The evening world., 1920-08-04
is HARDING VERSATILEp

IT HE makeup" man for the first page of yes
terdays issue of the Marion Star, we learn,
was Senator Warren G. Harding, owner Of the
paper and candidate for the Presidency.
The news was widely heralded by the press
associations as bit of human interest copy. We
wonder whether the Marion Star also carried the
item which announced that the Republican managers
had arranged for moving picture men to be in the
shop and film the candidate working at his trade.
Senator Harding undoubtedly got out the old
makeup nlle he has carried in his pocket as luck
piece for ali these many years, rolled up his sleeves
put on printers apron and did the job with credit
to himself and to the Star.
The movies" will give his fellow-craftSnen a
line on his ability and technique. If heads were
misplaced lines transposed and lump lines" dashes
and cutoff rules wrongly inserted, the printers need
not conclude that the Senator is not good printer
Even the best of workmen lose some measure of
their cunning from lack of practice.
Nor would few errors IN themselves be a serious
reflection on Printer HardingS qualifications for the
Presidency. Many a printer who has been letter
perfect in his trade has failed to be nominated or
elected to the Presidency knowledge of the print
ing business neither proves nor disproveS his
qualifications
But Newspaper Owner Harding is a versatile
worker in newspaper shop. PropretorS of small
town daies usually are. They have to be.
Tiple was wheR Owner Harding was wont 10
write the editorials as we'll as make up the front
page.
Here and now we suggest that Candidate Har-
ding who gave place to Printer Harding yesterday
give place to Editor Harding some day soon before
the cares of running for office become too great
This Nation would thoroughly enjoy reading an
editorial column certified as written by Editor Hard
ing. Such a column would be copied widely, an
honor dear to the heart of every editorial writer
In particular would this be true if Editor Harding
would dnoose for the title of his leading article,
Harding Accepts" and proceed to give definite
and concise Interpretation of the passages in the ac-
ceptance speech Of Candidate Harding defining his
attitude on the League of Nations.
1t must be admitted that other editors have made
frightfu mess of this Interpretation. If the editor
of the Marion Star would he should be able to give
a better Interpretation of obscure wording than any
other editor, however erudite. Such an editorial
might straghten out the editors of the Sun and New
York Herald, the Tribune, The Evening Post, the
Times, the Globe, the Mail, the World. The Eve
ming World would gladly be put straight.
"What did he mean?" is question that puzzles
more than one editor. Hardly any two seem to
arrive at precisely the same conclusion. Editor
Harding could speak with authority.
VIII not Editor Harding Of the Marion Star add
a second reel to his typographical moving picture
showing him seated with pen in hand, or in front
of the typewriter preparing copy for this editorial?
A good editorial in the Star might have as great
an effect on history as any editorial ever printed in
the United States