The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-01-19
President
Harding
Relaxes
Hikes Back to the Old Days
at Marion IN the Edi-
torial Writer S Chair
Responsibility Makes a
Difference.
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyrlght bY The lntelllgencer)

Washington. Jan. lS.-PrcsidCrt Hard
Ing was In a sollloqutZtnG mood To-Day
on the arduous tasks Of tho presidency
as viewed from within and without the
White House.
Mr.. Harding Was discussing news
papers editorial criticism and the "N'
ecutive's job. Io had been discusslns
public question and his reply Nas \"
aptIy phrHscd that tho inquirer asked
permission To- quote the president.
There was II twinkle In Mr. Harding n
cyca as 10 explained that IA president
really shouldn't b" quoted -" often.
tuat sometimes n phrase "r H"ntcnc"
uttered In impr"mrtu ""nr"rmtlon
wasn't as well polished a. II might b"
or at any ratio wasn't always gramnnt'-
cnlly rrrfcCt and no feared tn" wrath
Of Nornc OF tho atylIEtH who htcly have
bocn picking hls uttcranc"s to plcC~'S.
There was nothing pla!ntiNo about Mr..
lIardlnE's observation In this conncc-
ton. He gave the Impression that he
rather enjoyed the freedom that an edi-
torlaI writer had-saytnE just what he
pleased. And Mr.. Harding INDUCED
briefly In remiScences OF the days when
he. too. was an editorial writer and
expressed himself with the utmost
abandon about public men and affairs.
But he warned his hearers good natured-
ly that some day if any OF them hap
pendsd TO be elected TO tho presidential
oflcn they would find 1t n vastly diff
fercrN job writing and saying things
Immediately sent broadcast 10 the world
for the inspection and minute criticism
OF hundreds OF millions OF people ana
writing newspaper articles FOR the con-
sumption Of small community Ike
Marion, Ohio.
As to Responsibility.
Responsibility makes a difference. And
Mr.. Harding shows It. lie exhibited
no Impotence with his critics but ne
used the occasion with splendid tact TO
.akc n ding a, some Of the writer's VIII"
nave been character!zing him MS "a Main
street president" with a crude literary
style Mr.. Harding isn't particularly
dispIcased with the references TO Main
street. II nc were TO dtsclos" his true
feeling !, would appear that Mr.. Hard
ing thinks'ii virtue for the American
oeonle occasionally 90 select some one
FOR the presidency who knows the SIM
pllciiy and matter OF fact problems OF
The common people OF the United States.
But there was just touch OF path"s
in the presidents observations on his
,riti>s Hc gave the impression OF n
man overwhelmed by the awful respon-
,ibilitIss nt this era Of economic recon
structiou. n man torn by the conflicting
emotions ~ an agricultural west ana
a manufacturing east inside the Repub-
uCan party. n man who WAS struggling
10 make headwsy against almost inSrr>
,nountablc obstacles In the way OF gov
arnmFut cXpenditurr--and with such a
burden on his shoulders he was rot Il
uttlc hurt tha, the critics should spend
:hcIr time worrying about !mpromptu
remarks made by the president In con-
,c-sation with reporters and later sent
broadcast a. tho matured and rellber-
lie utterancco OF u nations chief ex-
Gcutl,e.
Not Unlike Wilson.
In this respect Mr.. Harding "a not
uhliko woodrow Wilson who suffered
nittcr criticism from newspapers be-
cause Of certain twists Of his literary
STYLE Mr. Wilson used 10 think there
were bigger things for the critics TO
write about than his style OF expires
sion. Mr.. Harding himself has found
that S-cl'nE ct the presidency from In
side tho Waite House d~arfs in import
.lncr somn or the criticisms which are
made about nations executive and
that while no IS the last person In IN"
world 10 lie sensitive about honest
criticism hc wonders II the uttle carp.
inr tnnucndocS arc necessary for the
Suc,essrul working Of "A democracy.
The presidents Httle talk would have
rradc much moro interesting reading
than his nrs, remarks for which per
mission 20 quote wa9 sought But hch
90 Mr IIardlnE took refuge in self
imposed rr"d"sS Witch Insists that n
prCHldru' should b" quoted on things
really wortd Nhtlc. things carefully
, though; out .,ud maturoiy considered
and that tho outside world should not
ge: from IN" newspapers tho Impression
II a loquRcious executive with htiltcd
STYLE Just because alert reporters are
ready 70 take down everything he may
say IN hts waking hours.