The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-04-15
, -, 80 ..--lRESS HIM
AS PLAIN WARREN"
Harding Tells Old Friend To
Leave off Mister"
President.
by Everett c. Watkins.
washington Correspondent of the
Herald.

thinks that President Harding ha:
made good start in giving the coun
try a good administration.
Uncle Charley" looks on Warren
q. Harding with becoming pride, be.
ecause he has known him since he was
a I9-year- struggling boy at Ma.
.rion, o., and he has seen him rise
frnm a cub newspaper reporter to
President of the United States. His
knowledge of the man thru all OF
She years since he reached young
manhood gives Uncle Charley" ev-
cry confidence that President Hard
ing viii make good in his big job in
the White House.
"a was the first man that Presi-
dent Harding appointed after he NAM
ed bis cabinet" commented Uncle
Charisy" with unconcealed pride as
hn worked away trimming the hedge
GeDcg in the White House grounds.
One-Way Ticket.
Il bought a round-trip ticket at
Marion with the intention of coming
80 The Inauguration and then return
zng home. but when Mr.. Harding
heard about it he sent his car to my
mouse and requested that l see him at
yoRce." continued Uncle. Charley in
falling about how his appointment
came TO him. when l went to see
Mr. Harding he told me to sell my
a'osDd-zrip ticket, buy a one-way
ficket, pack my belongings and pre-
lpare Tor a long stay in Washington.
lie said he wanted me to come to
Washington and remain with him as
S91s as he is in the White House."
Tho an octogenarian, Uncle Char
Zeg, as he is known to every resident
s.0i Marion, Ohio, and as he is known
herr, is hale and hearty. He serv-
Ell in the Civil War as an enlisted
man in Company B. 21st Ohio Vol
gluIfers. At Chickamauga a piece Of
MS laft ear was carried away by a
buBe1- and he was made slightly deaf
by She explosion of a shell in another
engagement. He and President
Harding's father, DR.. George T. Hard
ing, served in the same army-the
Army of the Cumberland-tho not in
.he same regiment. Because of his
age, Uncle Charley's tasks in the
White House yard are not burden
some.
Have Brief Visit.
The other day Uncle Charley
chanced to meet the President as he
toGk The few PAGES between executive
offices and the White House. 1t was
f. the first chance he had had to talk
In the man ne has known for more
shan thirty-five years as Warren"
and his first time to address him as
mister President" But Uncle
Chsrley's brief visit with the Presi-
dent disclosed to him that elevation
10 the presidency has not changed
Warren Harding, the human being.
Hello, Uncle Charley" smiled the
President in hailing his old soldier
friend and extending his hand.
"Good-morning Mister President"
answered Uncle Charley, respectfully.
-.Ah. make it Warren! That's the
name you must know me by" adj
ln0nished the President. And then
the President asked Uncle Charley
about the tasks to which he had been
assigned.
''J'm not working very hard-just
frying TO keep from getting arrested
fOr lettering" explained Uncle
Charley
S'Ill bet you're guilty, Uncle Char
EeS. has1 if you ever get arrested don't
KAiI 10 take an appeal to me-" laugh
cd Mr.. Harding.
Work Agrees With Him.
Uncle Charley made the observa-
sion that the President seems to be
sfanding the hard work pretty WE'LL"
~ which the President replied that
he is feeling strong and vigorous and
4hat hard work apparently agrees
witn him.
dint while Uncle Charley has the
word of the President that he wants
his old-time friend to still know him
as Warren" he will continue to adj
siress him as Mister President" for
Ia has much pride in applying that
exalted title to his Marion Ohio friend
and Eeighbor.
president Harding is a common
ser lie never will be uppish. He
had his struggles as a young man
ana ne is in sympathy with the strug-
gles of others" spoke Uncle Charley
as sa told Of his friend in the White
Huusa. There Is nothing that gives
fhat man more pleasure than to see
yaVbody happy He viii do his
hest 10 make the whole nation hap