Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1920-10-07
A DAY WITH SENATOR HARDING
Caim Steady, Determined the American Who Is ding
the Republican Party to Victory Goes About the Bust
of the Campaign in His Modest Office in Marion

the senator. Just at the minute he is
reading proof on editorials which are
to be printed In his newspaper. the
Marion STAR" in the afternoon. The
senator stands for everything that is
printed in the "Star," and Is careful
to read what goes into its columns be-
fore the paper goes to press. Dispos
ing Of the proof sheet, he shakes
hands cordially with you. and you are
at liberty to size him up.
Mark Him Dependable.
He is somewhat above the average,
of course, because he has already been
singled out by the people of Ohio to
represent them In the senate But
aside from this: You are at once
struck by his balance and his poise
You mark him as dependable-safe
There Is that In his face, on his brow
which gives assurance that he is not
the sort of man who will speak with
out thinking, or act without deliber.
ating. There is reserve force In his
bearing, determination In his Jaws
character in his mouth, kindly sym.
pathy in his eyes.
AS you listen to him talk here In
the Christian dining room. or later, in
a speech to a visiting delegation from
the front porch of his home, this con-
victiOn is strengthened. He doesn't say
anything in his office that he wouldn't
say out on the porch, nor anything on
the porch That he wouldn't adhere to
in all sincerity in his office
The thing that strikes you at all
times-it is the very atmosphere of
MariOn-iS his moderation. his re
straint-the absence of all b0mbast
and eXaggerati0n in his statements
the careful presentation Of the issues
the avoidance of all attempt to array
one class against the other, the con
veyance of the desire, If called to the
presidency, to be president of all the
people; and, without making any high
sounding promises. to give all of the
people the best that is in him
Avoids Personal Controversy
Particularly noticeable is his avoid
ance of personal controversy MOI
once since his nomination has Hard
ing referred in public speech 10 his
opponent He adheres to the ISSUES
Not once has he permitted himself 10
indulge in personal denunciati0n OF
his rival
He is sane He has fixed convtc-
tons as to the moderation and bal
ance which should characterize can
didaies tor the high office Of tie pres
idency; departure from which he he
iieves, without doing any good to the
candidate who offends. does serve to
bring American Institutions into con
tempt
During the war there was q Hard
ingkind Of man in service as bo'sun
on an American merchanfInan The
time came when the ship was tor,
pedoed: and the bosun was pat in
charge of the tiller on the whaiehoal
in which 8 goodly portion of the crew
took refuge a storm arose, and there
was imminent dancer that the boat
would he swamped In the stern
sheets sal the DO sun, rigid and erect,
his hand locked to The tiIIer lie said
little, Steady !" now and then TO the
rowers; or hold fast take her head
on r. as the boat rose on the crest of
giant wave, and then plunged straight
down into the trough of the sea But
for twenty three hours straighf-aWay.
he held fast to the tilier, and he d:dpI
relinquish it until he had guided HE
boat hard and fast on friendly beach
Then he got up and stretched and
asked for a pipe of tobacco
Calm. stea ". determined and know
ing his business, one conceives o.
the other Harding thus guiding the
ship through any storm thai mag
arise, to a safe harb0r.