Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-03

shares to his employees, and he and
they still own it,
| Besides his newspaper. Senator
Harding has identified himself with
Marion. including the Marion Steam
shovel Company. which made most
or the steam shovels used to dig the
/ Panama canal. He has been boost
er' for new industries locating in
Marion, and. because of his business
| sagacity. he has been made at one
time or another member OF the
| board of directors of most OF these
enterprises. At present he Is a d.
rector of a bank. of several large
manufacturing plants and trustee
! OF the Trinity Baptist Church.
Made Impression as Speaker.
! From the business of publishing
newspaper, Senator Harding, as so many
other publishers have done. took to poll
, ties. State senator, lieutenant governor,
| United States senator. and finally repub-
Ecan nominee for President, tells the
story of his success in public office-so
; far
Strangely enough, the first political
| speech Harding made won the predic-
ton that he might some day land in the
White House. During the campaigning
| in the early COS the chairman OF the
republican county committee asked
Harding to go with him and another
young aspiring lawyer to Martel. a little
democratic village. to make a speech.
Harding consented reluctantly. insisting
that he could not talk On the way over.
it was decided that Harding should make
the opening address-to be followed by
the ambitious young lawyer. There
were about twenty-five present In the
little schoolhouse when Harding was in
troduced. He launched into his address
with both the fire and logic that not only
took the chairman and his young lawyer
friend completely off their feet, but the
crowd as well. Concluding his address,
the chairman arose to introduce the
going out, satisfied with the first speech!
This was Harding's first political speech.
Seen ms Presidential Possibility.
Shortly thereafter a political rally
was arranged for at Scottown Grove,
located in the northern part OF the
county and well known as an assembling
place for speeches and family reunions.
To this very grove, in later days. came
Mckinley and others of state and ma
tional reputation. Since he had sprung
into prominence by the Martel speech,
the committee insisted that Harding be
placed on the program and, with. some
urging. he was finally prevailed upon
TO make speech. Harding was intro
duced. and. after losing his shyness at
the size Of the crowd. launched into his
speech with a fire that surprised his
hearers. One old Lincoln republican be-
oAIuc 30 cuIuuS6Q over tO6 young man
that he rushed up to Harding after he
had completed his talk and exclaimed,
Keep it up. young man. and some of
these days you will be President Of the
United States!''
His political life began in 1899, when
he was elected to the state senate from
the thirteenth Ohio district.
In 1903 he was elected lieutenant gov
ernor Of Ohio and was elected to the
United States Senate in 1914.
Tried to Evade Nomination..
So reluctant was Harding to become a
candidate that he took occasion to alb
sent himself from the state two months.
He went to Texas, where, as the guest
Of former Marion friend. he was taken
on a camping and hunting expedition
But the opportunities followed him
south and persisted after his return
until his consent was finally secured;
not, however. until he had gone to
with his intentions.
1t is a matter. of interesting political
history that while he triumphed over
Foraker in a very substantial plurality,
marred the splendid friendship which
existed between Harding and Foraker
and which continued to exist as long as
Foraker lived.
In the election he won over his demo-
cratic opponent by more than 10000
votes.
A rather interesting narrative is re-
lated of Harding in connection with his
introduction Of Foraker at a political
rally in 1899 over at. Bellefontaine. Ohio.
Harding. as chairman of the meeting,
presented Foraker, then Governor of
Ohio, in very spirited minute
speech. Seated just in front Of the stage
and looking up intently at Harding was
an old ground republican of
Scotch Irish parentage. After the meet
mo the nld
Harding by the hand. wrung it with
genuine warmth, exclaiming, young
man. if had your gift of CAB I wouldn't
be so shy about it,"
Always a Republican.
One boast that Senator Harding makes