The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-10
ADMIT SURPRISE
OVER HARDING
However, Minnesota Crown
PrejudiCed in Favor of .
G. 0. P. Nominee.
10y DAVID LAwRENcE.)

10y DAVID LAWHE NCE.)
Copyright for The Chattanooga News)
Harding made a hit In Minnesota, Dem
ocrats who saw his reception In the twin
cities will hardly begrudge that state
ment, and republicans Will privately adj
NIT that the senator did ever so much
better than they expected. He was to
them a pleasant surprlse---a dignified
figure with plenty of human qualities
to catch the Imagination OF crowd
ready from the outset to like him.
Comparison OF the reception given
Gov. Cox two days ago and that given
Senator Harding is not difficult, for the
conditions were almost exactly the
same. Both candidates talked at tho
same state fair. The democratic nomi-
nee faced hostile crowd; the repub-
lican candidate stood before a reverent,
almost affectionate, audience. They
liked Harding's pictures before they saw
the man. They were ready believers In
his PHILOSOPHY OF wisconsin; they
were born and bred republicans, and
felt satisfied that Warren Harding came
from good republican stock and would
do.
Cox Faced Hostile Crowd.
Gov. Cox, on the other hand, won
friends and made some votes. He left a
good impression, but as one republican
expressed 1t, even George Washington
couldn't carry Minnesota on the demo-
cratic ticket this year. The democrats
nominee won more applause when he
drove horse around the race track
than by his speech at the state fair,
but he did get a rousing reception when
ne spoke at the auditorium that night
Senator Harding's first appearance
IRON the front porch was on the whole
a big success. The national republican
experiment. The twin cities are more
than eager to normally" And most
people here who cheered Harding i'm
agine he will bring some sort of n
change In economic conditions that will
relieve them OF present day worries.
Harding Took Liberties.
Both Gov. Cox and Senator Harding
were asked not to talk politics at the
fair. The democratic nominee spoke
OF his candidacy therefore by implica-
ton. The republican was in the hands
OF the friends Of the state fair board
ana took all sorts Of liberties. even to
the eataloging OF republican pledges.
ana the crowd rellshed it, They I'M
derstood his discourse In general, liked
tho tone OF his voice and the cut OF
his 1ib, and gave him the kind OF a
greeting that was unmistakable, both In
warmth and sincerity. Over in Mime
apolis the senator captured the town
even more declsively Streets that
turped out handfuls to see Woodrow
wilson a year ago were packed from
store windows to curb. Some OF the
natives say Theodore Roosevelt alone
got such a reception in Minneapolis.
Certainly the writer can testify that
Minneapolis, while generous In applause,
at Wilson meetings, never stopped its
work in midday to the extent that
thousands Of people did this time for
Senator Harding.
Demonstration In st. Paul.
Similarly in ST. Paul In the evening.
the republican nominee stood in the
state capitol and shook hands with
thousands of people. For two hours
the eager republicans waited for n
chance to greet Mr. Harding. It re-
minded one OF White House receptions
of ancient days when long. lines OF
guests waited patiently to shake the
hand Of the chief executive.
What does IT all mean? The writer
asked a republican friend whose judg-
ment isn't as partisan as his political
affiliation might indicate. He said IT
was the desire Of the people to greet
a new, presidential figure. Indeed, I'll
suggested IN its psychology the long
ive-the- king enthusiasm which comes
out Of the body politically when there
Is a change in rulers in other lands.
Eight years Is a long time for n man
to be president of the United States,
and Minnesota's greeting to Harding
was that of republican stronghold |
eager to see the citadels of government |