The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
HARDING, BUOYANT AND HAPPY, BEGINS SOUTHERN VACATION
President -elect Arrives at St. Augustine for Seven Weeks of HouSeboat SecIusion
 From Axgrinders
By ROBERT T. SMALL

St. Augustine, Fla, January 22.- Special )--Thirty-fou hours of seclu- sion on the train brought President elect Warren G. Harding to Florida smiling and happy.
 N The Journey from Marion to St. Au- bustine gave MT. Harding the first real rest he has had in seven weeks and greatly refreshed a very tired man. His mood has changed completely. At Marion he had begun to show consid- erable irritableness. This was not due Tn any sense to the conferences with advisors. They were getting along fa- mously until the job hunters and the men with axes to grind began to filter In. This process of infiltration grew to such an extent that toward the close the counselors were all but routed.
 Then came the rather unexpected difficulties in the building of a cabinet Mr. Harding set about that task with tho idea it would be about the easiest thing he would have to do as chief ex- ccutive. He soon found, however, that a leader of party he has to deal with many men of many minds. So now the President-elect has a great sympathy for the director of the Chicago Opera company, who gave up his job in de- Spair because of the sQuabbleS among the artists as to which should sing the leading roles. MT. Harding is con- vinocd that prfma donnas. tenors and bassos are not the only temperamental persons in the world. Some of our most political leaders are dis posed to get sthuffy" if they cannot have things their own way.
 Senator Harding is inclined to make light of the pulling and hauling to which he has been subjected in the se- lection of his official family, but all the same he had very copious foretaste of the intrigues and conflicting influ- cnces that surround chief magistrate of the United States. He has been and 1t has not been a wholly pleasant experience despite the cheerfulness with which he tries to regard it.
 SHEDS BURDENS
 In leaving Marion however, MT. Harding seems to shake off very try ing and troublesome burden. The first morning out as the train sped through the bluegrass country of Kentucky, brought big change. Every time the train would stop, the senator was out in the air. While the train was stand ing at some of the way stations the President-eIect would stroll bare-head- ed down the track. He had cheerful word for everybody, and when it came to walking match on one of the rails he proved to have the steadiest in the party.
 The senator is happy as he starts his vacation, and if policies can be kept away from him. he will be happy for at least the next two weeks in the re- newed seclusion of the houseboat jour ney starting from here with Miami as the southernmost objective. Renewed evidence of the close relationship Of Harry M. Daugherty to the President elect was given on the train journey. MT. Daugherty joined the senator in Marion, and on the trip down here was with him almost continuously. The 1.-two men had their longest uninter- rupted talk since the election.
 MT. Daugherty has been doing great deal of scout work for the President elect While Mir. Harding has been confined to Marion. MT. Daugherty has been in the east. and 1t Is to be pre- sumed he gave the senator a report npon the "reactions' of the Marion con- ferencAs and of the cabinet trial bal- looms" which have been filling the air. Meantime MT. Harding listens great deal and remains officially mum.