Evening star., 1920-06-13

birthday present of the greatest
honor in the gift of the American
people to Warren G. Harding of Ohio
on his fifty-fifth birthday. for this
republican nominee for the presidency
was born on his grandfather's farm,
In the village of Blooming Grove.
Morrow county. Ohio. on November 2,
the same ,date on which the election
happens to fall this year.
And the fates, fortune. chance, deS-
tiny or whatever it may be called
has been kind to Warren G.. Harding
all through an eventful. up-climbing,
reSourceful life. He has been news
paper publisher since 1884, when he
was nineteen years old and it is his
pfoudeSt boast that he is of the news
paper profession and has done every
thing in newspaper office. He is
practical printer and finds no greater
delight than spending hours, when at
home in Marion, Ohio. in the compos-
ing room of the Marion Star, which
he owns and publishes, handling type.
Newspaper Work Aided.
The story of his progress from the
farmhouse, in which his father before
him was born, to the United states
Senate and now candidate Tor tne
White House centerS around his news
paper work.
The republican presidential nominee
was born just nineteen miles east OF
Marion where he now resides w hen
boy his family moved to Caledonia:
nine miles nearer Marion. He worked
at various chores and helped harvest
tho crops. His vigorous physique to-
day probably is largely due to this
early outdoor life. AS a boy he was
fond of sports which kept him In the
open. and he was always one OF ,ne s
first OF the boys on hand at the oid
sw1mnfnp hole when the winter chill
left milestone creek.
Attended Village School.
Warren Harding attended the vii
lage school until he was fourteen
years old. and then entered the ONO
Central College of Iberia. He stood
high in scholarship when ne srad-
uated. Now and then during his col
lege course young Harding. as SO
many other young men nave oone,
turned to and worked for money 10
help him on his way. sometimes cut
ting corn. at others painting oarns
seventeen he taught a district school
for a while and footed horn in the
village brass band. Senator Hardlns
says that 1t was in the band that ne
attended his first political meetings:
When he left college, at the age Oh
nineteen. his father moved to Marion,
the county seat of the county OF that
name There the Hardings have re-
mained ever since, taking large part
in the development of that place from
a country town of 1000 to a hustilne
Industrial city Of some 10000 people.
Once Sold Insurance.
Warren Harding was studying law
We saws one of the reasons he did not
continue as law student was De
cause 1T irked him to have TO go 10
his father every time he neeoe9
spending money. A friend suggested
he try insurance. He dld, anu 49, 49,
a big risk almost Immediately. Tnen
he opened up an agency ana mace
good money In college he had oeen
editor of the college paper, and news
paper work thrilled him.
He began his newspaper caleel ~"
the Marion Mirror, which was deHi-
ocratic newspaper, at 50 week salary.
and was discharged from the stan OF
that paper during the Blame cam.
naien because his sympathies were
with Blaine and because ne insa ~
upon wearing the high hat OF. tne
Blaine partisans.
Had il not been for the fact that
the Marion (Ohio) Star. then
diminutive daily newspaper. a naoil-
ity rather than an asset Ten a,n 1ntG tne
father of the senator. and some asso-
ciates, Senator Harding might never
have entered upon such career.
Takes Charge OF Newspaper.
what q country boy did with 200
pounds of type" tells an interesting
sidelight story of the persistent up
climbing Of the man who is now his
party's choice to lead the ticket In
the campaign just opening.
He and his chum took charge OF
the Star when 1t was sold under the
sheriff's hammer. and they took 1t
with the determination of making 1t
NJ old dahfa and then them,
After gathering and writing the
news and soliciting and turning in
the copy for the ads he had procured.
Harding then busted himself on the
ing the wobbly old small-cylinder
Fairhaven press. and, after the paper
was Oft, got the carrier boys out.
Then. together. they unlocked the
forms and distributed the type in or
der that they might have use of it the
next day, for they had only 200
pounds of type in the shop.
In 1898, fourteen years after the
purchase OF the little dve-column
folio daily. a full-leased telegraphic
service was installed.
From the business of publishing a
newspaper. Senator Harding, as so
many other publishers have done.
took to politics. State senator, lieu
tenant governor. United States SEN
ator and finally republican nominee for
in public ofhce-so far.
First Speech Impressed.
Strangely enough. the first political
speech Harding made won the pre-
diction that he might some day land
in the White House. During the cam
paigning in the early 90s the chair
man Of the republican county COM
mittee asked Harding to go with him
and another young aspiring lawyer
over to Martel, little democratic
village. to make a speech. Harding
consented reluctantly, insisting that
he could not talk. On the way over
1t was decided that Harding should
make the opening address-to be fol-
lowed by the ambitious young lawyer
There were about twenty-five present
in the little schoolhouse when Hard
ing was introduced. He launched into
his address with both the fire and logic
that not only took the chairman and
his young lawyer friend completely
of their feet. but the crowd as well.
Concluding his address the chairman
arose to Introduce the young lawyer,
only to find every one going out, salts
fed with the first speech! This was
Hardings first political speech.
Seen as Presidential Timber.
Shortly thereafter. a political rally
was arranged for at Scottown Grove.
located In the northern part Of the
county and we'll known as an as
semblIng place for speeches and
family reunions. To this very grove,
in later days, came Mckinley and
others of state and national reputa-
tion. Since he had sprung into fame
by the Martel speech, the committee
insisted that Harding be placed on
the program and, with some urging,
he was finally prevailed upon to make
a speech. Harding was introduced.
1Nt