Evening Star Newspaper, August 3, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Parly cloudy tonight and tomor- row, local showers and thunderstorms probably. Temperatures for twenty- four hours ended at 2 p.m. today: Highest, 88, at noon today; lowest, €8, at 5:30 a.m. today. ¥ull report on page 7. New York Stock Market Closed Toda g S o econd -class matter _)8’948 Entered as sec o post office Washington, D. ¢ T WASHINGTON, WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION B T, FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, ening Sfar. 1923—TWENTY-SIX PAGES. “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular ed tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. 1‘ Yesterday’s Net Circulation, 87,839 TWO CENTS. NATION MOURNS PRESIDENT’S DEATH;: COOLIDGE BECOMES CHIEF EXECUTIVE MOURNING DEAD CHIEF, NEW PRESIDENTLEAVES FOR CAPITAL AT ONCE Father Administers Oath Dead of Night in Simple Vermont Home. in ROUTED FROM BED TC GET NEWS OF MR. HARDING’S TR:: GIC DEATH New Leader, Grieved at Loss of Friend, Promises to Carry Out All His Policies. By the Associated Press. PLYMOUTH, Vt.,, August 3.—Calvin Coolidge, sworn in a few hours before as President of the United States by his father, in the Plymouth Notch farmhouse in which he spent his boyhood, left for Washington at 7:30 o’clock this morning. Accompanied by Mrs, Coolidge, Representative Dale of the second Vermont district and two federal employes who have been hastily pressed in secret service duty, the President left by auto- mobile for Rutland, where a special train was prepared to take the party to New York. Col. John C. Coolidge, the President’s | father, who is seventy-eight years of age, resisted the efforts of his son to induce him to make the journey to the capital. Though his complete plans have not been made known, it is learned that President Coolidge may proceed from New York or Washington west to meet the train bearing the body of President | Harding to the capital. Neighbors from Plymouth and nearby towns gathered to wish the President godspeed. From water came men who had gone bered as “Red” Coolidge. Ludlow, Woodstock and Bridge- to school with one they remem- An army of newspaper men and pho tographers invaded quiet Plymouth Notch until the start to Rut- land became a procession of automobiles. TOEGHSRIEE (IR % 150 K come a mecca for hundr than an hour after Mr. Cooldige had learned of the d talied in the house. and the President U 9 o1 O DCEE] iy PECTING bEes: farmhouse had b. Harding a telephone was i Within a few hours | Sth of Mr. had learned direct from Washington the form of the oath of Offirc" and the fact that his father might have the honor of administering | it Springfield with two federal em: As soon as the brief swearing-in ceremony was over President and Mrs. Coolidge re the trip to Washington. Oath Ceremony Simple. The swearing-in formality was short and simple. In ting room of the farmhouse, nished in homely style like any other Vermont country home, the President stood with right hand upraised at one side of a little table with Mrs. Coolidge beside him. Across the table his father, his face beaming, read the few words of the oath, “to pre- serve, protect and defend the Con- stitution of the United States.” The father's voice trembled as he read. Representatives Dale, Geisser, Mr. Coolidge’s a: retary, a Vermont editor secret 'service men were the sole wit- nesses other than Mrs. Coolidge The oath was administered by his father at 2:47 am. eastern standard time. By communication with Wash- ington the exdct form of the oath was obtained. In a clear voice the Vice President repeated after his father the words prescribed by the Constitution: “I do solemnly swear that I wil faithfully execute the office of Presi dent of the United States and I will 10 the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Adds “So Help Me God. Then. although the Constitution does not require it, he added, “So help me LA Routed from his bed by a telegram from George B. Christian, secretary to President Harding, apprising him of the tragedy in San Francisco, the new President immediately met news- papermen and gave them 2 statement Pledging himself to carry out the policies of his dead cilef and friend. President Coolidge Issued the fol- lowing statement early today: “Reports have reached me, which 1 fear are correct, that President Harding is gone. The world has lost a great and good man. I mourn his Joss. He was my chief and my friend. “It will be my purpose to carry out the policies which he has begun for the service of the American people and for meeting their responsibilities Wherever they may arise. For thiy purpose I shail seek the co-operation of all those who have been associated with the President during his term of office. Those who have given their «fforts to assist him I wish to remain in office that they may assist me. I have falth that God will direct the destinies of our nation.” President Coolidge sent the follow- ing telegram to Mrs. Harding: “We offer you our deepest sym- pathy. May God bless you and keep Jou. (Signed) “CALVIN COOJADGE.” “GRACE COOLIDGE. The ncw President heard the news of President Harding’s death and his own ‘elevation to the nation's head- ship from his aged father, who had risen to take Secretary Christian's telegram from the messenger who had brought it by automobile to the Coolidge home at Plymouth Notch. He dressed quickly and came down stairs to meet the newspaper men the little sit-| fur- | In the meantime, Representative Dale had arrived from | [ ployes. | 1 ) the tired to gain a little rest before | 1 | solemn and quiet, as is always his| | wont, he walked with simple dignity | {down the old stairway and into the sitting room where the news- paper men awaited him. Mrs. Cool- | idge, in gray, followed him, weeping. Stcpping to_the little round center table, on which stood an oil lamp, the room's only illumination, the new President read Secretary Christian's message: Palace Hotel, San Francisco, Calif., August 2. “Mr. Calvin Coolidge 1 “The President died instantly while conversing with members of his fam- ily at 7:30 p.m. The physicians re- port that death was apparently due to some brain embolism, probably apoplexy.” The message was | B. Christian, secretary Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge then their telegram of condolence to Mrs. | Harding. Immediately, afterward Mr. Coolidge called his secretary, Erwin | C. Beisser, into a little room in the | farmhouse, where he dictated his two statements. He came out and handed them to Mrs. Coolidge, who distrib- uted them to the newspaper men Almost immediately after the first cssenger arrived automobiles began o rush into the little village from every direction as newspaper men hastened to the Coolldge house. A number of neighbors also came in when they had heard the news. Mr. Coolidge, seeing the house becoming crowded, gave orders that an adjoin- ing house be opened for use as press headquarters. To Carry Out Policies. Then, slowly and quietly he dictat- ed his own statement, setting forth in brief the new executive's policy, and directed his secretary, Erwin Gelsser, to make copies of it for the press. Meanwhile, the new first lady of the land, sat weeping softly and ex- claiming in sympathy for the be- reaved first lady in San Francisco. “What a blow—what a terrible blow to poor Mrs. Harding,” she said. “She had had such a heavy burden, in her own ililness, to bear up under— and now this!"” Finally Gelsser returned with the coples, and, pushing back the old photograph album and the family Bible on the center table, Mrs. Cool- idge busied herself with the work of helping distribute them. Mrs. Coolidge still was weeping, the new President still was impas- sive, solemn and quiet as the news- paper men rushed away to awaken the owners of Plymouth’s three tele- phones and the lone railroad tele- graph operator 8o that they might flash to the world the President’s first ‘words. The newspaper men had scarcely gotten out of sight when another telegraph messenger arrived with a copy of the presidential oath from Washington. And in the same sit- ting room where he had made his statement—the sitting room with its hand-braided rugs, its clutter of ven- erable colonial furniture, its old wood stove and its family Bible, Calvin Coolidge received the oath of office from his father and became America's thirtieth President. News of President Harding's death came as a complete surprise to the | homy | | | | | gned by George sent | | which WARREN G BODY WILL HARD DAYS AHEAD FOR NATION'S NEW HARDING. k0. OUTLOOK ALTERED Y HARDINGDEATH |0ld Guard, Progressive and Radical Groups Seen in Fight for Control. By the Associated Prass. President Harding's death new complexities into the situation within the republican party undoubtedly will have convention of next year. It probably will turn what expected to be merely a ratification niceting into a contest for the re- publican presidential nomination, with the stalwart conservative republican forces aligned on the one-side and the forces represented by such lead- ers as Senators Johnson of California, Borah of Idaho and La Follette of Wisconsin on the other. World Court Created Issue. Six months ago the renomination of President Harding without any substantial contest seemed assured. One of the men who was regarded as ‘his likely principal opponent for the nomination had confessed to a col- league and friend that he found him- self without an issue. The President’s pronouncement for entry of the United States into the world court, however, altered the sit- uation materially, and during the last few weeks there has come definite in- formation through the mysterious channels by which political captains maintain their intelligence systems that all was not going to be as clear sailing as had been expected in the republican national convention of 1924, and there might be a contest after all. Harding Often Worried. There were days of discouragement in the first eighteen months of Presi- dent Harding's occupancy of the pres- idential chair, and on many occasions he expressed to close friends his won- derment why anybody wanted to be President, with its trials and tribula- tions and “the thanklessness of the job.” In one moment of disgust and d couragement, Mr. Harding had said ‘o a close political friend and asso- ciate who had been held in reserve in the dark Lorse list during the conven- tion of 192 “Do you want this job next time? It you do, it's yours as far as 1 am concerned—I'll be for you. But his friends urged him to put discouragements aside and carry on. Mrs. Harding also always urged him many who arrived hard on the heels of the | Coolidges, who had retired shortiyto put away thoughts of stepping messenger, .. A trifle _pale, but steady, P. CONVENTION | | | | throws | pla political | to President Coolidge and Secretary far- | these plans will be officially announc- reaching reflections in the national|ed tomorrow. | | - (Contioued on Puge } Column 3.) , (Contnued on I’age 5, Column 6.) Plans Bein FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT TO BE HELD IN CAPITOL! g Prepared Subject to Ap- proval of Coolidge. Services Likely to Fall on President Harding's body is expect- ed to reach Wa afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Lieut. Col. Clarence Sherrill, U. 8. A, Engineer who has been military aide to President Hard- ing, is today drafting the tentative for the funeral, to be submitted o. Corps, of State Hughes. It is expected that Arrangements at the Capitol, where the body of President Harding wili lie in state on the sarcophagus which has been used for all similar occasions since Lincoln was assassinated, are held in abeyance awalting official word from Speaker Gillett and Sena- tor Lodge, or Senator Curtis, assistant leader, who is chairman of the rules committee, in charge of such affairs. Await Coolidge’s Arrival. While definite hours and details are lacking today, owing to the sudden- ness of the Prestdent's death and long distance from the Capital at which it occurred and the fact that virtually all those who will make the arrangements are scattered during the summer recess, official Washing- ton was busy today with preparatory plans. Body Leaves Tonight. Railroad officials were in confer- ence today figuring when the speclal train bearing President Harding’s body might be expected in Washing- ton. It is expected that it will come over the Union Pacific railroad, leay- ing San Francisco at 7 o'clock to- night, passing by way of Reno, Ogden, Cheyenne, Omaha and Chi- cago. A telegram to the White House today said the train would reach here at 1:30 Wednesday. As soon as definite word is’ re- ceived from Speaker Gillett, who is with the Harding official party, or from Senator Curtls, arrangements for ‘having President Harding's body lie in state in the rotunda will be made. The recent death of Elliott Woods, architect of the Capitol, who had experience in similar affairs, in- cluding the honoring of “The Un- known Dead,” which was the last time any body lay in state in_the rotunda, places responsibility on John Welch, acting architect, because the rotunda_comes under the architect's office. Mr. Welch will consult with Col. Sherrill and with David S. Barry. sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, and Joseph G. Rogers, sergeant-at-arms of the House. , Diregtions for, the par-l Thursday. ticipation of the House in the presi- hington Wednesday | d¢ential obsequies will be given by the to Willlam Tyler Page, clerk of - is hurrying back ington today. May Lie in East Room. According to tentative plans the east room of the White House will be prepared to recelve the President's body. There will be no decorations except those floral offerings which are sent as tokens of regard from other nations and from official and personal friends. The casket 1 rest in the center of the east room upon pedestals directly under the center chandelier in the same posi- tion where President Lincoln's body was piaced when final respects were paid by intimate friends and mem- bers of the official family. The east room is the largest in the executive mansion and is the one generally visited by tourists. Other bodies which have rested in the east room are those of Walter Q. Gresham, former Secretary of State, and President Lincoln. Pres- ident Garfield's body was not (aken to the White House at all, but was taken to the Capitol directly ffom the depot and to the depot directly from the Capitol. According to present plans, nobody will be allowed within the White House grounds except members of the Harding and Coolldge families and those entitled to admission. The doors of the White House will be closed except to members of the fam- ilies and those invited by them. The funeral cortege from the White House to the Capitol will be a solemn pageant, in which the Army and Navy of the United States, pa- triotic, civic, fraternal organizations and_religious bodies will march to muffled drums. Funeral May Start at 9 AM. The official representatives of for- eign nations will ride in a special sec- tion of the procession. The funeral march from the White House to the Capitol is expected to start promptly at 9 o'clock on Thurs- day morning. The gates to the White House grounds will be guarded by policemen and soldiers. No one will be admitted except those entitled under_the program to take part in the obsequies. Visitors will be as- signed to different rooms in the build- ing to await the departure of the pro- cession for the Capitol. Vigil over the dead will be main- tained throughout the silent watches of Tuesday by soldiers, sailors and raarines. Former President Taft, members of the cabinet, with delegations from the Senate and House, the United States Supreme Court in their robes of of- fice and members of cabinets in pre- vious administrations will be spe- cially invited to join the official sgc- tion of the solemn procession. All the funeral ceremonies are to be fully observed by the military (ConanuLa 00 1 dos v, Column Z.) CHIEF EXECUTIVE Farm Relief and Coal Strike Threat Most Vital Prob- lems for President. WORLD COURT POSITION WAITED WITH INTEREST Faces Task of Stemming Tide of Party Revolt in North- west. The United States today has a new President—Calvin Coolidge of Mas-! sachusetts, thirtieth in line of succes- sion. Mr. Coolidge is now called upon to take up the reins of government| where they fell from the hands of his former chief. At the time of the late President Harding's death many prob- lems, domestic and foreign, were pressing for consideration. In the last few weeks the late President had set forth his vicws—unquestionably the policies of his administration—on many of these questions. It was his plan to deal still further with them In addresses on his way east, In the eighteen months of the un- e e el Oe PoRieics b e She hdminiairation S S Dioped wnder Mr. Harding or he will have to adopt new pollcics of hix own. His course, it {5 exp ed, will be in- 3 € 1= exbécieq | gy pe 1o His course. it is expected RUZ.08TEY WL SERSNSLL Ylran aied 1n ofice and the Vice Fresident has been called upon to fill his place, the question has arisen as to wheth- er he should carry out to the letter ~(Continued on 'age 4, Column 8.) MRS. HARDING STILL BRAVE AMID TEARS Has Borne Up Well Under Tragedy, Says Mrs. Hoovef, After Vigjl. Br the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO, August 3.—Mrs. Harding, though bearing up well under her grievous loss, had the services of a nurse throughout the night. Wives of cabinet officers who accompanied the President on his westward trip alternated as her com- panions. One of these today said the coura- geous helpmate of the late executive had stood the strain well, but had had little real rest. She emphasized. however, that Mrs. Harding was far from collapse or hysteria and had made no evidence of emotion beyond the expression of her grief natural in the circumstances. L Meets Ship Captain. Mrs. Harding last night received Capt. Allan Buchanan, commander of the Navy transport Henderson, on and returned to the continental United States, who came to offer his condolences. After the iheating Capt. Buchanan said: “Mrs. Harding is a woman, of re- markable qualities. She is bearing up with great bravery and courage.” Capt. Buchanan said the saliors and marines on the Henderson’ would march without arms in the’ proces- slon when the President's ;body Is taken from the hotel, beginning the trip to Washington. “The ship will march every man of its personnei,” Capt. Buchanan said. “We could nét do less for the commander-in-chief,: particu- larly one who was as good as Mr. Harding was to us of the Henderson all the while he was aboard.” Bears Up Well. “Mrs. Harding has a. firm grip upon herself,” said Herbert C. Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, when ques- tioned by interviewers as to her co; dition as he emerged from the presi- dential suite. Mrs. Herbert Hoover, wife of the Secretary of Commerce, was with Mrs. Harding almost continuously for hours after the President’s death. She declared that the firsi lady was bearing up extremely well under the shock of the tragedy. “Mrs. Harding is.perfestly well” said- Mrs. Hoover. “Of course, she cries, but there is nothing like a col- lapse. . She is going to Be terribly upset if she sees the newspapers that _ said sae coilapsed.” : TONIGHT, END SUDDEN, WITHOUT PAIN LEAVE FOR CAPITAL DUE HERE TUESDAY; Mrs. Harding Reading Aloud Be- side Bed When Death Strikes; Bears Tragedy Bravely RECOVERY THOUGHT SO CERTAIN PHYSICIANS HAD LEFT SICK ROOY lApoplexy or Rupture of Blood Vessel in Brain Causes Passing of Nation’s Leader. By the Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., August 3.—A nation today mourned the passing of its leader. The American people from coast to coast and from lakes to gulf, and in the territories beyond the seas, bowed their heads in grief, for their President was dead. In the early hours of last evening, after a day which had brought renewed hope of re- covery, death came suddenly and struck down Warren G. Hard- ing with a stroke of cerebral apoplexy. The end came instantaneously and withcut even a second of warning, at 7:30 o’clock. There was no time to summon addi- tional physicians. No time to call the members of his official family, and no time for medical skill to exercise its knowledge. i | will be in-| which the President sailed to Alukll husband. was faithful to the end minutes before 7:30 o’clock wl in succes m}mgfix ang Brajss: | her chair Ar. {the door callin; Brig. Gen. = been attending the Chief Ex and the two nurses present, awyer, chief of ecu The President had fought an but it appeared in a more insidi Became World Figure. Great as was the shock to all who | awell under the American flag and to | peoples in many lands—for Mr. Harding by virtue of his office, his kindly and his lovable personality had become a world figure—the great shock came to his wife, reading by his side, but ehe did not collapse. “She was shocked, of course, and at first unable to realize that she had lost the husband who had made up all the interest in her life for 60 many proud and happy vyears,” said Gen. Sawyer Jater. “But there was no collapse, no hysteria. Just a brave rally to face her sorrows and the duties devolving upon her at this hour.” Mrs. Harding was standing the shock well early today, but whether she could stand up under the grief that bore down upon her as the sad journer back to ‘Washington is made was another que: tion Those who know her best s that she will. Reach Capital Tuesday. When dawn crept over the mountains and lighted up the Golden Gate this {morning almost all of the arrange- ments for this trip—the saddest trans- continental journey in the history of the nation—had been made. The trip will be started about 7 o'clock this eve- {ning, and should end in Washington Tuesday morning. The train will go direct to Washing- ton by way of Reno, Ogden, Cheyenne, Omaha and Chicago. This announcement was made after a conference participated in by the four members of the President’s offi- clal party in San Francisco, and was approved by Mrs. Harding. The car will be lighted at night, and at all times two soldiers and two sailors, a part of a naval and mili- tary guard of sixteen enlisted men, will stand at attention guarding the casket. Train to Make No Stops. The train will make no stops en route except those necessary for its operation. The body of the President will be borne in the rear car, prob- ably the same in which he made the trip from the capital to the Pacific coast. The train will carry the presi- dential party as composed during the trip across the country to Alaska, and also Gen. Pershing, Attorney General Daugherty and Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Remsberg and family, Mrs. Remsberg being a sister of the President. The body will not be taken from the hotel except to go directly to the train, and there will be only the very simplest private ceremony at the hotel before it is moved. The final interment of the body of President Harding will be at Marion, Ohio, his home city, a member of the presidential party announced today. The body of the President lay to- day in the room in whch he suffered and died. The five physicians who attended the President were united in their de- cisions as to the cause of death. In s statement jissued last night and signed by all of them they declared it was due to “apoplexy or a rupture of blood vessel in the axis of the brain near the respiratory center.” 1 Znécezzt fjadversity and praised in success. Harding collapsed . for the physicians to come quickly. It was all over in the twinkling of an eye, and it left a nation and the world shocked and in grief. Mrs. Harding, the constant companion of her distinguished She was reading to him a few hen she noticed a shudder run through the frame of the man she had loved, encouraged in Before she could arise from BGioLe zpe com|q Ttize frows i Before she could arise ‘} rom in his bed. and she rushed s, the staff of physicians. who had tive, who also was in the room, Miss Ruth Powderly and Miss Sue Dausser, did all they could, but it availed nothing. d won one victory against disease, ous form, and he lost the battle. The statement emphasized that death from such a cause might have occur- red at any time and came after re- covery of the acute illness he had suffered for a week was in progress. Confident of Recovery. The statement showed conclusively that the physicians as well as every |one else believed up to the minute the executive was subjected to the |apopletic attack that he was on the |road to recovery. Three hours before | the end came the most optimistic bul- letin issued since the President was taken ill_was made public. It sald that he had spent the “most co | fortable day since his illness begun." The bulletin was timed 4:20 p.m “The evidences of infection are sub- siding but he has been left in a very Weakened condition by the hard bat- tle he has made,” the bulletin added. “This afternoon the temperature is remaining normal, with the pulse rate around 100 and the respirations aver- aging about thirty. Other factors re- main the same." The bulletin was so optimistic that | there was a general letting down in the watchfulness that has attended the President’s illness. Members of the cabinet and their wiv sonnel of the executive | many of the newspaper men went out to dinners, where most of the talk was when the trip back to Wash- ington would be started. At no time since_the President was brought to an Francisco Sunday morning was | the vicinity of the presidential suite as deserted as it was about 7 o'clock | 1ast night. | Few Near Death Scene. | oOutside the suite the usual secret | service men stood guard—they also | discussing when they would get back to Washington—and down the cor- ridor a little handful of newspaper men were gathered. | Mrs. Harding, Gen. Sawyer and the |two nurses, however, had not re- linquished their watchfulness, and it is truly typical of Mrs. Harding that she should have been there, for no first lady of the land was ever more devoted and faithful to her husband than was Mrs. Harding. Mrs, Harding was reading to the President an articie entitled'“A Calm Review of a Calm Man,” written by Samuel G. Blythe, a_noted political writer, and published in_a current magazine. It described the man to whom she was reading, and he was interested in it. She paused in her reading and glanced up, he raised his band and said: “That's good. more.” Those were the last words Presi- dent Harding spoke. In an instant a shudder shook his frame, his hand dropped, and he collapsed. Mrs. Harding was at the door in- stantly and called: “Find Boone and Quick!” One of the secret service men rush- ed down the corridor searching for Dr. Boone, while Gen. Sawyer worked desperately within the room, apply- ing restoratives. Dr. Boone could not be found on the eighth floor, and mes- sengers were sent out. He was found and came in almost running at 7:37 o'clock. Several others had gone into the room in the meantime, snd " (Contmued on Page 3, Column L) Go on. Read some the others!