The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-14

first ballot, 80 of them from his
own state. Early in the cam
paign he had been looked upon
as one of the four most likely
to be nominated, but later his
prospects seemed to have faded,
and at the opening Of the conven.
tion he was generally looked upon
as but one of the possibles. The
deadlock brought the nomination
to him, as it did to Garfield. He,
like Garfield, is a native of Ohio;
like him, also, he was brought up
on the farm; both served in the
Ohio state senate, and both were
members of congress when nomi-
mated. Garfield had served long
in the house and had been elect
ed to the senate FIVE months be-
fore his nomination. Harding's
service in congress has been en-
tirely in the senate.
Harding resembles Garfield
somewhat in his qualities, but the
people of Ohio, who know him
best, see closer comparison
with Mckinley. He is, without
doubt, man of the Mckinley
type, having much the same sane
and balanced judgment, the same
soberness of demeanor, the same
conservatism of speech. he
comes of colonial stock, Of Scotch
ancestry on his fathers side and
Holland Dutch on his mothers.
Like Lincoln he split rails in his
youth, as well as performed the
numerous other tasks of the farm.
He will be 55 years old November
2, which happens to be election
day. He will have some reason
to expect an unusual celebration
of his birthday this year. AT
Ohio Central college, from which
Harding was graduated, he be-
came interested in newspaper
work as the editor of the college
paper, and soon after he left
school, when he was but 10, he
acquired possession of the Star,
a small daily paper in the little
county seat town, Marion, by the
easy process of assuming its in
debtedness. A newspaper pub
Usher he has been all his life since
then, pinning his faith and his
fortunes to the one Star, which
has grown into a flourishing and
influential newspaper, one of the
most important in the state. He
learned the printers trade, and
practices it yet when occasion re-
quires, for even public office has
not prevented him from main
tanning the direct management of
his paper. But being an Ohio
republican he could not keep out
of politics. He went to the SEN
ate for two terms and was then
elected lieutenant governor. In
1910 he was the republican candi
date for governor, but was defeat
ed, and in 1915 he was elected to
the United States senate.
AS member of the senate Har-
ding quickly won the respect of
his associates in that body. 1t
was largely through their infiu-
ence that Ell was made the chair
man of the republican national
convention in 1916, and it is the
same influence that is mainly re-
sponsible for his nomination for
president. The fact that he has
won their esteem and confidence
to this extent during his first term
is extraordinary proof as to their
affection. They look upon him
as a safe man, man who can be
depended upon to steer straight
course in the difficult waters of
this complex time, man who has
no fantastic notions, but who is
actuated by plain common sense.
And his conduct in the senate sup
ports that view. He is never a
fire-brand, never ]oud-mouthed,
never rhetorical. He speaks
calmly, plainly and to the point,
and as he speaks so he does. He
has not INDUCED in loud opposi-
ton and has taken his stand in
favor of ratification with substan-
tial reservations, so voting last
November and pairing in favor OF
ratification with the adopted res
ervations in March.