Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-31
HARDING LAUNHCES
PORCH CAMPAIGN
BEFORE HOME FOLK
AirpIanes Guide Delegation
From ManSfieId-Marion
in Holiday Dress.
Ry the Associated Press

MARION, July Ex-senator Hard
ing's front-porch campaign began to-
day with a pilgrimage to Marion by a
delegation from Mansfield and the
surrounding country in Richland
county, Ohio. to pay their respects to
the republican nominee and hear him
discuss national issues.
The first of the many groups of
voters that are to come here during
the summer on similar missions. the
delegation marched on the Harding
residence with flags and banners fly
ing and with bands sounding sono-
rouS message of greeting. AS on no.
tification day. a week ago, Marion was
In holiday dress and spirit to welcome
them and to give the front-porch cam
palgn rousing Send-off.
Most of the visitors accounted them
field is only forty miles away and
many in the throng were personal
friends of Senator Harding. Farm
erS, storekeeperS and professional
men marched together in the caval-
cade, which had its complement of
the united support it pledged to the
candidate.
Although the principal event of
the days program. Senator Hardings 8
address. was to be withheld until late
afternoon, the Richland county peo-
pie began to come in early by train,
motor and airplane. Many of them
did not await the hour set for the
formal call at the Harding residence.
put went there at once and kept the
senator busy shaking hands and re-
newing acQuaintanceS.
Two airplaneS were pilots of the
pilgrimage here. G. w. Henney. vice
president of the Mansfield Chamber
of Commerce, was chosen the advance
scout to fly over Marion early in the
day and shower the city with Hard
ing and Coolidge souvenirs, and Mrs.
Gordon A. Farrow, vice president of
the Mansfield Aero Club. was accord
ed the distinction of conveying from
the air the first of the front porch
delegations.
Clubs Are Represented.
Forming in marching order near
the downtown section of the city. the
delegation showed off it's holiday at
tire through the business streets on
it's way to the senator's home Va
rious civic and political organiza-
tions were represented by separate
platoons. wOman'S Harding club had
a prominent place. and one section
of the parade was given over to a
negro republican club.
After a Serenade. on the Harding
lawn. the program included an ad-
dress of greeting by E. B. CapelIer
preceding Senator Harding's speech.
The candidate had prepared before
hand his response. to be delivered
cipal forum in the campaign.
The porch which thus becomes one
of the landmarks of American politi-
cal history has a capacious stretch
along the south and east sides of the
residence. At the corner turn. the
vryI,i 6o1,
to form little more than a semi
circle. and it is here that the ut
terances of the nominee are delivered.
The picture, as whole. with white
pillars and rail set off against the
dark green body of the house. gives
everyday dwelling; but the jutting
alcove at the corner, facing an open
stretch of lawn. provides a striking
vantage point for the use now made
of it.
The porch. added to the house sew
eral years ago, is declared by many
Ohioans to be similar in physical re-
spects to that at Canton. where
stay-at-home speaking campaign was
conducted in 1896 by Mckinley.
Adding to the analogy, the famous
old Mckinley f1agpole, sent here from
ing. rears its weather r-beaten height
from the center of the lawn.
Strictly speaking, however. the
Harding lawn is no longer a lawn at
all but an expanse of white crushed
limestone, washed clean as if in pre-
paration for today's event by an even
ing thundershower. The pebbly car
pet was laid to preserve a solid sur
face under the tramp of the thou
sands expected to take part in the
front porch campaign.
Although only four other delega-
tions have been booked for visits here
on definite dates, numerous others
are under advisement and probably
will be assigned soon to a fixed place
in the front porch program. Two of
the dates already announced are for
next week. and both of the delega-
tions to be received then are from
Ohio.