The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-24
HAVE KEPT OPEN HOUSE

In former years, whether in Marion or Washington. the senator and Airs. Harding have kept "open house" on Christmas Day, but this year it has heen found impracticable to follow the old custom. They will spend the Jay quietly and unquestionably will receive calls from many of their close Marion friends. There bemg no children Tn the Isenators home or immediate family there will be no Christmas tree. ,caksn altogether, Christmas at the Harding home in Mount Vernon avenue will te celebrately largely ill the spirit Of thanksgiving.
 When Senator Harding goes to f1or- ida soon after the first of the year for his pre-inauguration vacation, he will be returning to happy hunting and fishing ground filled with memories and associations of former visits. The senator has been great lover of the Indian river country, and under nis leadership Florida for a long time was 1 the mecca of many Marion folk. Now that the word has spread about Marion ] that the President-elect is to carry his new distinction to the old haunts, you
 can hear at the club some fine stories l Of what Marion people have accom-
 plished in the hunting and fishing aine
 in Florida in the days gone by.
 1 Col. Jim Prendergast who has taken
 q leading part in helping to entertain the many distinguished visitors who have been in Marion since the start ef the presidential campaign last June, declares that one day while fishing in the Indian river he got such a treInen- Edous ''bite," he thought he had hook ed a snag. Wiser hands took the tackle. however, and presently there appeared
 on the surface of the stream particu- Ilarly evil-loolsing alligator seemingly about 20 feet in length. Senator Hard ling's fatherin law, Mir Kling, an ex- bert rifle shot was a member of the
 party that year, and while the fishing llne was held taut he aimed and Sired.
 The bullet struck through the vuln"ra-
 ble spot just between the gators tyes
 and the beast flopped over on his back. 1 He was lowed ashore, and proved to e { only about feet long. but that was voted enough, and the skin was
 brought back to Marion as a hig lily
 valued trophy.
 NO DEFINITE PLANS Senator Harding has made no drfi-
 mite plans for his stay in the south, but 1 bis time will be about equally divided
 between fishing, boating, gunning and 2olfing. He has had little opportunity
 for consistent exercise since the cleo 1 ton. and naturally is desirous of going ' into the White House as fit as possible. 1 Before he leaves for Florida. Sena
 tor Harding has busy time ahead tf
 hm. There will be let-up of 70 i-se
 during the Christmas week. but his en-
 Gagement list for the latter days of
 next week is very heavy. The senator
 said today he had not by any means
 completed his conferences on the nsso-
 citation of nations. He also has agreed
 to receive a number of delegations in lterested in having certain men appoint
 cd to cabinet positions.
 | While speculation in the public lprints centers largely about the rort- 1 foiios of the state and treasury. tho
 mail received at Senator Hardings headquarters would indicate that the
 great majority of people who are i'm
 terested in cabinet at all are mora
 concerned about the type of man to be ipaced at the head of the agricultural. labor and interior departments. Thess
 are the departments which come closs l to the people. and the President-elcct is 1 beginning to believe that the success of | his admins tra ton and tho success of This plans to do the greatest possible good for the greatest number will rest
 largely in the men who will fill t,ress
 cabinet chairs.