Date: October 13, 1920
(Original document available here)
From Boston Evening Transcript:
Governor Coolidge has recently received a communication from the League of Nations Day Committee, urging him as Governor of Massachusetts to appoint Sunday, October 24, as League of Nations Day and to invite the people on that day to read the covenant of the proposed League. The governor in his reply refuses to accede to the proposal, stating that although he hopes “it will be read, and the Senate reservations will be read with it,” he cannot use the office of governor for “the dissemination of political propaganda resented by many of the people.” The governor adds that the “Republican Party ‘stands for agreement among the nations to preserve the peace of the world,’ and pledges its administration to such agreements.” The dispatch to the governor was signed, besides others, by President Lowell of Harvard and Carrie Chapman Catt.
The despatch was as follows:
The meaning of the covenant of the League of Nations is the great issue of the campaign. In order that the American people may know for themselves what the covenant contains, we respectfully urge the governors of all states to proclaim Sunday, Oct. 24, League of Nations Day and to invite the people on that day to read the covenant in their homes and other places. This will contribute to an understanding of the document and make possible an intelligent vote. If favorable to this proposal, would suggest in addition to the usual public announcement through the press that the teachers of the State be asked to make the announcement in the schools and urge the children to carry the message to their parents. Kindly advise if you are willing to cooperate in this way and thus encourage the people to find out for themselves what the covenant contains.
League of Nations Day Committee
Murray Hill Hotel, New York.
A. Lawrence Lowell
Hamilton Holt
Oscar Straus
Frank Crane
Carrie Chapman Catt
Irving Fisher
Raymond Fosdick
Edwin D. Schoonmaker
Governor Coolidge replied as follows:
To the League of Nations Day Committee:
The Republican party “stands for agreement among the nations to preserve the peace of the world” and pledges its administration to such agreements. In its literature and in the press it is publishing the text of the Wilson League. I certainly hope it will be read and that the Senate reservations will be read with it. I cannot comply with your request. If by “other places” you mean places of religious gathering, the people of Massachusetts would very much resent official intrusion upon their worship, nor shall I undertake to make innocent children advocates of what they do not comprehend. I am glad to join you in any proper way in securing an intelligent vote. I am compelled to refuse your proposal that I take action which would appear to give the Wilson League the official sanction of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that I use the office of hovernor, which I hold for all the people, for the dissemination of political propaganda by official proclamation resented by many of the people.
Calvin Coolidge
Citation: Vermont Historical Society
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Mitch Rushing who prepared this document for digital publication.