The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-10-20
HUMAN WHIRLPOOL
SWIRLS IN MARION
to Front Porch at Flood
Tide-Republican Nominee Re-
eeives New Bicycle From
Noisy Supporters

Marion, Ohio, Oct. 19-The long
succession of political pilgrimages to
Senator Harding's front porch reach
ed high tide today in gathering that
deluged Marion and swirled about the
vicinity of the Harding home in q
roaring human whirlpool. +,
So great was the crowd that its
fringes packed the street block a
way and hundreds were unable to get
close enough to hear the nominees
speech on the obligations of the Am
erican voter.
Delegations from many states and
representing many special groups
were in the crowd, which paraded to
the Harding residence, shouting and
singing andgreeted the candidate and
his wife with an uproar of political
enthusiasm. More than score Of
bands marched with the paraders and
serenaded the nominee for two hours
after his address, while he and Mrs.
Harding stood on their front steps
and shook hands with stream of Wis
itors.. .'.
49,. Talks of Duty.
The senator's speech, largely de-
voted to a non-political discussion Of
the obligations of the American voter
was addressed particularly to those
who are to exercise the ballot this
year for the first time. He pronounced
use of the franchise a duty as we'll as
privilege, and urged that the two
party system be preserved as the most
practical means of Securing efficient
government. New women voters he
asked especially not to segregate
themselves in party Of their own.
The candidate also addressed him
self to several groups of foreign born
voters in the gathering, telling them
that they should help to maintain
loyalty in return for the advantages
Of American citizenship. He recount
ed the history of the Republican par
ty in a final plea that it be chosen by
all classes as the most efficient agency
of government.
The first voters contingents, in
cluding groups from 3S colleges and
universities, made up most of the
crowd. In addition, however, there
were representatives of the Polish,
Hungarian, Lithuanian and Italian
races, and delegations from many
Ohio counties. Dayton alone sent a
large delegation, carrying banners
proclaiming that the home city Of
Governor Cox was for Harding.
Gets New Bicycle.
Leading the parade was bicycle
brigade, formed about a bicycle which
Se1ator Harding once owned and
rode, and as a part of the front porch
ceremonies he was presented with
new machine with his name engraved
on the cross bar. :: ..,
Two Of the show spots in the pro-
cession of marchers were formed by
girls: of Ohio Wesleyan, attired in
MILDLY blouses, and by woman's club
of Pittsburgh, who wore marching
costumes of blue and white.
The college delegations were in the
front of the picture during the dem
onstrations that preceded and fol-
lowed the senator's speech. Cheer
leaders mounted on the. roof of the
porch and perched in trees the groups
on the ground below singing cam
paign songs and bowling out political
parodies on their college yells. The
Columbus Republican Glee club and
a chorus of Republican women from
Pittsburg helped with the serenading.
Edna Thomas Gordon of Ottumwa,
Iowa, made the speech presenting the
new women voters to the nominee,
and Walter Rogers of Columbus,
Ohio, was spokesman for the young
men who will cast their ballots for the
first time next month. Peter JAMS,
we'll known as a golf player, spoke
FOR several groups of college athletes.
WOMEN ALWAYS LATE