The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-10

staunchly Republican
Popnlace Bares Heart
to Party's Nominee.
By DAVID LAWRENCE,
(SDecial tn Tho Arpus)

Ot. Tdul, Mluu., sept. 1V.-Oena-
tor Harding made a hit in Mime
sofa. Democrats who saw his re-
ception in the twin-cities will hard
ly begrudge that statement; and
Republicans will privately admit
that the senator did ever SO much
better than they expected. He was
to them pleasant SURPRISE dig
niied figure with plenty Of human
qualities to catch the imagination
OF crowd ready from the outset
to like him.
Comparison of the reception Civ
en- Governor Cox two days ago and
that given Senator Harding is not
difficult for conditions were almost
exactly the same. Both. candidates
talked at the same state fair. The
Democratic nominee faced g. hos
tile crowd, the Republican nominee
Stood before a reverent, almost af-
fectionate audience. They liked
Harding's pictures before they saw
the man; they were ready believ-
ers in his philosophy Of antf-Wil-
sonism: they were born and bred
Republicans and felt satisfied that
Warren Harding came from good
Republican stock and would do.
Strongly Republican.
Governor Cox. ON the other hand.
won friends and made some votes.
He left a good impression but as
one Republican expressed it, even
George Washington couldn't carry
Minnesota ON the Democratic ticket
this year. The Democratic nomi-
nee won more applause when he
drove . horse around the race track
than by his speech at the state fair
but he did get q rousing reception
when he spoke. at the Auditorium at
night.
Senator Harding's first expert
ence away from the front porch
was, on the whole, big success.
The national Republican commit
tee selected good place for the
experiment. The twin-cities are
more than eager for 'normalcy"
and most people here who cheered
Harding imagine he will bring
some sort of change in economic
conditions that will relieve them of
present day worries.
Talking Politics Barred.
Both Governor Cox and Senator
Harding were asked not to talk
politics at the state fair. The Dem
ocratic nominee spoke of his can
didacy therefore only by implica-
ton. The Republican nominee was
in the hands of friends ON the state
fair board and took all sorts of lib
critics, even to the cataloguing of
Republican pledges. And the crowd
relished it. They understood his
discourse on agriculture; liked the
tone Of his voice and the cut Of
his jib, and gave him the kind Of
a greeting that was unmistakable
both in warmth and sincerity.
Over in Minneapolis, the sena-
tor captured the town even more
decisively. Streets that turned1out
handfuls to see Woodrow Wilson
a year ago were packed from store
window to curb. Some Of the na-
tives say Theodore Roosevelt alone
go. such a reception in Minneapo-
| lis. Certainly the writer can tes-
tify that Minneapolis. while gen.
erous in its applause at Wilson
meetings, never stopped work in
midday to the extent that thous-
ands OF people did this time for
Senator Harding. i
Given Warm Greeting.
Similarly in st. Paul in the eve
ming, the Republican nominee stood
in the state capitol and SHOOK
hands with thousands Of people
For two hours the eager Republi.
cans waited for q chance to greel
Mr.. Harding. It reminded one o1
White house receptions OF ancient
days when long lines of guests
waited patiently to shake the hand
Of the chief executive.
1 What does it all mean?" The
writer asked a Republican frienl
whose Judgment isn't as partisan
as his political afiiliation might in
/ dicate. He said it was the desir,
of the people to greet new presi
/ Dental figure. Indeed, it suggested
/ in its psychology the long-live-the
king enthusiasm which comes GU
OF the body polite when there Is ,
change In rulers in other lands.
| Eight Tears . Long Time.
i Eight years is q long time for ,
man to be president Of the Unitet
States, and Minnesota's greeting t,
Harding was that Of . Republican
stronghold eager to see the cita