Date: September 10, 1926
Location: White Pine Camp, NY
(Original document available here)
I am not giving special consideration to any form of farm relief legislation. I mean by that, any particular bill. I think it is quite unusual when a day passes that some proposal of one kind or another for farm relief legislation doesn’t come into the office and it is perfectly fair to say that I am giving consideration to all proposals that are made. Mr. Drummond had some suggestions the other day, some of which he reduced to writing. But I haven’t any plan whatever for any particular form of legislation. It is true that I am giving the matter study and consideration, but I haven’t reached a place of drafting a bill or giving any particular consideration to any particular kind of a draft of a bill.
I haven’t any information about the Arms Conference that hasn’t already been made public. I presume we may have some information in Washington, but it is known that I shall be down there very soon so that quite likely it would not be sent up here.
Nor have I any information as to the probable action of the nations that are conferring on the Senate vote of adherence to the Permanent Court of Justice. I mean by that the International Court, which is ordinarily designated as the World Court.
I have not conferred with the Attorney General relative to trust laws.
I don’t know of any comment that I can make on the recent state primary elections.
I am not certain yet just what time I shall go to Washington. As you know, the railroads prefer not to have it printed. Here is a question that is said to be not for the purpose of publication, but to assist the newspapermen in their personal movements. I shall go some time after Friday afternoon, I expect some time between then and Saturday evening of next week, so that if any one will be down at the station as early as Friday afternoon with his valise he will be certain to catch me.
Press: Does that mean that there will be a press conference Friday afternoon?
President: Well, I should presume so. I shouldn’t expect to leave here before 4:00 o’clock Friday afternoon. I don’t expect to now. I am just giving you the probabilities. I might leave here before that, but I hardly think so.
I haven’t very much information about the situation as regards the Locarno Pact and the admission of Germany to the League. I am informed on what seems to be reliable information that Germany has been admitted to the League there and that there is a provision of the Locarno Pact that that treaty has to be ratified and the ratifications deposited at Geneva and Germany admitted to the League before the Locarno Pact goes into operation. Those two things. All the seven countries must ratify and deposit at Geneva and Germany must be admitted to the League before the Locarno pact goes into operation. I am advised, as every one knows, that Germany has been admitted and that the seven countries involved have ratified, but I don’t think they have yet deposited their ratification. That is, they either have ratified or have secured the necessary authority for the executive department of their governments to ratify. That probably indicates that depositing of the ratifications has been delayed until Germany was made a member of the League.
The Attorney General is leaving this afternoon. Going back to Vermont.
I am receiving this afternoon three gentlemen from Vermont that came over to talk with me about the 150th Vermont anniversary celebration.
Press: Where will it be, Mr. President?
President: It is a celebration of the battle of Bennington, as I understand it, to take place at Bennington, partly in the State of Vermont and partly in the State of New York, though the battle there always went by the name of Bennington. As a matter of fact the main battleground was just over the line in New York.
Press: What day will it be?
President: Well, it is on the exact anniversary. It is my recollection that it is the 17th of August. Perhaps someone better versed in historical dates than I am can verify that, but it is the 16th or 17th, I am quite sure.
Press: The celebration, as I understand it, is on the 16th of August, 1927.
President: I think the battle was on the 16th. I am not certain. One of the committee is Mr. John Spargo. He is a prominent writer and social worker.
Press: Do you think you will be able to go?
Well, I don’t know. It isn’t until 1927. Of course I can’t tell so far in advance.
Press: What are the names of the other two men with Mr. Spargo?
President: I don’t know. (Mr. Clark went to get them).
Press: Does the Federal Government take any part in this celebration?
President: I don’t think so. When people come in to see me I know they either want an appropriation or a speech, or both?
Press: What do they want?
President: They have only indicated that they want a speech.
Press: Has there been any proposal for an appropriation to help the celebration?
President: Not yet.
Mr. Clark announced the names of the gentlemen with Mr. Spargo as Mr. Colgate, Mr. Bates and Dr. Cleveland.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge: Remarks by the President to Newspaper Correspondents
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