The New York herald., 1921-01-21
HARDING, WEARY
BUT HAPPY, IS ON
WAY TO FLORIDA
Before Leaving Marion He
Makes Address Before Stu
dents of High School.
INTRODUCED BY SISTER
Tells Pupils He Is Going to
Presidential Office With
Full Confidence.
SOUL OF AMERICA RIGHT
He Deprecates International
ism as Destructive to Ma
tional Aspirations.
INTRODUCED BY SISTER
SOUL OF AMERICA RIGHT

heciol Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD
MARION, Ohio, Jan. 20.--President-
fleet Harding, visibly fatigued from
his long series of conferences but
happy and looking forward to two
weeks relaxation. boarded his private
car Ideal late tonight for his trip to
Florida. The party will arrive at ST.
Augustine some time Saturday morn
ing.
Mr.. Harding filed an engagement
this morning by addressing the pupils
Of the Harding High, which formerly
was the Marion High School. but
which adopted the Harding name after
his election to the Presidency He
was introduced to the pupils by his
sister, Miss Abigail Harding, one of
the teachers in the institution, who
referred to him as her big Brother
I'm a short time 1 am going to leave
you," he said. II am going to assume
great responsibility. 1t is not to be
mine alone, however. because the
President is only the instrument
through which the popular will is in
yoked.
begins Task with Confidence.
For thirty years have been listening
to public sentiment, and every public
servant who listens to the call Of the soul
of America Is sure to get along. firm
ly believe the soul of all America is right.
i firmly believe in the destiny of Amer
ica. I am going to my task with full
confidence, and hope in few years TO
come back and find you IN the full citi-
zenship and consciousness with which
YOU have fulfilled your duties as MEM
bers of the Harding High School.
you young men and women are COM
ing into full citizenship. and would ask
you to strive for excellence. The worst
doctrine Is that of basing everything on
foundation of mediocrity. That is why
America rejected internationally. be-
cause that meant the destruction OF ma
tional aspiration. That Is tho trouble
with the doctrine and practice OF Social
ism. When you adopt mediocrity your
lives arc failures"
The work of dismantlng the Harding
headquarters here, which since the SEN
ators nomination have been established
In tho home of his secretary. George B.
Christian, Jr, adjoining his own. already
is under way. Mrs Harding will remain
here tomorrow and possibly Saturday to
attend to the closing OF their Marion
home. after which she will leave for a
visit to Washington and New York. pre-
paratory to joining her husband In
Florida.
Except for his visit to the Harding
High School the President-elect devoted
himself to-day to preparation for his trip
He had one visitor-Dr. Walter Dill
Scott. president OF Northwestern Uni
yersity. Chicago, who obtained Mr.. Har-
ding's promise to address the Mediil
school of Journalism of that institution
soon after his inauguration. Mr.. Har-
ding was asked to name his own sub
iect. Reaching for a pad OF paper he
wrote: the Responsibility of the Press
for Moral and Religious Leadership.
Opposition to Hughes.
Mr. Harding has made no comment
on the reported opposition by some of
his former colleagues in the Senate TO
his selection OF Charles r.. Hughes as
Secretary of State. He Is thoroughly
cognizant of strong demand in very
influential quarters for Elihu Root for
the premier Cabinet place. Further
more. he has been Informed that Mr..
Root. while in no sense seeking the
place which ne formerly filled with such
conspicuous success, would accept the
sppointment II II were offered to him,
as n matter of duty.
Nevertheless. the persons who know
Mr.. Harding best are convinced that 1t
will be Mr.. Hughes's name that Mr..
Harding will send in for confirmation
by the Senate. These persons believe
that the objections now being voiced
against Mr.. Hughes have been expressed
before and that Mr.. Harding made his
selection with a full knowledge of these
facts.
In BRIEF the objections are that some
Of Mr.. Hardng's former Senatorial COL
leagues regard Mr.. Hughes as possessing
too unbending, uncompromising and in
flexible a mind TO head the State De-
partment. They would be glad 10 see
Mr.. Hughes Attorney General. but
agree with Mr.. Harding that the situa-
ton demands man In the State De-
partment who at once would hold the
respect of foreign nations and the con-
fidence OF the American people. Either
Mr.. Root or Mr. Hughes would qualify
in this regard. so that Mr.. Roots pre-
NlOuS eNpcIltnCe HS secretary OF state
forms the foundation for the preference
that is expressed for him In certain
quarters.
Mr.. Harding, as has been his custom
Will consider any we'll founded objection
TO any appointee he may have under
consideration but IN this case Il will re-
duire good deal to convince the Presi-
dent-elect that he can improve on Mr.
Hughes AS THE NEW YORK HERALp
has said. "the two men understand each
other"