Omaha daily bee., 1921-03-04
Harding Is
Ready For
New Duties
President-Elect Arrives at
Washington and Goes Into
Series Of Conferences With
Members of Cabinet.
Pays Call to White House
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNlNG.
Chicago Tribune -Umahn bee Leased wire.

Washington. March 3.-With the
10 members OF his cabinet III the
capitol and his installation address
in type, former Senator Warren q,
Harding OF Ohio is ready for his III
auguration TOMORROW as the -9th
pfrsidcn, OF the tuited States,
The pl2us for this simplest inau-
. 9ur;,l in many years are complete,
but tile extent TO which President
" Hsou Nill DO able TO participate III
lhd ceremonies, on account OF his
inhrmity, is still undetermined. He
j, confident he will be able TO appear
in the senate ii not oil the east front
with Mr.. Harding but members OF
his family are eifdeavoring to dis
1oaaGe him from attempting SO much
and some OF them have urged him
not to go to the capitol at all, feel
ing that public exhibition Of his
crippled condition would only dis
tress himself and others.
Arriving in Washington shortly
after o'clock this afternoon, the
president-elect established himself at
the Willard hotel and from that mo-
lncut until he retired tonight, was
caught in a wllirl of preparations for
his forthcoming duties
Holds Many Conferences.
The afternoon was devoted to a
series OF conferences between Mr..
Harding and members OF his cab
met. senator's and representatives,
republican leaders and prospective
offieeholders.
Late in the afternoon the Presi-
tent-elect and Mrs. Harding drove
to the White House and made call
oi courtesy on President and Mrs
Wilson. Earlier III the afternoon
Mr.. and Mrs. Harding called OIL
Mrs. Champ Clark and expressed
their sympathy for her in her be-
rec vemeut
The day was rounded out with a
dlpaer Of Ohio folks given by Carnli
Thompson. at which Mr.. and Mrs.
Harding we're the guests Of honor,
At S o'clock the president-elect
received the Washington CORE
snondents by appointment. Mr..
Harding. 'bronzed by the Florida
sun and looking physically fit for
his big task, shook hands with the
Sew spaper men with his character
istic cordial and when all were
assembled addressed them informal
ly,
u did not make this appointment
With tae view of delivering speech
10 YOU said Mr.. Harding with a
smile. Il wanted to meet YOU to-
day before | assume Office because
| thought it would place US on a
better footing to meet as members
OF the craft, for | am newspaper
man myself, YOU know.
To Receive Every Courtesy.
"Of one thing | want TO assure
YOU, and that is that you will receive
from the executive OF the next four
years every courtesy becoming tha:
great Office. and that you will be
made to feel as welcome at the White
House as | should want to feel ii /
were i'll your place"
Among the earlier callers ON the
president-elect Mas, lanes J. Davis
OF Pittsburgh, whose appointment as
secretary of labor the president-elec,
lad announced few hours pre-
viously, as his train left Baltimore.
This announcement completed the
cabinet slate. Mr.. Davis was form.
erly union steel worker but is nov
a banker in Pittsburgh though he
is probably known most widely as
the head of the Loyal Order OF
Moose. to tho Development of which
he has devoted MUCH time for a
number OF years.
The new labor secretary was
closeted with Mr.. Harding for hal
an hour and then left TO get II
~ uch with Secretary Wilson, to ar.
range for the transfer OF the port
folio on Saturday.