Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-05
Harding's Father
VOWS Intent to
Thrash Traducer

Marion, Ohio-Swinging cane
and filed with wrath over the sland-
err that has been circulated concern
| ing the ancestry OF Senator Harding,
| DR.. George Tryon Harding, the nom
inee's father. II years old. passed
thru the main street of the city today
looking for Judge Spencer or the
probate court.
DR.. Harding accosted Judge Spen-
Ger in the street opposite the court
| house. He lost no time In broaching
his subject.
Judge Spencer" ne began. II have
been informed by what seems to be
as reliable authority that you have
! been exhibiting q picture OF me and
asserting that my veins carry negro
blood"
Judge Spencer. who is o cripple
and feeble. raised a protesting hand
Doctor" he said, II assure you on
my honor that I have never at any
time done anything Of the sort
Now DR.. Harding squared his
shoulders and drew himself up to fun
height.
If believed that you had done
So, sir" he said, II would smash
your face
BY that time quite a crowd had
gathered, and it was feared that the
aged physician, angered and out OF
patience that the despicable false
hood should have been circulated In
an effort to defeat his son, would
bring his cane into action. The stick
was being brandished within an lnch
of the judges nose.
Judge Spencer voiced further pro-
test to the effect that he never CIR
culated the story and would make
an affidavit to that effect.
At this point one of the spectators
reported to have been Herman Trey,
a farmer, stepped to the side OF the
aged physician and spoke. Trey pas
sed the lie to Judge Spencer, ny.
ISLANDERS said and then his open hand
swung up against the man face. The
judge staggered back and :; young
woman who had joined Iray~ eried to
him to strike aga.:l. stead Trey
pushed the Judge and he fell into the
gutter.
DR.. Harding, who had been left IN
the background. now pushed thru the
crowd and waved them back
Stand back" he exclaimed, the
judge has denied that he did this
thing and that ends 1t. have always
found the judge to be perfect
gentleman" and he helped Judge
Spencer to his feet. NOW" he said,
lets get that affidavit"
Certainly" said the judge, and
they proceeded to the office Of the
district attorney, where in due form
Judge Spencer made deposition that
he had never distributed any circus
lars or circulated any statements as
persing the purity of the Harding
blood.
Trey then went to the mayor and
offered to pay a fine for the slap he
administered to the judge, but no
complaint had been made and ~ fine
was eXacted.
To residents Of Marion The en-
counter between Judge Spencer and
Dr. Harding is fair eNa iple of the
height to which feeling has been
aroused by the negro blood story.
Senator Harding's friends ;sre bitter
over the attempt to discredit his fam
lily, and a word passed at the Pre- per
time and the proper place certainly
will be followed by "a battle The
Shaping of the crippled judges race
is te,ieved to have been mild oc-
eurrance compared with What may
',a ppen at any moment.
Later in the day Judge spencer is
nod a statement deitying that re
ever had anything to do with the
sprea ing of the scandalous report.
He said t1e realized there he'd been
feeling against him since he ar