The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-07-29
GAVE UP WEALTH FOR HARDING
Republican Nominees Wife Divorced
First Husband and Married
Against Fathers Wishes.

Marion, O., July 24--It's from the
home folks and neighbors that one
learns of the true character and per-
sonality OF candidate for the presi-
dency. And after spending a week IN
Marion mingling with tLa folks who
have known Warren G. Harding all
their lives, those who called him
Warren" and his wife Florence,
without the slightest eXaggeratlon OF
their familiarity with both, the visit
ing correspondents encountered re-
miniscences on every side Of struggle
of the Hardings, for in a small town
most everybody knows all about most
everybody else's trials and tribula-
tions. The home folks talk frankly
and sincerely and with an honesty in
their eyes that convinces the inquire.
they would have made the same COM
ment even if their most distinguish
ed citizen were not candidate Tor
the highest office in the land.
The story really starts with the un-
happy marriage Of Florence Killing to
Peter Dewolf a railroad employe
whose errant ways made life miser-
able for Mrs. DeWolf. 1t was one OF
those youthful marriages which never
would have occurred in later years.
She bore the ordeal for many years,
but finally the dominating personal
ity of old Amos Killing, her father,
persuaded her to obtain a divorce.
The aged Mr.. Killing is still spoken OF
as a self-made man who made big
business success and who felt tha
his daughter was worthy of a better
husband. And as did everybody else
=, no recognized in Mrs. DeWolf a
! woman of extraordinary talents ana
lovable qualities.
When the separation came, Mr..
King was inclined to draw his daugn-
ter to his side and persuaded her 10
enjoy the fruits of his wealth-elther
in extended travel or an exalted So
cial position. But Mrs. DeWolf fell IN
love with Warren Harding. He was
then a poor newspaper man strug-
Cling for foothold. Mr.. Killing would
not listen to the idea of marriage
between his daughter and Warren
Harding. He had higher aspirations
and ambitions for her. But his daugh-
ter Stunned the opportunities which
her father seemed to see before her
and married Warren Harding.
Old Amos King didn't think young
Harding would make good in the
world but Florence Harding thought
otherwise. She set to work beside her
husband with an earnestness and de-
termination which was her real self.
Instead of the comforts and luXuries
which her father might have given
her she took her place beside her
husband in the tiny newspaper office
and while he devoted himself to the
editorial side, she organized the circu-
Ilation department. She fired news
boys and kept them on their toes all
the time. To this day there are bank
ers and real estate and professional
men who owe their first knowledge OF
salesmanship to the instructions CIV
en- them as newsbodys by Florence
Harding. Indeed, there has been or
ganized here a sort of Florence Har-
ding alumni association, the members
being the same newsboys who in their
youth sold the Marion Star for the
Hardings.
Slowly the Hardin couple forged
ahead but still the older Killing was
not ,reconciled to the choice OF his
daughter. He lived to see Warren
Harding elected lieutenant governor
and then United States senator and
did become reconciled to the mar
riage. For Warren Harding had
made good" after all. And many a
man and woman who remembers old
Amos Killing wishes ne were alive to-
day to see Warren Harding, Repub-
Ilican candidate for the presidency and
with a good chance TO be the chief
executive of the nation. The charac-
ter of the Senator and Mrs. Harding
! is such that nowhere in the town is
there the slightest mention of a
! grievance.
The Hardings are known as gener-
Gus and kindly people whose sue
cess has not gone to their heads
whose hearts are still with, their
friends and neighbors and whose lives
have been a heroic struggle against
odds of every kind but who in typi-
can American fashion have won out
and stand unimpeachable before their
neighbors and their friends-the best
testimonial that can be offered in pub
| lie life, more persuasive than the
plaudits of orators, politicians. or the
flattery of party associates.