Evening star., 1921-04-17

nomination. Christian was pursuing
the even tenor of his ways. never
overlooking. however. an opportunity
to say a word here and plant sug--
Warren Hardings nomination. In
constant touch with that modern
Napoleon of politics. Attorney General
Daugherty. Christian planned day and
night to bring about his friends
nomination. and the letters he wrote
ried conviction. They were not
couched in political language, they
were written in plain. convincing En-
glish and more than one delegate az
Chicago, when he realized that none
of the leading candidates could be
nominated, remembered the impellins
and compelling tones of Christians
letters regarding Senator Harding.
and while one does not desire for
moment to detract an iota from the
splendid strategy displayed by Pre-
convention Campaign Manager Daugh-
erty. it must, in justice. be said that
the letters written by Senator Hard
ing's secretary made the path much
easier to traverse.
Just before Mr.. Christian left for
Chicago the writer met him at the
Senate restaurant in the Capitol and
asked him what he thought of Sen
ator Harding's chances to win the
nomination. The reply was character
istic 1t was: There has never been
doubt in my mind that the repub-
Iican party will nominate man who
not only can lead the party to victory
this fall. hut also man who can get
this country out of the mess that it
is in.
THE senator will be nominated at
Chicago"
THE prophecy was fulfilled as to
the nomination. When Christian
returned to Washington the writer
asked him what kind Of a campaign
porch campaign of honest dignity
Shortly before the notification exer-
cises at Marion the writer dropped in
to see him one morning at his home,
next door to that of the candidate. It
was no longer home. it was an admin
istration building filled with swiftly
moving messengers. efficient stenog-
raphers and campaign advisers, to say
detailed to cover Marion for the press
associations and larger papers
throughout the country. Added to this
assemblage of reporters were writer's
and near-writers for magazines and
periodicals. The now secretary to the
dividual that he was before the con-
vention. and. despite the fact that be-
fore him on his desk were mountains
Of letters and sheaves of kilograms.
there was always hearty welcome
and an invitation to stay to luncheon
for old friends. He hadn't changed.
Day after day and often into the wee
sma' hours of the morning he stuck at
his post until election day, when hv q
plurality Of 100000 or> SO Senator
Harding was elected President of the
United States. George Christians
fondest dream had come true.
The scene shifts to st. Augustine. The
was putting the fin-
ishing touches to the great problem
OF selecting the members Of his cabi-
net. He was snatching an hour in
between times to take the necessary
exercise to keep him physically fit for
the gigantic task that confronted him.
Literally. hundreds of people visited
that historic old Florida town, the
majority of them having some per-
sonal ak to grind, and it was neces-
sary that some one stand between the
President and the ever-increasing
throng Of applicants or well wishers.
The man who had been associated
with Mr.. Harding from the time he
first came to Washington was chosen.
and many of US have wondered il the
for that job to demonstrate his ability
to handle the position, in order that
those who sought the berth might be
silenced. for there were some in the
councils of the party. who felt that an
older man should be selected. but Mr..
Harding had made up his mind that
his friend of the Marion days, his
secretary during his senatorship and
his personal friend for many years
would make an ideal secretary to the
President of the United States. In
Florida George made good.
i X X
ON the fourth day of March Warren
~ G. Harding of Marion. Ohio. took
the oath Of office and to the White
House went with him George Busby
Christian. jr.. as secretary. We have.
read columns and columns of the
characteristics and qualifications Of
this official or that part of the politi-
cal family. but let US study the man
who is closer to the President, every
day. than any other citizen of the
United States. In order to see Just how