Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-09-29
Nominees Former Pastor Still
Boosting Man Who Will Be
Leader and Not Dictator.
FINDS IN SENATOR NO
TRACE OF RADICALlSM
Declares Justice, Kindness and Mercy
Stand Out az Foremost charae-
teristics of Republican
Candidate.

Included among the Minnesota Re-
publicans working faithfully and In
dustriously in behalf of Senator Hard
ing, is Rev. d. B. Martin, Of Winnie
bago, MINI, formerly pastor Of the
Marion, Ohio, Baptist Church and
Senator Harding's pastor. The other
day Rev. Martin was asked just why
he is so enthusiastic about Senator
Harding, and this Is what be said:
ut is a peculiar pleasure for me to
continue the work which began
twenty-five years ago. 1t was my
privilege to stand on the side lines
and boost for Senator Harding when
he received his first nomination 70
public office. When he was a candi
date fer the senate I was visiting in
Ohio and had the pleasure Of boost
ing for him. 1t is, therefore, a pecu-
liar pleasure to Join with this bunch
of Minnesota boosters In seeking to
put Senator Harding over, in the
greatest gift within the power Of the
people. Being a clergyman, ! have
been constantly asked by my friends
at the college commencement In Mich
lgan, In Chicago and in Minnesota why
I am such persistent booster for
Mr.. Harding, and have been asked
to state In this presence my reasons
for doing so. These are three:
"The first pertains to certain ele-
ments of his character l will give you
these as received them while was
pastor Of the Baptist Church in this
city, of which Mr.. Harding is a mem.
Der. i asked him and group of other
men to make some Sunday evening
addresses. do not remember much
that Senator Harding said at that
time, but do remember very distinct
ly the words with which he closed
his address and which have stood all
these years as outstanding elements
of his character to me. He closed the
address by quotation from the Pro-
phets, In which he said, And what
doth the Lord thy God require Of thee
but to do justly and love mercy and
walk humbly with thy God Justice,
mercy, kindliness and humility have
In all these years stood as foremost
characteristics OF Mr.. .Harding's life
characteristics which are always at
tractive and make d mans life worth
while.
1.-THE second reason Is because ] be-
lieve that there is focused In him the
best traditions, ideals and purposes Of
the great Republican party and so Pc
culiarly fit him to be their leader in
this great crisis of the nations life.
use the word leader advisedly, for 1t
is leadership that we are needing and
not arbitrary, dictatorial, autocratic
rule. We have had enough of that. II
boss is desired there would be no
need for making any change, for the
boss that we have Is the bOssiest
1.-The third reason is because l find
in him no trace Of radicalism. To me
radicalism Is the greatest danger that
we have to face. Our interests are too
diverse to admit of anything of that
character. We have our agricultural
group with its interests. We have the
labor group withits interests. We have
| our financial interests. We have that
other great group known as the pub
lie, that has always been made the
goat with its interests. All Of these
are of vital interest to the common
veal and believe that Senator Hard.
ing is broad enough and sympathetic
enough so that the interests Of each
| will be blended in the common interest
of all, and all will be perfectly safe
under his leadership"