"Able, Safe"

"Goodbye, Mr. Hoover."

''Goodbye, Mr. President."

"Goodbye, Mr. Hoover. I wish you a pleasant journey to California and a safe return."

It was a quiet little conversation, apparently the talk of two close friends. They had come out of the White House, gotten into step with each other and walked down the lawn, where Mr. President had halted, turned and with a sweep of his arm indicated what a really fine place to live the White House is.

It was a very public conversation, however. Not only were the camera men there and the cinemen, but so were the "talkie" men. These protested that Mr. President had not spoken loudly enough to be "heard" by the sound-sight machinery that was to reproduce the little scene for distribution throughout the land. Moreover a cineman came scurrying along late. "I have been sick," he said and begged Mr. President to repose.

There was another Mr. Hoover present --Mr. Ike Hoover, White House majordomo this many a year. Mr. President conferred with Mr. Major Domo. At length he said, "Well, go ahead then." There was a general winking and cocking of the eyes of the press. The ears got ready again, too. Mr. President noticed them and said: "I don't believe in that. I'm not going to talk any more."

Ears: "Just once more, please."

So Mr. President took a fresh stance, assumed a pleasant look, grasped Mr. Herbert Hoover's hand once more, and raising his voice, declaimed:

"Goodbye, Mr. Hoover. I hope you have a pleasant trip to California and a safe return. Good luck to you."

"Thank you," said Mr. Hoover.

Thus was shattered the belief that President Coolidge would not lift finger or utter syllable directly to affect the election's result.

The evening Mr. Hoover spoke in St. Louis, President Coolidge sat near a White House radio. When the speech was finished, the President sent out for his secretary and dictated a long campaign telegram, concluding ". . . All the discussion has made more plain the wisdom of the plans you have proposed for solving our political, economic and social problems. You have shown your fitness to be President.

"I wish to congratulate you on the high quality of your leadership. You are able, experienced, trustworthy and safe. Your success in the campaign seems assured, and I shall turn over the great office of President of the United States of America to your keeping, sure that it will be in competent hands in which the welfare of the people will be secure."

P: Another way that President Coolidge campaigned was in his letter accepting Alanson Bigelow Houghton's resignation as British Ambassador. The President said:". . . I need not tell you how much I shall feel the loss of your services . . . even though it is to be followed by a continuation of your public life in the Senatorship of the State of New York." Choice of a successor to Mr. Houghton was delayed, perhaps to see what Senators, speechmakers and onetime ambassadors would be available after the election.

P: Another way that President Coolidge helped was by giving one last thump, at press conference, on the gong of national Prosperity. Another way he helped was entraining with Mrs. Coolidge and going to Northampton, Mass. There he eyed the brick railroad station, lately gutted by a $20,000 fire; drove to Memorial Hall, where a crowd eyed his silk hat; received a ballot from Democratic Watcher John Maloney; voted.