Evening journal., 1921-03-04

ters house at Marion with half a
dozen party leaders. Cox was then
starting on his western tour and the
Harding forces were apprehensive
OF its effect. Harding's advisors
were urging him to make a similar
trip. fThe candidate was opposed
to il. They argued earnestly,
Harding backed up against the wall
with his party advisors circled
around him. Late in the afternoon,
newspaper correspondents wer eI
called in. The atmosphere was
tense. It was apparent that the
session had been heated.
Boys" Senator Harding began,
I'VE have been discussing the ques-
ton of campaign speeches, as you
know You can put this in your
paper. There will be a few speeches
in several states during the cam
paign. But we are going to stick 10
the front porch for the most part "
After election. a drive was started
to make Elihu Root secretary of
state. Harding believed Hughes was
the man for the job Roots sup
porters worked for weeks before
they finally decided that Harding
was a more determined man than
they had suspected.
Harding's kindly disposition is an
other of his virtues which often
gets him into trouble. He will go
to any inconvenience TO save offend
ing someone's feeling unnecessarily.
He will do anything he possibly can
to oblige even those who have no
claim on him. No stranger ever
approached Harding, wishing TO
shake his hand, was refused. When
Harding was on his way 20 Texas
for a vacation after election. crowds
along his route were so insisteht
that he had TO make rear end ap-
pearances at every stop. 1t was a
Saturday and he was very tired. Ar
riving at St Louis about nine o'clock
he received a telegram from small
town a hundred miles or so ahead
asking II he would not appear for
a few minutes on the rear platform
as his train passed through, so they
could get a look at him. Harding
sat up until one o'clock Sunday
morning so that he might not dis
appoint the handful OF people who
had waited several hours for him
at this little place.
"A man can't be a crab" he said
on another occasion after he had
broken a resolve to make no public
appearance. Those people had ar
ranged this little affair and though
needed the rest. 1 just didn't have
the heart to turn them down"
Loyal TO Friends
Harding is loyal to his friends. He
owes much 10 Harry II. Daugherty,
of Colum bus, Ohio. his most trusted
advisor. who has helped him steer
through many dangerous passages.
After the nomination Daugherty was
under fire, not only from the Demo-
cratic camp, but from many Re
publican leaders who were Jealous
of Daugherty's position and wanted
to force him out of the inner circle.
Harding, discovering this, prompt
iy came TO Daugherty's defense. The
day Harding returned to Marion
after his nomination his neighbors
all came down to his house to well
come him back. Daugherty was
there. Harding spoke a few words
OF greeting. Then turning TO Daugh-
erty he said, step out here, Harry"
Il want you all to know my friend,
Harry Daugherty, Harding said.
He is the gamest fighter and the
most loyal friend that ever lived"
And Harding has never let any
influence, no matter how powerful,
come between himself and Daugh-
erty. There was opposition TO
Daugherty's going into the cabinet.
but il got nowhere with Harding.
President Harding goes into the
White House today in fine physical
trim for the trying years ahead. He
always loved outdoor life and has
throughout his life taken time for
recreation.
The untimely collapse OF his pre-
| decessor in the White House has
served as a warning to Harding who
has taken every precaution 20 safe
guard his health. Having a robust
constitution naturally, he has taken