New-York tribune., 1921-05-24
Executives Day in City
Crowded With Action:
Cheering 1hrongs Line
Sidewalks i'm Welcome
He Leads Applause
That Creets Taft
Dinner at Night Closes
Visit, and Mayhower
Starts Back to Capital

An army of American dead from
French battlefelds was reviewed yes
terday as they lay row on row in the
Hoboken army pier, by the President
Of the United States. The misery
represented by those silent heroes
brought home for burial in cemeteries
throughout the land stirred President
Harding to an emotion so deep that it
brought forth moment later dec
laration of national policy.
His words promising peace echoed in
the vaulted space Of The long shed that
not SO long ago had trembled with the
vibrations Of the marching feet Of
these now lfeless Americans.
This was the great dramatic moment
in one OF thc busiest days in ths life
Of the nations Chief Executive.
1t was not long after sunrise that
the Presidential yacht Mayfower re-
ceived salute of twenty-one guns as
she steamed past Fort Lafayette. At
Z o'clock the Mayfower had passed
Governors Island and was steamng
up the North River, saluted by shrek
ing sirens of the vessels tied up at
the docks. At o'clock the trim White
crafts anchor splashed into the Hud-
son off the Ninety sixth Street pier.
A few minutes later Mayor Hylan
boarded the yacht from the squat deck
of the police boat that is named for
him, and was extending an official well
come from New York City to the
President and Mrs. Harding. Even
as they exchanged courtesies blue
jackets were launching a barge that
presently kicked its way to the yachts
accommodation ladder, to await the
descent of the nations Chief Executive.
Passes Busy Day Ashore
It was $3.50 o'clock when the Presi-
dent stepped ashore and from that
moment until he stepped on the May
flowers deck after midnight for the
return voyage to Washington he was
the busiest individual in all New York.
In an automobile that headed pro-
cession of other cars the President
rode through Central Park, down Fifth
Avenue, across West Twenty-fourth
Street to the Twenty third Street ferry.
In the machines that followed were
those who had travelled with Mr. and
Mrs. Harding aboard the Mayflower, in
cluding Secretary Of War Weeks,
Secretary OF the Interior Falls, SEN
ator New, Of Indiana; Senator Calder,
OF New York; Brigadier General and
Mrs. Sawyer, Secretary to the Presi-
Lieutenant Warren Harding Christian,
Of the army, who was born next door
neighbor OF the Hardings.
Colonel Sheriff., military aid to the
President, and Colonel F. W. Gailbraith,
commander of the Ame erican Legion.
rode in the Presidents automobile.
The cars were ferried across the Hud-
son to Hoboken aboard the Lackawanna
Railroad Company's blunt-nosed side
wheeler, the Scranton.
A platoon of the 22d Infantry sta
toned at Governors Island presented
arms as the Presidents machine rolled
off the ferry. Then the soldiers formed
in column of squads and escorted
the car through cheering mass OF
New Jersey folk to the army pier,
where lay the soldier dead
Honor Guard SaIutes President
A battalion of the 22d was serving
as guard over those 5,112 cofins as
the President, Mrs. Harding at his
side, entered the pier shed. A sharp
command and the rifles of the regulars
were rigidly at present"
On tip toe the President made his
way between the coffins. At times he
seemed to hesitate. There was none
of the sureness in his stride that
marked his progress elsewhere durinp
the day. The 22d's band began to play
Chopin's Funeral March and the pro
cession moved out on the pier at a
slower pace as they accommodated
their step to the cadence of the dirge
The last bar was played as the pro
cession mounted small platform near
the end of the pier Then almost with
out pause the musicians began The
Star-Spangled Banner and the Presi-
dent heard it with his eyes fixed on a
coffin isolated from its fellows and
placed before the platform.
The Rev. Herbert Shpman, SUI
fragen Bishop-elect of the New York
Continued on page thres)