The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-14
HARDING GROWING
 GRAY BECAUSE OF
 CONSTANT LABORS
The President -eIect, Loyal in Friendships, Receiving Tell- ing Jolts Concerning Pos
 sibIe Appointees
By ROBERT T. SMALL

Marion O., January 1s-(special)- Senator Harding plainly is in need of the rest he is soon to take.
 It was commented in these dispatches two weeks ago that the President-eiect was showing the physical strain of the extended conferences he has been hold ing. Since that time the effects of the long hours of work have become even more apparent. There are now lines in the senator's always earnest face. His hair has become distinctly winter.
 The winter in Marion has been one of the mildest ever known in these parts. There have been but one or two cold spells and but two snowstorIns worthy of the name. Nevertheless outdoor ex- ercise has been impossible for Senator Harding This is largely due to the fact that the senator himself has made up the office schedules which uhave worked such a hardship upon him. He has thought it best to work hard and then to play hard.
 CABINET BOTHERS
 In making up his schedule Of work and conferences, however, Senator Hard ing did not expect the task of selecting a cabinet would prove so vexatious. There is no question but that he has met
 
 sideration of cabinet material, and these have added considerably to his worries. The senator has a strong sense of loyalty toward his friends and, seeing no faults in them himself, has been loath to be- lieve the criticisms which have been placed before him.
 In two weeks time, Senator Harding will be away from it all, temporarily at least Before he leaves Marion, he hopes to have some announcements to make, but this is by no means certain. Once he gets to Florida, he is going to try to shut himself completely off from the outside world for a fortnight or more Arriving at the southern play ground, he will immediately go aboard Senator F'relinhuysen's houseboat and start leisurely cruise on the Indian river.
 UNBIDDEN GUESTS
 It is his present plan to keep out or touch with the shore for several days at a time. Occasionally he will land at some resort for a game of golf. There is to be nothing like a set itinerary, how ever, and Senator Harding will direct the course of the houseboat from day to day. A party of his intimate friends will be aboard and the senator purposes to relax completely. He thinks that even a Presilent-elect is entitled to live a little share of his life in the way he pleases.
 Headquarters for the Florida sojourn will be established at St Augustine, and it is possible that Secretary George E. Christian may forego the rest and reSrea- ton of the houseboat trip in order u take charge nf the offices. These offices, it should be understood, are not to be opened for the purpose of receiving a host of visitors. Many unbidden guests have come to Marion during the past month and have contributed their undue share to the burden on the souiders or the President-eleet Senator Harding wants his Florida time largely to him. self. He has much work to do and much vigor to be restored. His in augural address must be prepared m Florida and plans must be laid for the special session of Congress to be sum moned soon after March 4,
 PUBLIC IS WARNED
 For the last six weeks Senator liar ding has neglected his personal affairs completely in order to devote all the lime possible to the conferences having to do with public policies. When he leaves Marion for the south he will not return here. and therefore he is gong to devote next week to his personal business
 Senator Harding has served notice that there is to be no alligator hunting dur ing the trip on the Indian river, and h7 warns the public against any fish stories or gator tales which may emanate from yhe picturesuue wildness of the sluggish Florida streams. Senator Harding de- clares the ordinary Florida alligator hunt consists of some intrepid guide stealthily leading A party to a spot where pre- viousiy he has chained an inoffensive gator to a rock or a tree There the excited and delighted huntsman biazes away until the helpelss reptile gives up both the ghost and his skin. The sena- tor knows of one man who started on the road to a very comfortable fortune hy means of the chained alligator hunts.
 There may be some shooting on lne Florida trip, but it won't be at aliigators in straight jacket.