Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-03

President Taft for denomination at the
chicago convention in 1912-the most
| turbulent convention in the annals OF
1republicanism. Four years ago he was
chosen chairman of the republican ma
tfonal convention and delivered the key
| note address. He presided over the con-
| Vention with poise, showing himself an
able parliamentarian.
The acquaintance Of Roosevelt and
Harding was largely one of perfume
torlness prior to the republican ma
| tionai convention of 1916. 1t was
| after the convention, when Harding.
mittee. by reason of having presided
as chairman of the national conven-
ton. went with his committee to New
York to notify Justice Hughes officially
Roosevelt and Harding really became
acquainted. While they met OCCASION
ally during the campaign, yet it was
not until after the election. resulting
| in Hughes defeat, that the closer in
timacy arose.
Friend Of RooseveIt's.
Roosevelt. particularly during the
pre-war period, spent much of his
time in Washington, during which he
was present at many meetings called
for the purpose of discussing the kind
OF policy that should be pursued by
the republican members Of the new
Congress. Thus meeting the republi-
of applying the plumb bob and level
to the Ohio senator's craftsmanship
with the result that Roosevelt not
only formed sincere liking for Hard
ing, but profound conviction fors9iis
capabilities as a leader.
So much was he impressed with
Harding's ability and the respect his
colleagues entertained for his views
on public questions that it was Hard
ing to whom Roosevelt turned for the
drafting and int rndncfi0n IF q n ina nd
ment to the Army reorganization bill.
which measure provided for selective
service and made possible the crea-
ton of the great American Army over
seas. The amendment. known as the
Roosevelt amendment to the military
bill for the enlargement of the forces
Tor the world war, authorized the
President to create not more than two
divisions Of volunteers for immediate
service in France.
The acQuaintanceship, begun in fact
m 1916, between Roosevelt and Hard
ing. had ripened in the last year of the
Particularly during that last year it
was known by many of the senator's
close friends that Roosevelt frequent
ly talked with Harding about the pos
sibilities of the latter's candidacy for
President.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt, jr.. son of
the former President, and the other
members of his immediate family were
strong supporters of Senator Harding
during the campaign
Charged With Being Conservative.
Senator Harding is forceful speaker
His voice is mellow and has remarkable
carrying powers. He has a winning
manner. which assures him hearing at
all times. In the world Of politics. as in
the business world. ne ALWAYS has been
- ~
together opposing factions to a marked
degree. He has been charged with being
a conservative-if that be a crime. But
he Is conservative with progressive
ideas. IN the Senate he has lined up
been a member Of many Of the imp ass
tant committees Of that body. including
the foreign relations committee, with
which he sat during its deliberations
concerning the peace treaty with Ger
many.
In 1891 Senator Harding married Mrs
Florence Killing De Wolfe. daughter of
Amos Killing, one of the leading business
men Of Marion. The home life of the
are modest and unaffected in their as
sociations and their tastes.
Fond Of Golf and Outdoor Life.
Golf is Senator. HarMng's particular
hobby. He also is great base ball fan.
and attends the game whenever possible.
He Is a great home man. and likes
nothing better than to sit at his own
fireside entertaining friends with the
help of Mrs. Harding. He takes great
pride in the fact that he has never had
any labor trouble at his newspaper plant.
Senator Harding is big man phys
ically, robust. with an out-of doors look
about him. His hair is iron gray Gray
eyes are set under thick eyebrows. His
face is broad and smooth shaver. his
mouth strong, but kindly. His recreation
he takes in the open air as much as he
can. He is very fond of golf, and may
| frequently be seen on the links at Chevy
Chase Club or the Washington Country
Club. Another hobby Is motoring, driv-
| ing his own car whenever he can. Dogs,
particularly big dogs, are favorites with
Senator Harding.
| In his reading he selects most often
biographies. finding more enjoyment in
them than in any other books Alexander
Hamilton is his favorite character in
history, and he has lectured on Hamilton
many times.
I'm bug about Hamilton" he puts
it.
| The Ohio senator has Travelled extern
sively abroad. having visited Europe
three times in the last score of years.
During these trips he studied systems
] Of government in other countries, and
their economic problems, including the
tariff and the standard of wages paid to
labor. He also visited the Hawaiian
| Islands to get first-hand information
upon the production and distribution of