The Washington times., 1921-11-16
HARDING WATTS
WHILE MARINES
DEMAND TEMPO
leathernecks Refuse to Sing
Until Bandmaster SIackens
Music Pace.
BY H. X. REYNOLDS.
International News Service.

Uncle Sans "leathernecks" refuse
to be awed by the President OF the
United States. ..'.
President Harding likes tho ma
rines. and the niarinss like the
President. but fear. trembling and
silence have no place in the makeup
Of the marine corps. so they accept
and respect him as their Commander.
in Chief. and let 1t go at that.
The marines have had other COM
rnanders-tIi-chief. but now for the
first time In their momentous and
glorious history they have lived In
the same bivouac and breathed the
smoke Of the same campfires with
the man who controls their destiny.
They expressed their regard for
the President as they stood, trim
and straight, with rifles at present
arms" when his big dust-covered
touring car whirled into their camp
at wilderness Run, Va, recently and
again when they passed in review
before him burdened with full march.
ing equipment.
No "Camp Sing" Stuff.
But, President or no President,
the marines refused to take part in
camp sing" for the Commander
In Chief and the First Lady of the
Land until things were adjusted to
their liking.
"will you sing7" shouted the drum.
ma jor above the din Of the band, as
the President and his party walked
into the natural aInphitheater, where
1000 ''leathernecks" were assembled.
Nor crashed back the reply.
L. q
alternatives.
The band droned on. The .Pfesi-
dent crossed Wilderness Run so that
he could face the marines on the
surrounding hills. He arrived at the
Eappointed place and waited expect
antly. Shouts were going up from,
the multitude. The drum-major strove
to make his band heard above the
Etumult. A husky song'leader, in shirt
sleeves. waved his arms like an ami.
mated windmill. Company command
ers and other officers dashed madly
about.
Singing was on the program. The
President was waiting for the singing.
But the marines had decided they
wouldn't sing, and having made that
decision they stuck to 1t with the
grim tenacity that distinguished the
corps on many bloody field.
Presidential Party Stalled.
General Butler, commanding off.
GER. dispatched a staff officer to
ascertain the cause of the hitch In
the program.
The President puffed on a cigarette
and gazed straight ahead. Mrs. Har-
ding chatted with a military aid Gen.
eral Sawyer, always sclicitous for his
chiefs well-being shifted the atmos.
phere and wondered II the cold night
air would hurt the Presidents health.
The rest Of the Presidential party Just
stood around and stamped their feet
| to keep warm.
DENLY. He didn't do any putting. won
dering or stamping. He just stood and
grinned. He'd been a "leatherneck"
himself and, though he could not
] diagnose the trouble that had messed
up the festivities, he didn't do any
worrying.
Band All Hoped Up.
Presently the staff officer sped back
across the creek, saluted General But.
Ter and the President and rendered his
report:
"They think the bands playing too
fast, and they won't sing until the
drum jor slows down"
AS he spoke the desire OF the ma.
rines was granted. The drum major
gave the gnal to throw 'er into Sec
ond gear, and then the maplnes burst
ITO song.
md they sang 80 loudly and so
lendidly. and with such warmth and
cling, tina Mrs Hardin ,o'ned in
n the chorus, and he COMMANDMENT.
chief was heard to hum a few bars.