’s Policies.
PLYMOUTH, Vt„ Aug. 3.—Calvin
Coolidge became President of the
United States at 2:47 o'clock this
morning when he took the oath of
office in the living room of his
father’s farmhouse in this little
mountain village where he was born.
The oath was taken in the pretence
of Mrs. Coolidge, who was weeping.
Congressman Porter H. Dale and a
small party of friends and acquaint
ances. The oath was administered
by his father, John C. Coolidge, who
is a Notary Public.
The new President left here for
Washington at 7:30 o'clock this
morning and is expected to arrive
there about 11 o’clock tonight.
Will Carry Out Harding Polici-s.
Shortly before taking the oath of
office as President of the United
States Vice-President Coolidge gave
newspapermen the following state
ment:
“Reports have reached me which
I fear are correct. The world has
lost a great and good man. He was
chief and my friend. It will be my
purpose to carry out the policies
which he had begun for the service
of the American people. For this
purpose I shall seek the co-operation
of all those assoetted with the Presi
dent during his term of office. Those
who have given their efforts to as
sist him I wish to retain in office
that they may assist me."
COOLIDGE MAY MEET
FUNERAL TRAIN
NEW YORK, Aug. 3.—Although
his exact plans are not known,
President Coolidge may proceed from
New York or Washington west to
meet the train bearing the body of
President Harding.
NATIVE OF VERMONT.
Calvin Coolidge, who was elected
Vice-President on the ticket with
President Harding, November 2, 1920,
and was Inaugurated March 4, 1921,
automatically became President of
the United States upon taking oath
of office.
The new President was born at
Plymouth, Vermont, July 4, 1872.
son of John C. and Victoria J.
(Moor) Coolldge. He was graduated
with an A. B. degree by Amherst in
1895. He studied law with Ham
mond and Field, Northampton. Mass.,
and. began practicing law there in
1897. He married Miss Grace A.
Goodhue of Burlington, Vermont,
October 4. 1905. He became Presi
dent of the Nonatuck Savings Bank,
was elected City Councilman for
Northampton in 1899, City Solicitor
in 1900; Clerk of Court in 1904;
Chairman Republican City Commit
tee, 1904; member of General Court
of Massachusetts, 1907: Mayor of
Northampton. 1910; member of State
Senate. 1912; President of Senate,
1914; Lieutenant Governor, 1916. 1917
and 1918: became Governor of Mas
sachusetts by election in 1918; as
suming office January 1, 1919. and
was re-elected Governor in 1919,
serving until January 1. 1921.
It was Mr. Coolidge's common sense,
his insight into legislative tactics
and his mentality which first at
tracted to hm the attenton of poli
tical leaders. The late Senator W.
Murray Crane, who was a resident
of Coolidge’s congressional district,
was among the first to note these
qualities, and he resolved to utilise
the first opportunity to project Mr.
Coolldge into the national political
arena.
By hard work and steady progress
Mr. Coolldge continued his rise until
he could be considered for high
state office and then it was that
Senator Crane and other leaders
exerted their powers to have him
nominated for the Lieutenant-Gov
ernorship. He was elected in the
flrrt campaign won by the Republl
__ (CpBtl89f4 M F»|« Tbrw)
11'
S' .JM'tltttiM.
Last Minutes of Harding
* * * * * * * * *
Devoted to Childhood; Two
* * * * * * * * * j
Tots Received With Flowers!
-I
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3.—Several minutes of President Hard
ings last hour alive were devoted as has been much of his life, to
childhood and its interests.
Two little girls came to the Presidential suite with flowers Ju3t
before 7 o'clock last night, seeking to present them to the President.
Mrs. Harding, who shared the President's lifelong love for chil
dren. graciously came from the sick room to speak a word to the two
tots who accompanied their gift.
Returning to the President she took with her a few of the blossoms
and these were in the rooms a few minutes later when he died.
■
Cooiidge Is Well
Qualified for
| New Position I,
| WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 —Cal
! vin Cooiidge is perhaps better
l equipped by experience to as- !
suine the administrative duties
| at the While House than any |
of his predecessors who have
| been called to that high office
j by the death of a President.
Calvin Cooiidge won a reputa
i tion for forcefulness as Cover- |
| nor of Massachusetts. He has I
| regularly attended the Cabinet
1 meetings, keeping familiar with
all problems since he became
! Vice-President.
J---L
BONE EXPRESSES
ALASKA'S GRIEF
OVER TRAGIC ENO
Alaska Loses Great and Good
Friend, Says Governor—
Shock Is Stunning.
Stunned by the great shock of the
•udden and entirely unexpected death
of President Harding, Gov. Scott C.
Bone voiced today his own personal
grief and that of the Territory over
the tragic event. "Alaskans lost a
great and good friend and the mem
ory" of his recent visitation to the
communities and homes of Alaskans
“will endure forever," he said.
As the Governor sat before his big,
flat-topped desk this morning he ap
peared stricken by the blow which
had taken away his chief, and his
personal friend of many years. Every
line of his countenance and figure
told how deep Is the hurt which was
accentuated by the close association
he had been privileged to have with
the President during his two weeks’
Journey through Alaska
Recalls Lovable Traits
In his mind was uppermost the
lovable, human attributes of his dead
Chief, which, he said, were never
more in evidence than in his Alaska
sojourn. His deep and abiding love
for children, his genuine pleasure
In meeting people, his thoughtfulness
for the pleasures of others, moved
before the Governor as incidents of
the trip came back to him.
Whenever a stop was made. Mr.
Harding greeted everyone with a
hearty handclasp. At Fairbanks in
a conversation about the famous Grid
iron Club, he had said he would
not attend Its next Washington ses
sion but would remain away in order
that Vice-President Cooiidge might
be the central figure of the session.
At Sitka, as the little launch Hel
lanthus moved out of the harbor,
passing near the Henderson, the
President, standing on the upper
deck, waved a cheery farewell to the
> Governor and sent greetings to the
family, ending with "be sure and
remember me to the baby.”
Alaska’s Grief Deep
In a short statement expressing
the grief of the Territory and him
self and sympathy for Mrs. Harding,
. Gov. Bone said:
I "Alaska’s grief is deep and poig
nant. The tragic culmination of his
! happy Journey to this Northland is
I so sudden, rfo stunning, thpt. for the
I moment, the awful fact can scarce
! be grasped. Drooping flags here,
there, everywhere, throughout »be
(Continued on P*ge Three )
( -1
BODY OF DEAD ;
EXECDTIVE TO !
BE TAKEN EAST
Special Train Leaves Tonight
at 7 o’Clock—Burial
at Marion, Ohio.
BULLETIN—WASHINGTON. Aug.
3.—A telegram to the White House
Irom Sen Francisco this aficrncon
announced the train bearing the
body will arrive here at 1:30 o’clock
next Wednesday afternoon.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 3—Final
inteimcnt of President Harding will
be in Marion, 0., the members of
the Pre.'idential party announced, j
The body leaves for Washington
tonight, the special train departing
at 7 o’clock going direct by way of
Reno, Ogden, Cheyenne and Omaha.
The train will not make stops except
those necessary for operation.
The body will be borne cn the
rear coach and a guard of soldiers
and sailors will stind by the casket
at all hours.
The same party which made the
trip to the west, with the addition
of Mrs. E. M. Rrmsburg, the Presi
dent’s sister, will accompany the
body back to Washington.
WILL TELL OF SORROW.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.—The War
and Navy Departments have ordered
the army and navy to pay the last
honors to President Harding The
army will tell of the sorrow tomor
row In the booming of guns be
ginning at sunrise and continuing
until sunset.
Every post at 10 o'clock in the’
army organization evrywhere v ill
be paraded and the order announe ,
lng the death will be read to all.
The regimental colors will be!
draped in the morning for a ported
of 30 days.
Officent wearing sldcarms will
wear knots of crepe for a similar
period.
Similar observances will be made;
by the navy.
CONDOLENCES FROM KINO.
JX)NDON, Auk- 3.—Kin* George
and Queen Mary sent a message of
condolence to Mrs Harding saying ;
“The Whole British people will!
join with those of a sister nation;
who mourn the death of a President
at the culminating point of a dis
charged careor."
The Prince of Wales also sent aj
(Continued on Page Two )
Faithful Nurse
Believed That
All Was Well
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3 For.
the first time since President Hard-j
lug's illness. Miss Ruth Powderly, j
nurse, yesterday afternoon, allowed •
herself to be relieved as the condi-!
tion of the Chief Executive seemed i
j to be so decidedly Improved.
Miss Powderly first came into prom
j iuence as the nurse for the first
I Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, and later
I nursed former President Wilson.
She then brought President Harding
through a slight attack of influenza
many months ago and also Mrs.
Harding through her serious illness
last winter and spring.
Miss Powderly was at the bedside
of the President just previous to and
at the timq of his death.
CALVIN COOLIDGE WHO BECAME PRESIDENT OF U. S. TODAY.
... ——
Calvin (V>ol1de, his wi*e and two pods, John and Calvin, Jr., tfikcn recently at thenr home,
Oooiidge, who has been Vice-Pre»i(U>nt today became Preeideiit. taking the oath of o#h* early thin
morning.
PRES. HARDING
DIES SUDDENLY
IN CALIFORNIA
Chief Executive Passes Away
from Cerebral Apoplexy
No Warning Given.
WIFE READING TO HIM;
END COMES SUDDENLY
“End of Satisfactory Day”
Witnesses Death—Dumb
ness Strikes Nation.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3.—A* in
life so is Warren G. Harding in
, the quiet dignity of death, calm,
compered, peaceful. In the ^ray
draped room far above the city’s
busiest street, the nation's twenty
ninth President lies in repose.
Death, in coming, left no mark upon
the countenance, which except for
the pallor, might have been of a
man arlcp. The face is almost a
• natural hue, the lips slightly parted.
HIS LAST WORDS.
“That’s good! Go on, read some
more," were the President’s last
' words. As Mrs. Harding was read
ing, he spoke them, then raised his
hand, shuddered and died.
DIED WITHOUT WARNING.
PREJS1DENTIAIL HEADQUART
ERS. PALACE HOTEL, SAN FRAN
CISCO, Auk. 3.—President Warren
G. Harding, twenty ninth President
ir the United States, died Instantly
and without warning last night at
7:30 o'clock.
Death came to the Chief Execu
tive while he was conversing with
members of his family, and accord
ling to an official statement issued
hy physician* it was apprrentiy due
to some brain evolvemenl, probably
apoplexy.
The first Indication that a change
| had occurred In the condition of
Mr. Harding came shortly after
‘even o'clock when Mrs. Harding
[.crsonally opened the door of the
dek room and callod t.o those in
; the corridors to “And Dr. Boone and
the others quick.”
, At that time Mrs. Harding was
! understood to have been reading to
itho President, sitting at his bedside
'with the evening papers and the
l messages of sympathy which had
jhecn received during the day.
Apoplexy the Cause.
! The story of the President's tragic
end was officially told this way:
! “The President died at 7:30
’ - o'clock this evening. Mrs. Harding
and the two nurses, Miss Ruth Pow
Idcrly and Miss Sue Drauser, were in
i the room at the time Mrs. Harding
j was reading to the President when,
i utterly without warning, a slight
: shudder parsed through his frame.
! Ho collapfed and all recognized that
| the end had come. A stroke of apo
Iplcxy was the cause of his death.
• Within a few minutes all the Presl
; dent’s official party had been sum
; mcned.”
End of ‘ Satisfactory Day.”
The end came after a day that
' Brigadier General Sawyer had de
| cilbed as “the moat satisfactory day
(Continued on Page Bight.)
I I
Sixth President
To Die in Office
• -- i
President Warren G. Harding I
is the sixth President of the j
I'nited States to die while in |
office. The first was President !
William Henry Harrison, who I
died April 4. 1X41. Just one month '
from the date of his inaugura- f
i lion: the second was President [
Zachary Taylor, who died July '
9. 1X50. one year, four months !
and five days after his inaugura- I
tlon; the third was President |
Abraham Lincoln, who died Ap- j
ril 15, 1X65. one month and ten !
days after his inauguration for \
\ thp second term: the fourth was i
President .lanjes A. Garfield, who 1
died September 19, 1881, six and !
one-half months after his inau- !
ration: the fifth was President |
William McKinley, who died Sep- |
‘ temher 14. 1901. six months and I
ten days after his second Inau- I
guration. i
I*---—*
A ,, i -i