Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-21
HARDING OFF
FOR REST SPELL
IN SUNNY SOUTH
Has Designs on Florida Finny Tribe
For Next Two Weeks--Relaxation
the Big Idea Until Time to Take up
Presidential Duties Farewell
Talk at Marion High School

Marion, O., Jan. 20-Quitting Marion
for a vacation in Florida before en-
tering the White House. President
Elect Harding today vacated his res
idence on Mount Vernon avenue and
closed up the little office next door
where many of the nations notables
have given their advice on current
problems.
Leaving at midnight, the president
elects train will pass through Chat
tanooga late tomorrow afternoon and
reach ST. Augustine, Sunday morning.
Mr. Harding expects to make no
speeches along the way, having
planned to begin a good rest as soon
as he boards his private car. a ST.
Augustine hotel will be his Florida
headquarters, but first of, all he will
get away from his cares in q two
weeks fishing trip down the eastern
Florida shore.
The president-elect's departure
really meant severing most Of the
ties that have bound him to his home
community, and lie put in the day
bidding farewell to his neighbors. He
made several personal calls, received
many friends at his, office, made a
: short farewell talk to the pupils of
! the high school and was the honored
guest at meeting of the ,Elks' fra
ternity, of which he is member. He
will return here before he goes TO
Washington, but only for a stay of u
! few hours.
/ Mr.. Harding's farewell talk was
delivered at the Harding High school
recently renamed in his honor, and he
was introduced to the pupils by his
sister. Miss Abigail Harding, who is
teacher there. He expressed regret
that he could not stay among his old
friends to perform the duties of his
office, and asked for the moral sup
port of the people of his home COM
munity during the next four years.
| 'In a short time" he said, Il am
going to assume great responsibility.
| 1t is not to be mine alone, however,
because the president is only the in
strument through which the popular
will is evoked.
For thirty years I have been lis
| tening to public sentiment, and every
| public servant who listens tothe call
on the soul of America is sure to get
along. I firmly believe the soul of
America is right. firmly believe in
the destiny of America and am go
ing to my tasks with full confidence
At the Elks tonight a special group
of candidates to be known in frater-
nifty records as the Harding class
: was initiated with a ceremony in
which the president-elect played a
leading role.
The party accompanying Mr., Hard
| ing south is the smallest with which
| he has travelled since his nomination
for the Presidency, it consists only of
the President-elect. his secretary,
George 3. Christian. Jr.. Harry NJ.
| Daugherty of Columbus, two stenog-
raphers and dozen secret service men
and newspaper correspondents. Mrs.
Harding is to go to Florida only after
a shopping trip in the east She ex-
poets to leave tomorrow or Saturday
| for Washington.
| A story of Mr.. Harding's devotion to
one of his fellow townsmen came to
light by chance tonight. 1t involved a
financial guarantee by the President
elect to enable his church to continue
| the salary Of a pastor who has been
| incapacitated since last July.
The minister Is DIR. Thomas Fl. Nc
Afee of Trinity Baptist church Of which
Mr.. Harding is trustee.
| The President-elect asked that the ar
| rangenent be regarded as confidential
and SO well was the request observed
that few members of the congregation
! have learned of it.
| One OF the few out-of-town callers
received by Mr.. Harding today was
President Scott of Northwestern Uni
versity. who said the President-elect
! virtually had promised to go to I'LL
nois early in his administration and
speak at the university and before the
| Chicago Chamber of Commerce. Mr..
Harding also is understood to be CIV
ing consideration to invitations to at
tend a Masonic celebration in Marion
next May and to speak in Cleveland
during June and in Boston some time
within the next six months.
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