Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-23
HARDING BEGINS
TO FEEL POWER
OF HIGH OFFICE
RY ROBERT r. SMALL
Gcased Wire Service to The Jourual.)
Copyright, 1927

Icased Wire Service to The Jourual.)
Copyright, 1927
MARION, O., Dec. 21.-Men of ma
tional affairs who have sat in the
Marion conferences recently all say
that Senator Harding, perhaps a bit
dazed at first by the magnitude of
his victory, is beginning to find him
self and beginning also to feel the
power of the high office he is soon
to fill.
Whether he would have it or not.
his friends and his callers from diff
ferent sections of the country, are
beginning to clothe him with the dig
nifty of the presidency long before he
assumes the authority of the chief
executive. Men who formerly would
slap Warren Harding" on the back
are inclined now to stand to one
side and lift their hat as "Presi-
dent-elect" Harding approaches.
Men who came to Marion during
the strenuous days of the campaign
and felt important in themselves be-
cause they knew Senator Harding
needed their help. have assumed an
him. They have grown bit hum
BILE, perhaps, and feel themselves in
the presence of a man who has the
power to give assistance rather than
to receive it.
All of which is slowly but surely
having a slight but perceptible psy-
Geological influence upon the presi-
dent-to-be. However much he might
wish to remain the same. Senator
Harding is finding that the man in
the shadow of the White House can
not do so. In consequence, he is
growing more and more taciturn. He
appears to surround himself with
every safeguard Of secrecy. He
seems to stop, look and listen before
uttering a word in the presence of
those not pledged to hold that word
in the strictest confidence.
Showing Capacity for Work
is showing capacity for work these
days, which few of his associates
believed he possessed. The. sena-
tor has been regarded heretofore as
what might be called an easy 60
ling" sort of man, not entirely
crastination. At the present time,
however, he is working under a full
head of steam. His days are filled
with work from breakfast to bed.
time and there are no periods of
rest or recreation. Mr.: Harding
heavy duties which have fallen up
on him, but he would like an hour
or two of recreation.
Marion, however. Is not the ideal
winter resort by any means. The
Thermometer has been lowering in
the twenties the last few days and
the nearby countryside is covered
with snow, making motoring a dan
gerous and uncomfortable expert
ence.
Senator Harding sits for hours in
stuffy little conference room at
the headquarters" established In
the home of George Christian, his
the famous front porch which has
taken it's place in American history.
The room is an affair about 9x12
feet in size. It's one window looks
out on the side yard of the Harding
home and through his window the
hour of the day in earnest consulta-
ton with the men who make up his
lost list of callers. The list Is
growing longer as the holidays ap-
has no particular plans of his own
for the Christmas tide, he does not
want to interfere with the plans of
others by bringing them to Marion
at a time when most folks want to
be home.
1t is not to be denied that Sena-
tor Harding is crowdfng his days
with more than one purpose in view.
He wants to get away from Marion
at the earliest practicable moment so
as to get five or six weeks of out
into the seclusion of the White
House. And Senator Harding has
yet to find that the White House
is the only place where
SecluSion is possible for a president.
President Wilson has found it so.
se,
his conferences so as to- give himself
as much freedom as possible when
he leaves early next month for
Florida.
When he starts for the south. the
president-elect will bid farewell to
Marion, for his plans do not. call
country prior to his Inauguration at
Washington. Mr.. Harding will arrive
in the national capital not earlier
than the night Of the third of March.
He will be sworn in at noon the
next day and will deliver the inaug-
ural address, which should outline
in some detail the paramount poll
cies of his administration.
In many respects this inaugural
address will be of more Importance
to the general public than the later
message to congress when the extra
session is called. Senator Harding
address in the south and for that
reason desires as much seclusion as
possible while in Florida. He would
have neither time nor opportunity
for work on an inaugural address
here in Marion That much already
has been proved by the demands
made upon him. The pressure is so
great and the days so short, the
senator has few moments for thought
or reflection. He says he is gather
ing in all the raw material possible
at this time. Later he will put
all the information he has gathered
to usein his formal messages to the
people of the United States and to
u,orI6