The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-06-24
The Story Of A Man
Who Made Himself
A Review of the Business and Political Life
of Warren c. Harding

to the prouder sphere of managing
editor. The little paper had been los
ing money and the boys father bought
it at bargain at sheriff's sale. In
the purchase, the doctor is said to
have had the help of the proprietor
of the Marion Mirror, Democratic
weekly, for which young Harding had
worked at the case and had written
up local happenings
That was the year of Blaine's can
didacy, and the younger Harding en-
phasized his Republicanism by join
ing a Blaine club and wearing a
Blaine hat" SINCE those days
Marion county, Old has changed
from a Dcmocrat4to Republican
stronghold, and thd Marion Star,
which has grown in influence and
prosperity commensurate with the
community, carries its own leased
wire news service, boasts electric
presses, a battery of eight linotype
machines and more than fifty en-
ployes on its pay roll.
His Beginning In Politics.
In the early '90's Warren Harding
began making political campaign
speeches and so speedily did he take
rank as a forceful and convincing
"spellbinder" that he was on the
stump thereafter in every state and
national campaign. In his political
life, as well as in his business asso-
Citations, he has enjoyed a marked
personal popularity. 1t is one of his
boasts that in all the years he has
controlled his newspaper he never has
been confronted by a strike or the
menace of one In his church rela-
tions he is a Baptist, and in his home
town he is trustee of the Trinity
Baptist church.
, In addition to his newspaper in
terest, he is closely identified with
many large business enterprises in
Marion and other parts of the State.
He is a director in one of the banks
and also of several large manufac-
turing plants.
Senator Harding twice has repre-
scented the Thirteenth senatorial dis
trict of Ohio in the State legislature.
and he served one term as lieutenant
governor. In the 1914 election he was
elected United States Senator by a
majority of more than 100000, run
ming $4,000 ahead or the next highest
name en- the same ticket-an uncom-
mon tribute to an uncommon personal
popularity.
In the United States Senate he is a
member of the committee on foreign
relations. His term expires on March
3, 1921, just in time for him to lay
aside the senatorial toga for his in
auguration as President, if he is cleo
ted.
In 1891 Warren Harding married
Miss Florence, daughter of Amos H.
King, a retired banker of means, and
Mrs. Harding at once became a leader
in the social life of the little Ohio
city They have no children. Their
home life is most happy one. Their
house is comfortable, but not preten-
tious, though it abounds in evidence
Of taste and refined culture.
The Republican nominee for Presi-
dent, though FIRST termer" in the
Senate, has been considered as an in
fiuential member of the Republican
side for the last two years. His ex-
perience in the Ohio State Senate
and as lieutenant governor gave him
good foundation for his wider sphere
of action in the national body and
enabled him to pass beyond the
novice" class within a brief time.
Since he came to Washington in
1915, he has contented himself to fol-
low a course of dignity and calm
conservatism. He has been slow in
reaching decisions and in expressing
opinions, but with commanding
presence, a winning personality and
an excellent voice, he has always been
received with respectful attention. In
party matters, he has lined up with
the organization leaders
An Advocate Of Preparedness.
Senator Harding was an early adj
vocate of preparedness, and one of
his first outstanding acts was a sue
cessful fight for the enactment of
legislation authorizing Col. Theodore
Roosevelt to raise and head divis-
ion of volunteers for service in
France. The administration declined
to sanction the proposed expedition.
The presidential candidates attitude
toward the peace treaty and league
of nations is of more interest now,
however, with that issue certain to
be one of the dominant fighting
points in the campaign Senator Hard
ing throughout the long treaty fight
stood with the Lodge group for ade-
quate Americanizing reservations. He
is a member of the foreign relations
committee and was prominent in the
consideration of the treaty and the
league covenant. He was active also
in the long series of debates on the
treaty question.
The Senator is close student of
economic problems such as the tariff,