New Britain Herald Newspaper, August 3, 1923, Page 5

FE OF HARDING ONE OF HARD WORK Late President Noted for Com- mendable Characteristics Washington, Aug. 3.—The life of Warren G. Harding, late president, is a story of hard work and steady ap- plication to duty, combined with per- sonal characteristics that savored of the highest form of manhood and citizenship. Was Infinitely Patient ‘Warren G. Hardipg brought to the presidency an infinite patience and Xkindness in dealing with public ques- tions and men, which enabled him to handle the problems of government without the stress and worry which had handicapped many of his pre- decessors, Whatever else historians may say of him there probably will be little dispute that few chief executives came to office in peace time facing prob- lems more complex in their nature or greater in number. All international affairs were unbalanced as never be- fore, with many principal settlements of the Great War still to be effectuat- ed. At home the work of reconstruc- tion had ‘only just begun, with busi- ness depressed, agriculture prostrate and unemployment general. How Mr. Harding measured up to the task before him must be left to the historian, but his friends said that Gramommo oo s RS. HARDING s s s MRS. W. G. HARDING JVife of the deceased president, who Has been steadily at his bedside at the Palace hotel in San Francisco, and has attended him throughout his llness, although scarcely recovered t-om a recent illness of her own. ¢oming to the presidency as he did with an open mind, a desire for coun- sel and an intimate knowledge of the processes of government acquired in his services in the senate, he was the type of man needed for the job at such a time. Preaching upon every occasion the dootrine of Americanism, he set his face resolutely against “Entangling Alliances.” While thus adhering to what he was pleased to term the prin- ciples of the founding fathers, he nevertheless lent the moral assistance of the government in the efforts to bind up the wounds of the world. That influence was once declared by him to be not inconsiderable, and so America under his guidance had a part, silent though it was in the main, in effecting the settlements of many vexing world questions. Its chief contribution was the Washington arms conference at which the principal powers cocvenanted to limit the size of their navies and thus lift from tax weary peoples the burden of maintain- ing the race for naval supremacy. Along with the proffer of counsel in effecting world settlements went an insistance that American rights be recognized In polished phrase, but with a directness of expression that was not to be misconstrued, the world was given to understand from the very first of the Harding administration that the United States, freely respect- ing the rights of the other nations, asked for herself only that to which she was entitled in simple justice, and that she could accept nothing less. While in his dealings with congress Mr. Harding preferred the role of counsellor rather than dictator, he speedily removed any doubt that his gift of patience denoted any lack of purpose once he had charted a course. Thus he told congress that soldiers’ bonus legislation either should carry the means of financing or be post- poned, and when the legislators put aside his advice he promptly vetoed the bill they sent him. His tenacity of purpése was further exemplified in his continual pounding for economy in public expenditures and again in his insistance that con- gress pass the merchant marine aid bill with a view to curtailing the con- tinual drain which the operaton of the war-built commercial fleet had become upon the treasury. His great. est gingle effort in the field of domes- tic legislation was in behalf of this measure. ‘Was Peacemaker Not infrequently Mr. Harding was called upon to play the role of peacemaker in governmental affairs. He intervened in a dispute between congress, and the treasury as to the form general tax revision was to take, and the program he approved was carried out in the main with a reduc- tion of more than half a billion in the nation’s tax burden Likewise, his counsel settled the long controversy between the house and senate on the question of Ameri- can valuation in the tariff law. He proposed in its place a flexible tariff arrangement under which' the tariff! commission was given authority with his approval to increase or lower rates clared it constituted the greatest tariff | reform in American history. Mr. Harding came of hardy pioneer stock. He was’ borr at Blooming| Grove, Morrow County, Ohio, Novem- | ber 2, 1865, the son of a country doc- tor, George T. Harding. Like most country boys he went to country hschool between morning and night chores and later attended college at Iberia, Ohlo. He tried school teach- ing for a year, but having had a smell of printers’ ink while sticking type for his college paper, the lure drew him into the newspaper field. His family meantime had moved to Marion, in an adjoining county, where he obtained his first newspaper job, and where his life interests were cen- tered thereafter. Mr, Harding's am- bition was to become a publisher, and it was realized at the age of 18 when he bid in the Marion Star at a sher- iff's sale. The paper was purchased under a heavy mortgage and his friends have often said that the strug- gle and hardships which were his in | making this paper a success had much to do in fashioning his char- acter and developing a broad patience and tolerance which were his chief characteristics. Whatever his other attainments, Mr. Harding's greatest pride was in his professional accomplishments and training as printer, editor and pub- lisher. Nor did the interests and ex- acting duties of his high office serve to dull his delight in pottering about a composing room. Omghis first trip back home after his inauguration, he went to the Star office, pulled off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, borrowed a chew of tobacco.and helped “make up” the paper. His luck charm was a printer's rule, carried always in a vest pocket. As his ambition had carried him into the ranks of publishers, so his fancy took him into the realm of poli- tics. From the first he was an ardent partisan, and his insistence upon wearing a “stove pipe” hat, the badge of support of James G .Blaine, while a reported on a democratic newspaper brought him a sharp reprimand from his chief, who held it to be inconsist- ent for a worker on a democratic paper to so prominently display the symbol of his republicanism. The future President’s ability as a stump speaker won him early recog- nition from his local party leaders. Marion county then was in the demo- cratic column and he undertook to switch it to the republican party, but his first effort at office on his party ticket resuited in a defeat, though he commanded an unexpected vote, Mr. Harding’s first political office was that of Ohio state senator, to which he was elected at the age of 34. He served two terms and later was elected lieutenant governor of his state. In 1910 he sought the gover- norship, but was defeated. Four years| later he was elected to the United States senate, where he served six years, much of the time as a member of the important foreign relations committee. Irom this place he was elevated to the presidency, the first senator to be elected chief executive. Early in his years of political serv- ice he 'met William McKinley, to whom -his' close friends have most often Hkened him, and'with whom he had in common a predominant pas- sion for obliteration of class and sec- tional lines. A friendship sprang up between the two men. Mr. Harding also was close in later days to Theo- dore Roosevelt, Senators Foraker and Penrose and others high in his party counsels. The President was a life-long Bap- tist and was a trustee of his home church in Marion. He also hwd been a member of the Elk and Moose fra- ternities for years, and after his elec- tion as president he became a thirty- second ‘degree Mason and’ Shriner, Golf was his favorite recreation, but he also liked to fish, although his op- portunities for that sport were limited after he came to the White House. He played hard and possessed the faculty of putting all his worries be- hind him during his recreation hours, MESSAGE FROM ROYALTY King and Queen of England Cable Their Sincere Sympathy to Wife of Late President. By The Associated Press. London, Aug. 3.—King George and Queen Mary today sent the following message of condolence to Mrs. Har-| ding: “Mrs. Hardiog, “White House, “‘Washington. “The Queen and 1 are shocked and grieved to hear of the| irreparable loss which has befallen | you and assure you of our heartfelt| sympathy in your sorrow. The whole | British people will join with those of their sister nation who mourn the| death of their president at the cul- minating point of his distinguished career, “(Signed), much ‘GEORGE, R. 1" Is Seventh President To Die During Office New York, Aug. 3.—President| Harding, the 29th president of the United States, was the seventh presi- dent to die in office and the third chief executive from Ohio so to die. | William Henry Harrison was the first | to die while president. He died April 4, 1841, at Washington, after serving but one month of his term. Zachary Taylor died at Washington July 9, 1850, after serving one year, four months of his term. Governor Pinchot Moved As He Hears of Death Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 3.—When in- | formed last night by the Associated | Press of President Harding's death, Governor Pinchot said: “I am dreadfully sorry and dread- fully shocked.” | The governor was visibly affected The Harding burial plot at Marion cemetery, Marion, O., where President Harding’s mother and his sister, Mary Clarrisa, are buried. TEMPLETON WIRES Waterbury, Aug. 3.—Governor C. A. Templeton when informed of the president’s death tonight immediately sent the following telegram to Mrs. Harding: Mrs, Warren G, Harding, “San Francisco, Cal. “Connecticut mourns with you in your overwhelming loss. Our state loved the president as Connecticut's own son, May God in His infinite mercy comfort and sustain you. (Signed) “CHARLES T. TEMPLETON, “Governor."” Cabinet Members Thank Frisco for Its Sympathy By The Associated rresa. San Francisco, Aug. 3.—The four members of President Harding's cab- inet who were in San Francisco when their chief passed away last night, and Speaker Gillett ,another member of the presidential party, joined early today in a statement which speaking for themselves and Mrs, Harding ex- pressed gratitude and thanks for the hospitality and sympathy shown by the people of San Francisco and of California. Latest Picture ‘of Coolidge is is the latest photograph of President Coolidge. He is at the old Coolidge farm at Plymouth, Vt., with Mrs. Coolidge and Calvin, Jr. Col. House Pays Tribute lKing George Sends His To Harding'’s Character | Condolence to Mrs. Harding Paris, Aug. When informed of President Harding’s death, Col E = ward M. House said: 1 share deeply the griet of every American who knew President Harding. He %as a kindly, lovable character and held the confidence and affection our people.” Associated Pre | Aug. informed imm The London, being sident’s death of condolence By 3. g King George up- the American liately sent al to Mrs. Hard- message | of all s Curzo he for retary, dispatched a similar to Washington QUEEN MOTHER'S SYMPATHY By The Associated London, Aug. —Queen Mother Alexandra sent M Harding this message: “I offer you my heartfelt sympathy in the great sorrow which has befallen you and that of the Am- erican people in the loss of their b loved and distinguished president.” YMPATHY FROM TRELAND. | Belfast, bers of the moned today sympathy at Harding. ) Aug. 3 Ulster to pa the death of All available mem- | et were sum- resolution of | President | THE ATTENDING PHYSICIANS | by the news and too overcome to say | anything further. The governor said he would at once send a message of condolence to Mrs. Harding. MRS. WILSON GRIEVED By The Associated Press. Washington, Aug. 3.—Word of the death of President Harding was with- | held last night from former president Wilson who had retired before the news reached Washington. Mrs. Wii- | within prescribed limitations. Upon signing the bill, the president de- told of the evept. son expressed profound regret when | C130; . : T sity and former president of the American Medical association. These are the physicians who attended President Harding ‘in San Francisco. Left, Dr. Joel T. Boone, U. S. N., assistant to| Brig. Gen. Chas. E. Sawyer (center), Harding’s personal physi- | i right, Dr. Ray-Lyman Wilbur, president of Stanford Univer- | | of Coolidge is similar. | keating plant has been dismantled but | fellow citizens that the United States ' OF SUDDEN PASSING LIKELY TO FOLLOW (Continued from First Page) (Continued from First Pagh) the White House to find out about peared in a more insidious form and them. | he lost the battle. “Warren," sald a friend of many | Wife Does Not Collapse years standing, “you've got to make The great shock came to his wife, some announcement of your inten-|reading by his side but she did not tions. These fellows who are oppos- |collapse . ing your nomination are grooming| ‘She was shocked of course, this one and that one and - before we iar first unable to realize that she had know it, our wing of the party won't|ogt the husband who had made up all have anybody as a candidate and |ipe interest in her lite for so many we II!Z lose poIxtllcallhad\'anraigjfle.m G proud and happy years,” said Gen. “Boys,” sai he president, Sawyer later. hmnn'; made up myhmtn:‘L l!h expev;zJ “But there was no collapse, no to make some speeches in the weet|pygteria, Just a brave rally to face and elsewhere sometime soon and if |yar sorrows and the duties devolved the reaction is favorable I'll carr}'{upnn Rer at tiia hanre on. 4 - | Mrs. Harding was standing the A refusal to run for a second term | g1 well early today but whether they argued, was a confession of fall- | 1,0 oyjd stand up under the grief Japes & M | that bore down upon her as the sad i .\1” ”gf}t-”m,lf:;,s'nn.ror?:tr"fi;nf»; journey back to Washington is made ardipg, 2 ; s s vleas s AN diagtion Il catry gn. Tell our fellows that.” | V*® “"”:_.’:"':"::‘l e 1 Wik fow daye later Senator James E. | wnen gawn crept over the moun- atson of Indiana, one ac - il ¢ LB O S ohing | tains and lighted up the Golden Gate "””‘;'Em"; “““”:‘r";:“n"r;n‘::nll "":"{‘h““ "':l': |this morning, almost all of the ar- ate that it “Warren Harding wanted a | TAnEements for the saddest trans- e Rt pe e it | continental journey in the history of B L o e \souse proa- |Lhe nation had been made. The trip AT TR IL WER 0 10 SERCHI BROS started about 7 o'clock this i [ will 7 e |morning and should end in Washing- Following that declaration the |toN Tuesday morning. From that President was an avowed candidate. |POInt the arrangements have not been All Seemed Clear | definitely made but it is expected that At the same time word had come |the body will lay in state in the that one of the men who was looked | Fotunda of the capitol. , upon as a principal contender had i ‘numu ln. old I’l()mv(' Town said he found himself without an issue [ The burial will be at Marion, 0., the and the clouds all appeared to be out|Cit¥ in which Warren G. Harding of the sky. ‘Hmm poor and humble surroundings, Another western senator, a power |Strugsled upward until the American in republican affairs, not because of |P®OPI® paid him the greatest honor his, party regularity nor his adherence | Within their power to hestow. Presi- to the Harding program, at the same|dent Harding was a man who loved time was using all his personal influ- | 'the home folks” and if he had had ence to keep the foremost prospective |{ime to leave a parting word last contender against Mr. Harding out of |Night it undoubtedly would have con the fleld and w | tained instructions that he be buried | telling all his friends | faine | much to their surprise that he was|in the town that knew him as “War- tor Harding. {ren” and where he called almost There: must be no repetition of |©Veryone by their first names. 1912,” this leader said. *“No democrat | Body In Same Train | must be elected because the republi-| The trip across the continent will can party cannot agree. We must|Pe made on the same train that car- take Hardlfig for anether term.” |ried the chief executive a well, happy Then just as everything seemed to |2nd hopeful man to the Pacific coast be smooth sailing, Mr. Harding made |Its route will take it through Reno, his declaration for entry of the United [ C&den, Cheyenne, Omaha, Chjcago State’s into the World Court. and thence to Washington.- 3t will Trouble Over World Court make no stops except to change en- The friends among the stalwarts|8ines and for other operating pur- who had urged Mr. Harding to de- |Poses. clare himself for another term told| The body of the president will be him he had made a great mistake. | borne in the same car as carried him The contender who had once told Mr. [t0 the west. It will be accompanied Harding's friends tha the found him- |bY the same party that accompanied selt without an issue, sought out the |the executive when he left Washing | same men and told them that hisjton June 20 with the addition of At- previous declaration was “all off” and |torney Gen. Daugherty, Gen. Pershing | that he believed he had found the is- [#nd Mr. and Mrs, E. Remsberg and | e family of Santa Ana, Cal., Mrs. Rems. These developments threw political |herg being a sister of Mr. Harding. plans awry and now the sudden death Will Be Accorded -Honors of the president gives them another| Naval and military honors will bhe twist. Whether Vice-President Cool- |Paid the dead commander by the idge will ask a nomination at the army and navy throughout the wholc hands of the coming convention s did | (rip. Two soldiers ana two sailors, Theodore Roosevelt after the death of [members of the guard of honor of 1§ McKinley, remains for the ' future.|cnlisted men and two office will | Whether the'party chieftains will wish |stand at attention beside the casket to accomplish his nomination is yet| The car bearing the body \\vm~ be | to be decided. The leaders still feel |lighted at night and the whole train they must go before the country with [probably will be draped in black. an endorsement of the accomplish- The body of the pre ments of the Harding administration. |day in the room in which he suffered The best informed feel they will most|and died. It will remain there hefore likely choose to do it with some mem- | being taken to the train and just he. | ber of that administration. fore that it done the very Like Roosevelt C: private service will be helq, The late Tom Platt made Theodare | < L Roosevelt a vice-president with the| | openly announced purpose of putting [;flflllfl[if P”TS H'S Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin, but the T delegates remembered Coolidge and‘H F h G d “ : forced his nomination. They recanea | 109 Tl God Wil DH‘GCt Na- | him out of the way politically. Hej his record as governor of Massachu- g e tlon’s Destinies and ack. ident lay to. simplest in nomination for vice-presidency, | COOLIDGE TAKES OATH OF OFFICE (Continued from First Page) and Mrs. Coolidge joined in sending the following telegram: “We offer you our deepest sym- path; May God bless you and keep you,' Mr. Coolidge, who had come here for a complete rest, had welcomed the absence of a telephone from his father’s home. But, with the news of the President's death, telephone coms pany officials immdiately set to work and within an hour a telephone had been installed in the farm house. It was through a telephone com- munication with Washington that the vV President obtained the form of oath which the president must take upon assuming office. Then in -the presence of Mrs, Coolidge, Congress- man Porter H. Dale and a little party of friends, Mr, Coolidge went through the simple ceremony which made him president. His father read by the light of an oil lamp: Takes The Oath “I do solemnly swear that I will taithfully execute the office of presi- dent of the United States and I will to the best of my ability preserve, pro- tect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Mr. Coolidge calmly and cléarly re- peated the words and added: “So help me God.” The ceremony ended, the President turned at once to preparations for his journey to Washington. Coolidge’s Career twenty-ninth mnan leni of the United s and fourthi from the *state of husetts, was born in the tiny tewn of Plymouth, Vt., July 4, 1872. Running in his veins by direct lin- eage is the blood o fthe Mayflower pil- gricus. From them he inherited a predominant Puritan respect for law and order such as characterized his conduct as governor of Masachusetts, in refusing to temporize with leaders of the Boston police strike. Silent, reserved, uncommunitive al- most to the point of brusqueness, he rose to national political ascendency in 1919 when he was mentioned for the republican nomination for president. When the nomination went to Hard- ing, Coolidge was first and there was no second in the contest for vice-pres- ident, 2 During his political life, Coolidge {ran for various offices, state and mu- nicipal, a total of 17 times. He won |every » ,and only once was the fight close, that ocasion being in his second contest for the Massachusetts state legislature, when he received a plurality of only 63 votes. Born to a life on the farm, during his boyhood Coolidge ocupied himself doing chores and helping out in his tather's general store, He attended the little red school= house at Plymouth. From there he went to the old Black Rock River academy at Ludlow, Vt., to prepare himself to enter colege. He had vague hopes of reaching so high, for the family farm and store were not overs productive and money in the Coolidge tamily was. scarce, In 1891, however, though consider= ably older than the average freshman because scanty means had prevented him leaving home, he entered Am- herst. vice-pr Prize Winner There, in his senior year, He won & gold medal offered for the best essay on the principles of the Revolutionary: War, the competition being open to the undergraduates of all American colleges. In 1895 he was graduated with high hono! In 1897 he was admitted to ' the Massachusetts bar and began the prac- tice of law at Northampton. Follow= ing two terms as mayor of that eity, two as city solicitor, two in the state legislature, four in the senate, three as lieutenant governor and two as gov- ernor, his political star shot into the national constellation. In person, Coolidge typifies the New England gentleman. He has probably made him a president and one of America's national heroes. The case | In the conven- | tion of 1920, the party leaders placed and the fate of that moment in a steaming hot convention hall on a | June day has made him a president — of the United States. el ot s = Plymouth, vt., Aug. 3.-—President e Coolidge issued the following state- ment early today: “Reports have reached me which WHITE HOUSE TORN UP = News of Harding’s Death Finds His|H2rding is gone. The world has lost | a great and good man. I mourn his Executive Residence Being Over- | loss. 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 Weshington: Aus Word of the|and for meeting their responsibilities resident’s death found the White |Vherever they may arise. Ior this torn up in the summer |PUrpose I shall seek the co-operation repair work made possible by the long | °f all those who have been associated B e i r s ehlee rexetubive! with the president during his term of President Coolldge pibbably will | office who have given their take up his official duties in his | ©ffOrts to assist him I wish that they offices in the senate office building May assist me i until the work can be completed. Faith in Almighty | In the executlve mansion itself the “I have faith that God will direct the destinies of our nation.” a working force was rushed to the| FPresident Coolidge sent the follow- task of restoring it early today that|iNE telegram to Mrs Harding: “We offer yop our deepest sym- rathy. May God bless you and keep you. (Signed) “CALV “GRAC | hauled. By The Associated Press. people Those the building may be ready as soon as possible for occupancy. Through the night the staff 'of White House attaches were toiling with the endless official mes- sages that must be sent and received. | Immediate word went out to Boston to send a secret service guard to take up the vigil about the new president. (at 10:30 and at 12 midnight | W. A. Perkins of Bridgewater came to the Coolidge house with a telegram J and this message was read to John C. Coolidge the vice-president's father. The message ‘Palace Hotel, Can Francisco, Cal., “Mr. Calvin Coolidge | “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 signed by George | B. Christian, etary. Coolidge Notified. The telegram was read complete CooL1IDG COOLIDGE. Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge went to bed ’ o'clock POINGARE'S STATEMENT Premier That France says French Bows in Deepest Sympathy in Loss . of President Harding. By The Associated Press | Paris, Aug Premier Poincare made the following ent today “Only recent, the Pr of the world recorded the noble words of President Harding, a magnificent le- gacy in which he recommended to X 88 to Calvin dent was in bed. Mr. Coolidge dressed immediately and met reporters in his sitting room {at 12:30 p. m. | The vice-president received the |news that he had become president while he was in a house just across the street from where he was born. the permanent justice whose in should participate in court of international essential characteristics he outlined aémirable language “Is not this last act of a man about to give up his supreme power to enter the silence of eternity the most beau- tiful counsel of a chief of state to the country he governed and to the great people who had given him his man- cate?” The Premier drafted a cablegram to Secretary Hughes, while President Millerand sent a message to Mr Coolidge. OBREGON'S STATEMENT By _The Associated Press Mexico City, Aug. 3.—"“President Harding's death is a sad event not only for the United States but for |Mexico,” said President Obregon. never slapped a man on the back. He is quiet to the point of taciturnity in his speech and possesses a twinkling eye and a mouth and chin that, with all his kindly smile, are as firm and ine as Plymouth Rock itself. 1906, he married Miss Grace Goodhue ,then a teacher in the Clarke school, Northampton. Two sons have been born to them. At the time of his election as vice president, the couple lived in a modest home at Northamp~ ton for which they paid $22 a month rental, He is said to own no real estate, and has never owned an automobile. S WILL: SUFFER New York, Aug Elbert H. Gary chairman of the board of the United States Steel corporation who announc- ed last night that elimination of the {twelve-hour day from the steel in soon would mark tNe fruition sident Harding's efforts, said he learned of the president's “I am terribly disturbed. President Harding’s removal at this time is a calamity. He had the con- | fidence and the affection of the whole people. The business world will suf- ter temporarily.” His Nurse SAYS BUSINE when | death [ Coolidge by his father while the presi- | Miss Ruth Powderly, Navy furse, who was in attendance on President Hardirg. She nursed President Wil-~ son, also Mrs. Harding in h-: recent Ulness.