The Ordway new era., 1920-10-08
A DAY WITH SENATOR HARDING
Calm, Steady, Determined the American Who l, Leading
the Republican Party to Victory Goes About the Busi
ness of the Campaign His Modest Office in Marion.

the senator. Just at the minute ne II
reading proof on editorials which are
to be printed In his newspaper, the
Marion STAR" 10 the afternoon. The
senator srHn,is for everything thar Is
printed In the "S'ar." and is careful
TO read whit goes into It's columns he
fore the puPrr goes TO press. Dispos
Ing OF the proof sheet. he shmkes
hands cordially with you. and you are
nj liberty to size him up.
Mark Him Dependable
He Is somewhat above the average.
Of course. becaiise he has aireHdy been
singled out by the people OF Ohio to
represent them In the senuie. But
aside from this: You are AT once
struck by his balance and his poise.
You mark him as dependahe--snfe
There Is that In his fnce. on his brow,
which gives assurance that he is not
the sort OF man who viii speak with
out thinking, or act without deliber-
ating. There is reserve force In his
bearing, determination In his jaws,
character In his mouth. kindly sym
pathy In his eyes.
AS you listen to him talk here in
the Christian dining room. or later. In
"a speech to 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 .fhat 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 mode ration. his re-
strnint-the absence OF all bombast
and exaggeration in his statements.
tks careful presentation OF the Issues,
the avoidance Of all attempt to array
one class against the other. the con-
veyHnce of the desire, II called to the
presidency, to be president OF all the
people and, without making any high
sounding promises. to give all OF the
people the best that is In him.
Avoids Personal Controversy.
Particularly noticeable is his avoid
nnce OF personal controversy. Not
once since his nomination has Hnrd-
ing referred In public speech to his
opponent He adheres to the issues.
Not once has he permitted himself 10
indulge In personal denunciation OF
his rival.
He is sane. He has fixed convic-
tions as to the moderation and bal
ance which should characterize can
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 u Hard
ing-kind of man in service as bo'sun
on an American merchantman. The
time came when the ship was tor
pedoed and the bo'sun was put in
charge OF the tiller on the whaleboat
in which a goodly portion If the crew
took refuge. storm arose, and there
was imminent danger that the boat
would be swamped In the stern
sheets sat the bO-sun rigid and erect.
his hand locked to the tiller. He said
little-"Steady now and then to the
rowers; or "hoId fast; take her head
on - as the boat rose on the crest of a
giant wave, and then plunged straight
down Into the trough OF the sea. But
for twenty-three hours straight-away.
he held fast to the tiller. and he didn't
reiinquish 1t until he had guided the
boat hard and fast on a friendly beach.
Then he got up and stretched and
asked for pipe Of tobacco.
Calm. steady, determined and know
h O.. h,g rnpNofvaa nf
the other Harding thus guiding the
ship through any storm that may
arise. to q safe hs-~ss