The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-02
DR.. HARDING IN
FIGHTING MOOD
Nominees Father Threatens
to Thrash Aged Judge for
Spreading Scandal.
ACCEPTS HIS DENIAL
Feeling High in Home Town
Over Base Efforts to Dis
credit Ancestry.
ACCEPTS HIS DENIAL

Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
MARION, Ohio, Nov. 1.-Swinging
cane and filed with wrath over the
slander that has been circulated con-
cerning the ancestry of Senator Har-
ding, DR.. George Tryon Harding, the
nominees father II years old. passed
through the main street Of the city to-
day looking for Judge Spencer OF the
Probate Court.
DR.. Harding accosted Judge Spencer
in the street opposite the court house.
He lost no time In broaching his sub
ject
Judge Spencer" he began. II have
been informed by what seems to be
reliable authority that you have been
exhibiting a picture OF me and assert
ing that my veins carry negro blood"
Judge Spencer. who is a cripple and
feeble, raised protesting hand. Doc
tor" he said. ~ assure you on my
honor that I have never at any time
done anything of the sort"
Ofers to Make Amdavit.
Now DR.. Harding squared his shoulders
and drew himself up to full height
.'If / believed that you had done so.
sir" he said. "r would smash your face.
BY that time quite crowd had gath
cred. and II was feared that the aged ply
sic!an, angered and out Of patience thatthe
tespicable falsehood should have been
circulated in an effort to defeat his son.
would bring his cane into action. The
stick was being brandished within an
incr OF the Judges nose.
Judge Spencer voiced further protest
to the effect that he never circulated the
story. and would make an affidavit to
that effect.
At this point one of the spectators, re-
ported 20 have been Herman Trey.
farmer. stepped to the side OF the aged
physician and spoke. Trey passed the
lie to Judge Spencer. bystanders said.
and then his open hand swung up
against the mans face. The Judge stag
gered back and young woman who had
Joined Trey cried to him to strike again.
Instead. Trey pushed tho Judge and he
fell into the gutter.
Dr. Harding. who had been left in the
background. now pushed through the
crowd and waved them back.
stand back he exclaimed. "the
Judge has denied that he did this thing
and that ends It. l have always found
the Judge to be perfect gentleman"
and he helped Judge Spencer to his feet.
Now" he said. lets get that affi-
davit"
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 circulars or circu-
lated any statements aspersing the purity
Of the Harding blood.
Feeling Runs High.
Trey then went to the Mayor and Of
fered TO pay fine for the slap he ad-
ministered to the Judge, but no com
plaint had been made and no fine was
exacted.
To residents of Marion the encounter
between Judge Spencer and DIR. Harding
is fair example of the height TO which
feeling has been aroused by the negro
blood" story. Senator Harding's friends
are bitter over the attempt TO discredit
his family. and word passed at the
proper time and the proper place GER
tainly will be followed by battle. The
slapping OF the crippled Judges face is
believed to have been mild occurrence
compared with what may happen at any
moment.
Later In the day Judge Spencer issued
statement denying that he ever had
anything to do with the spreading OF the
scandalous report. He said he realized
there had been feeling against him since
he arranged the Democratic demonstra-
tion. following which more than thou
sand Marion Democrats went 10 the Cox
acceptance celebration at Dayton.
"The Judges denial ends IL 30 far as
| am concerned" was Dr. Harding's only
comment