CHAPTER I.
President Coolidge—The Hundred Percenter
IN his book, "Washington Close Ups" Edward G. Lowry has called "Silent" Cal Coolidge "a politician who does not, who will not, who seemingly cannot talk."
It is a hot day in January when Coolidge talks clearly and distinctly about the problems confronting the country. Yet, Coolidge's whole history—his meteoric political rise from a local figurehead to a national figure and international importance—has been marked by one hundred per cent loyal service to the employing class and uninterrupted hostility to the working and farming masses. Despite President Coolidge's much overadvertised silence and oppressive generalizations and vagaries—such as "a plan to strive for perfection" and "our platform"—every thread of his political record is a chain forged against the city and rural workers.
Having had fortune and greatness thrust upon him thru the death of Harding, Coolidge has become the thirtieth President of the United States at a time when the country is on the eve of giant class conflicts. The rise of Coolidge, who has ridden into national infamy thru outright strikebreaking activities, portrays with painful clarity the unbridled domination of the employing class over the working masses. Nothing can clinch this truth as forcefully as an examination of the President's record.
His Service to Capital
When the capitalists were laying their plans to drive the American workers and farmers into the infernal slaughter in Europe, the Massachusetts employers did more than their bit. And in the Bay State's preparedness drive and other activities to insure the maximum force to save Dollar-Democracy, Coolidge was more than there. Says the Republican Campaign Text Book for 1920: "He was actively instrumental in the lead, in preparation and later in the execution of plans which resulted in the big part Massachusetts played in the World War."
Already the army and navy leaders have announced that they are pleased with Coolidge in the Presidency. These war lords point with joy to such declarations of our new President as follow:
"The only hope for peace lies in the protection of the arts of war."
"One of our first duties is military training."
"We must never neglect military preparedness again."
"The great problem which our present experience has brought is the development of man power."
"To a free people the most reactionary experience, short of revolution, is war. In order to organize and conduct military operations a reversion to an autocratic form of Government is absolutely necessary."
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