The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-01
HARDING AS NEWS
PAPERMAN AND AS.
A MAN OF BUSINESS

er and printer, proud of his profession
al accomplishments and training His
luck-charn and most sacred possession
is a printers rule, carried in his pocket
wherever he gees; and his close
friends say he would rather set a stick
of type any day than grant an audience
TO an ambassador
For more than 80 years MIR Hard
ing's bread and butter has been earned
10y the Marion Star. whose response
b,lities he assumed under heavy mort
gage and whose early years he nourish-
ed at the expense Of going hungry
more than once himself. Since his
nomination for the presidency he has
faced only one public ordeal that
aroused emotions he could not master.
That was the temporary severance of
the ties that bind him TO the star. On
election night, when a group of his
employees came to congratulate him. his
voice broke and his big frame was
shaken by sobs when he undertook to
speak of the separation that must be
the price OF his triumph.
Election day was Mr.. Iardng's fifty.
fifth birthday, and all the interests of
his lifetime had been rooted in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Marion. He was
born at Blooming Grove, Ohio, in an
adjoining county, the son of a country
doctor. George r. Harding, who still
visits his patients about Marion in the
ohe-horse carriage OF the old-school
practitioner. The new Presidents
mother has been dead for many Yeas
and his father is remarked
Young Harding attended college At
IBERIA Ohio, and then tried school
teaching for year before he began
his newspaper career. Always a parti-
san and u Republican, he lost his job
as a reporter by wearing in the pres
cnce of his Democratic editor a
Blaine hat the stoye-pipe which was
badge of support Of James C. Blaine
Although it was u pioneer news
paper age, Mr. Harding's mind ran to
progressive notions even in the day
when tho Star stil was a liability. He
broke with his first partner over the
question of installing II telephone in
the newspaper office a proposal which
the partner held to be impractical, eX-
travagant and revolutionary. Although
he retains q controlling financial in
terest in the Star. now a successful
newspaper. Mn Harding will occupy
but Il titular relationship to it during
his presidency
Three times before he has held public
office. He served in the Ohio legisla-
uire and as lieutenant governor Of the
Ia al ln
To the United States senate where he
bcame member Of the foreign rela-
tons comriittee. In 1916 he was chair
man of the Republican national con
vention.
In personal appearance the new Pres
ident is man TO attract u second
look in any crowd. lie carries his two
hundred and ten pounds without hint
Of obesity, although he is not quite
six feet tall. and his massive features
round out an impression Of force and
distinction. His hair is iron grey-al-
most silver grey-making sharp con-
trast with the unusually heavy black
eyebrows that almost mask a pair of
calm grey eyes 1t is only in repose
that his face takes on the aspect oi
severity seen so often in his photo
graphs. When he talks or listens the
lines are broken by smile that rad
iates cordially
President Harding walks slowly
talks slowly, ana makes up his mind
slowly but he gives the impression OF
polished deliberation rather than oil
ovcr-caution Or abashment. He Is q
good conversationalst and u good list
encr. and has u faculty Of getting
through embarrassing situations with
little show OF embarrassment.
As an orator Mr.. Harding never has
rated himself as witty or eloquent
though he attained considerable sue
cess a few years ago on the chautauqua
platform. lie seldom attempts fine
word pictures or humorous passages
but cultiyates a deliberate. unembellish'
I'd utterance.
lie never gives the impression Of
stited dignity He likes to know men
well enough to call them by their iirs'
names and to slap them on the back
when he meets them. lie likes tC
shake hands and make conversation
about the weather and the crops, and
when he does he usually lapses into the
vernacular Of an Ohio countryman.
IL Is Mr.. llarding's affability tha'
has made for officials close 10 hin
some OF their hardest problems. liz
never likes to refuse an audience or tC
terminate a conference until his Vsi
tor has talked himself out On M
first campaign trip his managers ruleC
that time and endurance would not per
nit him to appear at waysde stations
but after the train had whlzzed pas
the first waiting crowd he ordered thai
a stop be made wherever the people
had come out expecting TO see him.
The new President Is unusually ion'
of children. though he has none o
his own. lie IS lifelong Baptist an'
n trustee OF his home church In Marion
lie has been u member OF the Elk an'
Moose fraternities for years, and since
his election to the Presidency has be-
come Il thrty-sccond degree Mason an'
a Shriner. Golf IL his favorite recrea
ton and he likes to fish but does no
hunt lie plays hard, and possesses
the faculty Of putting all his worries
out OF his mind during vacation hours
or all the presidents, Mr.. Harding
close friends liken him most often u
Mckinley. with whom he has in com
mon u predominant passion for ooltera
.4.. - .,iusy apI .tinnnl lines.