The Washington times., 1922-07-01
HARDING 'SHOME
TOWN CALM ON
EVE
Front Porch Campaign Has
Accustomed Residents to
Crowds.
sy International Nsws Service.

Marion, home town Of Presi-
dent Harding, is 100 years
old tomorrow, and in honor
of the event sons and daugh-
ters who have wandered far
into every State Of the
Union and into foreign lands
are back here to help this
sprightly Middle Western
city celebrate it's centenary.
It's most distinguished son
was not here for the inaugu-
ration of the event, but will
be here July A to again
mingle with home folk for
the first time since he en-
tered the White House. Of
course, Mrs. Harding will ac-
company the President.
Two Days Celebration.
The celebration. which begins to-
morrow. will continue until Wed.
nesday. Great plans have been laid
for the entertainment of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harding. rs well as
the thousands Of other guests. some
distinguished and others merely
residents Of Main Street." who are
coming back for the event.
Marion, accustomed to big crowds
since her experience with the ia
nous front porch" campaign Of
last year, refuses, however, to be-
come excited over the event. That
experience-when she became tenn
porarily the Mecca Of thousands be-
fore election and the actual. II not
titular. capital Of the nation after
election had elevated one Of her
sons to the Presidency-completely
changed the town.
Before that time Marion was just
a typical - o'clock" but now
II is somewhat blase and insists up
on twelve courses whether II 10
Presidential year. centennial year,
leap year or any other year.
Town Has Changed.
Visitors who hastened to Marion
last year. when the town was the
center front which President Hard.
ing conducted his front porch"
campaign, will be agreeably sur
prised at the changes brought about
In a year. Since II has been so
signally honored the town has put
everything in "apple-pie" order, and
there Is not a city in the United
States more immaculate thar the
one that will greet the eyes of the
early arrivals for tomorrow's cele'
bration.
OF course, the front porch" of
the Harding residence-stage OF
many important addresses during
the campaign of two years ago
will be the great attraction for the
gathering throngs. although II will
not. in all probability, house the
President. When Mr.. and Mrs.
Harding left for their four.year stay
in Washington the Harding home
was leased to Millard Hunt, presi'
dent of the Chamber of Commerce.
The Marion people are disappoint'
ed that pressure Of business at the
Capital has caused a change In Mr.
and Mrs. Harding's plans to return
home for a brief stay during the
celebration.
One pleasing change to the out
of-town visitors will be the new no
tel, long badly needed. which IL rap
idly nearing completion. This is the
Harding Hotel, named in honor OF
the Chief Executive.
II might be said in passing that
the first building erected In Marion
was q tavern" when the town plat
was laid out in 1922. It was q
double log cabin. and in the same
year Eber Baker added a one-and
one-half-story hewed loghouse IN
front. and here the carly visitors to
Marion found entertainment for
both man and beast.
DR.. George T. Harding. father OF
the President, il a resident Of Ma
rion. as is also his sister. Miss Abb
Practically all of the speeches that
will mark tho celebration will be
delivered at the fair grounds, anC
here a powerful amplifier will make
the words spoken by the orators
clear to the throngs that are ex
pected. With the help Of these in
struments II will be possible for at
least 100000 people to hear clearly
every word spoken from the rostrum
Opening exercises tomorrow will
be held in the Chautauqua pavil
ion, where President Harding, ir
1920, was officially notified CT his
nomination. One Of the features OF
the program will be the singing Of
a chorus of more than 200 voices.
Music for Monday.
Monday again will be given over
to speeches and song. In the eve
ming the principal musical event OF
the celebration will be staged. when
a number of former Marionites who
have gained national regulations viii
appear.
On July the morning viii bs
given over to children's events, and
in the afternoon the celebration o.
the nations natal day will be in the
hands Of the American Legion post
On Wednesday, the last Jay oi
the official celebration, a street pa
rade will be staged. The Ohio Amer
lean Legion convention, which
opens here that day, will be In line
as well as thousands Of other mem
bers Of ohio's $50 posts.
| Among other nationally-knowr
guests expected are: Gen. John J
Pershing. Hanford MacNider, ma