The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-12-28
Normalcy and Naivete,
That's Harding Exactly.
Closeup of New President Shows Him
Fairly Exuding Normality and Regularity.
Cyril Arthur Player in Detroit News.

Senator and Presdent-elect Warren u.
Harding certainly looks the part.
His appearance on the floor OF the senate
afforded the world the first official personiti-
cation of the latest word in popular usage,
Normally. Harding is exactly that; 1t en-
wreaths him, he exudes it; he is genial, tam
ed and gray-haired Normally all IN himself
Senator Harding walked in. Just that
Around the back of the chamber stretched an
imposing phalanx of representatives and sec
Iretaries The senators stood grouped also at
the back, welcoming each other hand-clasp-
ing, shoulder thwacking, arm-plnchng. linen
Senator Harding walked in. The house rose
to greet him, with common impulse; even
the press gallery, whose members do not even
rise at revival meeting, joined the ovation
sincere and spontaneous.
The president-eect came in as one who
knows he's welcome No dignity spaced his
steps, no studied composure steaded his bear
ing A grin of almost Child-ke pleasure was
on his face and remained there while senators
pressed forward to congratulate him; he STOOD
head bashfu1ly on one side slightly forward
and down, in a trick boys have when praised !;
absorbing with obvious delight the good words
offered him. l was so to speak, his crowd, -
the bunch he runs with, and no atfectation
was possible.
He is wonderfully tanned and his linen col
lar was a half inch too deep. When person
has a tan he must be careful about wearing
collars Harding's collar was painfully obvl-
Gus, particularly as he bent his head in naive
pleasure at the greetings. You had to notice
the collar And the collar called attention to
that eephantine weight of shoulders which
bows him. He is man who must take his
exercise consistently but with discretion.
His attitude was one of supreme complai-
sance; one reflected that as president, he will
make good listener A man of simple emo
tons and incapable OF dizzy flights. Thus, he
1otiAt
speech was modulated to a key of sentimental
appreciation. II was exactly what was ex
peCted and fitted beautifully i'll the picture.
AS they passed senator's whispered i'll his
ear and he in theirs; mostly two hands clasp
cd lis one-sometimes it was his arm. Aloof-
ness did not exist familiarity extended to the
white-Shoed pages. No one could whisper in
the ear of Woodrow Wilson that way; if any
one did so Mr.. Wilson would not whisper
back; he would mention it to Mitchell Pal
mer. The comparison is deadly but it is the
comparison before the nation this day As
for Harding it was in way the triumphant
wind-up OF the front porch campaign.
But behind Harding sat Henry Cabot
Lodge. Senator Lodge has way about him;
that air of a French court gives his desk
something of added authority a touch of the
prime minister. He it was who, while the SEN
ate bowed i'll prayer, made quiet but pene-
trating survey OF every desk on the floor;
he it was who, waiting with an air which
was curious mixture of Difference and pain,
while others spoke, suggested the privilege
of the floor for Senator Harding. This al
most, amounted to anointment His air said
quietly but plainly: This is all very we'll,
bit OF course one is going to be so mis-
guided to leave me out of their calcula-
tons"
For the rest, whatever antagonism they
may reserve for the future they made the
day unanimous. Their close attention was
deserved compliment Senator Gore his usual
restlessness quieted into rigid interest; La
Toilette hair bushier than ever, face bowed
on clasped hands, almost in an attitude of
prayer; Frank Brandagee looking more like
a tired undertaken than ever, forgetting to
take out polish and replace his glasses; Car
ter Glass, alert as ever but not so quizzical;
and so on over the chamber.