Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1920-10-28
A DAY WITH SENATOR HARDING
Calm, Steady, Determined, the American Who Is Leading
the Republican Party to Victory Goes About the Bust
ness of the Campaign in His Modest Office in Marion.

the senator. Just at the minute he IL
reading proof on editorials which are
to be printed In his newspaper, the
Marion star" In the afternoon. The
senator stands for everything that Is
printed In the "Star," and is careful
10 read what goes into its columns be.
fore the paper goes to press. Dispos.
ing of the proof sheet, he shakes
hands cordially with you. and you are
at liberty to size him up. 9
Mark Him Dependable.
He IL somewhat :.bove the average.
of course. because he has already been
singled out by the people of Ohio to
represent them In the senate. But
aside from this: You are at once
struck by his balance and his pOise.
You mark him as dependable-safe
There is that In his face, on his brow,
which gives assurance that he Is not
the sort of a man who will speak with,
out thinking, or act without deliber
ating. There Is reserve force In his
luS, uClVI tilliitlOil III lie Ju"bt
character In his mouth, kindly sym.
pathy ~ his eyes.
AS you listen to him talk here in
the Christian dining room, or later. In
a speech to "A visiting delegation from
the front porch Of his home, this con
vIction is strengthened. He doesn't say
anything In his office that he wouldn't
say out on the porch, nor anything on
the porch mat he wouldn't adhere to
In all Sincerity in his office.
The thing that strikes you at all
times-it is the very atmosphere of
Marion--is his moderation. his re.
straint-the absence of all bombast
and e~xaggeratiOn In his statements.
the careful presentation of the issues,
the avoidance Of all attempt TO array
one class against the other, the con
veyance of the desire, If called to the
presidency, to he president OF all the
people and, without making any high.
sounding promises, to give all OF the
people the best that Is In him. 50
Avoids Personal Controversy.
Particularly noticeable Is his avoid.
ance Of personal controversy Not
once since his nomination has Hard
ing referred in u public speech to lis
opponent. He adheres to the issues
Not once has lie permitted himself to
his rival.
He Is sane. He has fixed convic-
tons as to the moderation and bal
ance which should characterize can
didates for the high office of the pres.
idency departure from which he be-
lieves, without doing any good to the
candidate who offends, does serve to
bring American Institutions into con.
tempt.
During the war there was q Hard.
ing-kind Of man In service as bo'sun
on an American "merchantman. The
time came when the ship was toy.
pedoed and the bo'sun was put IN
charge of the tiller on the w%huipboat
IN which u goodly portion of the crew
took refuge. A storm arose, and there
was imminent danger TINT the boat
would he swamped. In. the stern
sheets sat the bo-srn, rigid and erect.
his hand locked to the tiller. He said
iittle-"Stendy |" now and then to the
rowers or "hold fast take her head
on |" as the bont rose OH the crest Of a
giant wavSf and then plunged straight
down into the trough Of the sea. But
for twenty-three hours straight.away.
he held fast to the tiiler, and he didn't
relinquish Il until he had guided the
boat hard and fast on a friendly beach,
Then he got up and stretched aud
asked for a pipe of tobacco.
Calm, steady, determined and know
ing his business, one cOnceives Of
the other Harding thus guiding the
ship through any storm that may
arise, to u safe harbOr.