The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-03

decided that the paper had got TO have l
telephone in order to keep abreast Of
the times. His partner baked at this
Harding bought his partner cut and pu
him on the payroll, thus reducing the
sum he himself was entitled to draw fol
his services
Tho paper could not modernize III
ramshackle equipment because the pur'
chase price. secured by a mortgage, had
to be paid In six months from the time
OF the Sheriff's auction. At one stage
the forms which held the type Of the
Star were kept tight by plugs made Of
afternoon In which Harding met the
editor OF the bitterly attacking Marion
Independent on tho street ana, shaking
his fist under the editors nose. said:
I'm going to mop up the street with
you If you don't stop lying about me
and then I'll go over and mop up your
office with what remains"
The provocation must have been pretty
fierce. for Harding has always won his
way by Cancellation, not alteration.
With his ability. energy and courtesy
Harding won the good will OF Marion
for the Star. For his part, Harding
devoted himself to booming the town
He made good friends among the BUSH
way. And 80, at last. and thanks not a
little to Mrs Harding. who went with
her husband to the Office and worked al
his side, tbs Star arrived" and its
editor became "a power in the community
Mrs. Harding's father was Amos King
a leading business man OF Marion. He
strongly opposed her marriage to Har-
ding. which took place In 1891. The
stor had not yet come into its own and
King underestlmated the proprietor.
Mrs. Harding joined the workers In
the newspaper office. Sh- did no writing
but took up the management of the
she saved the pennies. taking them home
from day to day until the collection was
large enough to be banked. Mr.. War
wick, in his fetch OF his former partner,
says:
II have seen w. G.. marching down
to the bank with a gallon OF pennies In
either hand. was always curious to
know how many pennies made a gallon.
but never found out"
There has never been a strike In the
Office of the Stdr. His employees have
always called him wv. G." and esteemed
him as a comrade. When his paper
reached solid ground he organized a
stock company In which the permanent
could not be purchased at any price. It's
circulation is the largest of any city of
10000 inhabitants in the Middle West.
II has a full Geographic service. the
latest type OF perfecting press, eight
linotype machines and fifty employees.
and is printed and published in it's own
building. Largely through Harding's
boosting efforts, factories and railroad
shops have como to Marion, until the
ono time farming town has become an
important manufacturing city.
Enters Politics.
Probably Harding's ability to talk on
his feet Is responsible for his entrance
into politics. At school he was a prize
declai!ner In Marion he early attended
every meeting Of the Republican County
Committee. He made his first political
speech In the early nineties In the ham,
let of Martel. near Marion. His seconds
AT Scottstown so pleased an old Lincoln
Republican that the veteran rushed up
20 him and said: Young man, you
have the gift of CAB. Keep 1t UP and
some Of these days you'll be President
of the United States"
His oratory attracted the attention OF
State leaders. and presently he found
himself billed to speak with Mckinley.
Foraker and other notables among Ohio
Republicans. Thus developed his close
friendship with Mckinley. to whom Har-
ding has SO often been likened.
From speaking for others he naturally
turned to speaking for himself. In
1898 the people Of Hardin, Logan.
Marion and Union counties elected him
TO the State Senate, and, rather against
precedent, he was reelected for another
term. In public office he performed
smoothly and continued to make
friends. rr this period he was espe-
ciaily friendly with the Foraker fac
ton. Years later, when the Foraker
Standard OIL correspondence was pub
lished. his editorial criticism OF Foraker
was about as caustic as anything Har-
ding ever printed.
When his second term as State Sena-
tor expired Harding was elected Lieu
tenant-Governor on the ticket with
Myron T. Herrick. Declining "a second
nomination, he retired TO private life
In this period of publishing he formu.
lated his newspaper creed. which was
given to every reporter and other writer
on the Marion Star;
Remember there are two sides e
every question. Get them both.
BE truthful. Get the facts.
Mistakes are inevitable, but strive
for accuracy. l would rather have one
story exactly right than a hundred half
wrong.
BE decent, be fair. be generous.
'Boost--don't knock.
There's good in everybody. Bring
out the good and never needlessly hurt
the feelings OF anybody.
In reporting a political gathering
give the facts, tell the story as it Is
not as you would like TO have H. Trea
all parties alike. II there Is any poll
tics to be played we win play It In oui
editorial columns.
Treat all religious matters rev
erently.
"rf Il can possibly be avoided. nevei
bring ignominy to an innocent man o.
child in telling Of the misdeeds or mis-
fortunes Of a relative.
Don't wait 10 be asked, but do I
without the asking, and above all b'
clean and never let a dirty word o.
suggestive story get into type.
II want this paper so conducted tina
II can go into any home without de
stroying the innocence Of any child"
Goes TO Senate.
In 1910 Harding ran for Governor
and was beaten by Judson Harmon. II
1912 the nation took note of his espousa
Of the GAUGE of President Taft and H.,
vigorous criticism OF Col. Roosevelt II
his paper and on the platform. IL
1914 very strong element OF the Re