New-York tribune., 1921-03-05

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dozen political campaigns in these
! United States there is little left to be
said about him. Yet it is unlikely
that many people have ever read o,
heard that the full name Of the Presi.
dent is Warren Gamaliel Jesse Ban
croft Harding.
1t probably was an early stirring OF
the editorial instinct that caused the
possessor Of this almost royalty pro-
portloned name to exercise a figura.
tive blue pencil on the Jesse Ban
croft. 1t is frequently uttered
boast of the seventh Ohioan to be.
come Chief Executive of this coun-
try that if he follows his instinct
he seldom goes wrong. In this case
surely his instinct was q great helr
to him.
1t is also instinct. an instinct as
old as life, that impels the young
to atfectionate attachment to lhei.
mother. Death has left unaltered this
deep love in the breast Of the son Of
Phoebe Dickerson Harding. 1t is the
simple truth that the most sacred, in
nermost feeling of tie new master of
the White House is deep and abid-
ing reverence for his mother.
For fifteen years before she died
Warren Harding never failed to send
his mother flowers on Sunday. When
he was in Europe she received her
Sunday bouquet just the same as If
her son was home in Marion. That
is an unusual attention between son
and mother in She industrial towns of
Americas Middle West There was
nothing theatrical in that attention.
Mother Intensely Religious
If you should ask old DR.. George 7.
Harding what had been the greatest
influence in his distinguished sons
life inevitably he would reply: "His
mother That is genuine tribute
to a great woman. Phoebe Dickerson
Harding was an intensely religious
woman who found her greatest oppor-
tunity for service in her skill as a
midwife. skill sorely needed by
prospective mothers on the farms of
One of DR.. Harding'~ favsrite anec-
dotes of his sons childhood gives q
picture of this woman
wv. G.'s mother taught him his let
ters off copy Of the old Morrow
County Sentinel that was pasted on
the woodboX. | can member coming
home one night and w G.-just a lit
tie tyke-ran to me and said, 'Pappy
can read. Sule enough, he cou.d
pick out couple Of words like cat and
mat. His mother had taught him."
One of Warren Hardings friends has
described him as "a bundle Of senti-
ment" 1t is the keystone Of his char
acter. In some public men this might
be weakness. 1t is Harding's strength
His closest friends boast that he has
never stopped to a small or mean ac-
tlon in his life, and it is the estimates
Of his close and lifelong friends that
count, because the tremendous reserve
Of this man is too difficult to pene-
trate for an accurate character analysis
by hasty observance
Rarely Loses Temper
Rarely does he lose his temper, and
even then the loss Of poise is brief. A
mean action earns his undying con-
tempt, and yet the object of this dis
regard may never learn of it unless
he be some sort Of q human ther.
mometer. There was a revealing ex-
ample of this on Christmas Day.
Few men have had stronger attach
the United States, and incidentally
there is going to be a new Airedale
romping on the White House lawns
within few days. Before he went to
the United States Senate the President
owned q magnificent Newfoundlan I'd
dog, Jumbo. The dog worshirped him
and with wag Of it's tail the animal
could dispel a days load of care from
j. is masters shoulders Then one day
Jumbo dragged himself in agony W
the steps of the front porch and died
He had been poisoned.
Last Christmas at dusk Nj. Harding
lor% n
a couple of old Marion friends to make
a round Of calls, a custom that he has
kept for years. A short distance from
the house the party encountered {
half furtive figure of a man, lean and
sullen looking. This individual stepped
from the sidewalk to let the party pass
Merry Christmas, john greetc'
the then esident-clect The ma
mumbled return greeting and passct
After thoughtful interval Mr.
Harding remarked:
~ wished merry Christmas t
that"-he paused to think of languae'
more becoming than was in his mind
and he added:
He poisoned my dog"
Hardings Have No Children
Thu eldest brother in large family
because he and Mrs. Harding have hac
no children. 1t is said with good rea
son that all the affection he nigh
have felt for a son is lavishsd or
George B. Christian jr., his secretary
There isn't that much difference il
their ages, but Colonel Christian ST.
Civil War veteran, is one Of the Presi
dents oldest friends.
The younger Christian started as
cub reporter on The Marion Daily Star
For twenty years he lived in the house
next door to the Hardings. When his
first child was born he named the boy
Warren. That young man is now frs
lieutenant in the United States Army
having gone to West Point, an ap
pointee of Senator Harding, during tho
war. If the President runs true t
form this handsome young officer, who
has always been as much at homo ir
$50 Mount Vernon Avenue as in tht
Avenue will be one of the White House
military aids.
There is young woman in Marior
who has always been treated as {
daughter by the President. During the
campaign her first bab, was born. One
night the candidate Of the Republican
PARTY, putting all political cares away
slipped off to this home and demanded
to see the new baby a boy.
ooh, but he is asleep" he was told
THAT is precisely what | want" de-
clared Mr.. Harding
owe been told that it's good lucl
to kiss a newborn, sleeping baby"
The proud young mother took HIN
to the nursery, which he entered or
tip toes. Approaching the crib eau
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