New-York tribune., 1921-01-14
Harding Sticks
Tolls Original
League Scheme
Finds No Reason to Change
Views as Expressed in Aug.
Is Speech; Has Heard
Opinions From All Sides
Will Sell Marion Business
Decides to Give Up Paper
and Resign Dictatorship in
Bank and Other Concerns
From q stog Correspondent

MARION, Ohio, Jan. 13.-With his
mind made up regarding his major
Cabinet appointments, Preside ent-el lect
Harding is speeding up his public
work, debating until late at night, with
the hope that he may be enabled to de-
vote himself tor a few days to his
personal affairs. One of the most i'm
portant Of his private problems in
wolves his newspaper, The Marion Daily
Star.
Before he goes to the White House
The Senator feels, it is understood.
that he must dissociate himself from
his newspaper in some positive way,
so that the editorial utterances of The
Star will not be accepted by readers,
and especially by other editors, as au-
thoritative reflections of the mind of
the President.
Senator Harding has other business
ties in Marion that he is understood to
feel might prove embarrassing unless
severed before he comes into execu-
tive authority. For example, he is 8
director of the Marion County Tele-
phone Company, q director of the Ma
rlon county Bank. and is interested in
several ,. other local concerns. His fel-
low directors are his oldest friends in
Marion, with holdings in these com
panles much larger than their dstin-
guished townsman's. Naturally, these
old friends are very persuasive in ad-
vanclng arguments to show that there
is nothing incompatible with Presi-
dent Harding remaining Director
Harding.
However. it is understood that the
resignation Of Mr.. Harding from these
boards may be expected before he
leaves Marion.
The meeting of minds at the front
poTch is almost at an end, and after
talking with men and women of both
parties, pro-leaguers, mild and rabid.
hnti-leaguers, reservationists and bit
ter enders. the President elect has
round no reason to alter materially
n!s mind as revealed in his campaign
speech OF August %, which dealt with
the Kind Of association Of nations he
was willing for America to enter.
>. The Senator discussed in broad out
lines to-day with former Governor r.
Livingston Beeckman of Rhode Island
his hopes for a great development of
trade delations between the United
States and South America. Recently
Mr.. Harding said that it was his pur-
pose to enlist the service of the big
gest and ablest men that could be
secured to represent the United States
IN Latin American countries. Mr..
Beeckman, who retired from the Rhode
Island executive office early this month.
is we'll posted on pan-American political
and economic relations. 1t is believed
here that Senator Harding regards him
as the type of man to be sent to South
America with the rank of Ambassador.
Moreover, it is said that Governor
Beeckman would like to GO to South
America. Before leaving here to-day
for vacation on the Pacific Coast
Governor Beeckman. said:
II am Informed that Senator Hard
ing's recent trip r. to Panama has al
ready been productive of excellent re-
suits, in giving the other American
republics an agreeable impression of
him and of his attitude in all Amer
lcan affairs. 1t seems to, me that our
eountry's future is so Intimately and
80 obviously interwined with that of
the nations to the south of us, that
we are bound, out Of consideration for
them, as we'll as for ourselves, to make
every effort to establish. the most init
mate and understanding relations
throughout these continents l found
Senator Harding deeply interested and
altogether sympathic with my views"
Governor Beeckman and Mrs. Ogden
Reid, of New York, were breakfast
guests Of the Hardings. During the
morning Mrs. Reid, 81 member of the
Republican platform advisory commit
tee, had long conference with the
President-elect.
Two Porto Ricans discussed the af
fairs of that island possession TODAY
with Senator Harding, urging upon him
several arguments for giving Porto
Thsss Tlca SOMETHING naisnlg like self,goveEnment.
Oavila. resident commissioner Of Por
70 kica in this country, and Antonio
<: Barcelo, president Of the Porto
Rican Senate. Moreover, they sue
ceeded in distinguishing themselves
above the other minds that have me,
at the front porch during the last
SIX weeks by urging the appoinr rment
OF q Democrat. They told Senator
Harding that If he could not see fit
to appoint native to be Governor
OF the island it would please the people
II he would reappoint Governor Yaeger
who was placed in charge Of Porto
Rican affairs by President Wilson
eight years ago.
We are proud Of cur American citi
zenship, and the loyalty and devotion
OF our people was completely demon
strated by their attitude during the
war, when they did everything in their
power to help America and her allies
win the victory" said MIR. Davlla. eve
feel that AS the people Of Porto Rico
are American citizens, there should be
no discrimination as between continen-
tai and insular Americans.
"1f there is in Porto Rico a man who
IS good, true and absolutely loyal
American who is also a Porto Rican
familiar with the language, traditions
and customs of the island and if such
man g equipped in every way 10
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