The New York herald., 1922-07-05
HARDING PROCLAIMS
LABOR FREE TO Toll
FORBIDDEN BY none
Tells $4,000 at Marion the
Eighteenth Amendment
Is to Be Upheld.
LIBERTY rs HIS THEME
Sounds Warming Against
Blocs or Minority Rule
in the Nation.
HERRIN is IN HIS MIND
Massacre Denounced When He
Says Americans Can Work
as They Choose.
HERRIN is IN HIS MIND

Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
MARION, July 4.-President Harding
in an address here to-day before $4,000
persons gathered to celebrate the CEN
tenary Of his home town pledged him
self and his Administration to the
support and enforcement of the Eigh-
teenth Amendment so long as it is the
law Of the land. In Fourth of July
retrospection of national affairs. he
sounded warning against blocs and
group or minority control or opera
ton in government. and against those
in the press or otherwise who infiame
the passions and prejudices of the
people.
The President manifestly had refer
tnce to the Herrin massacre when he
said:
Liberty is gone in America when
any man is denied by anybody the
right to work and live by that work.
1t does not matter who denies. A free
American has the right to labor with
out any others leave"
Pershing Pleads for Law.
President Harding's speech followed
an address by Gen. John j. Pershing
In which the General declared for
strict enforcement Of the law and
protection against such crimes as re-
Gently committed at Herrin. Ill.
The President said all was we'll in
international relations. and that a
new understanding had been reached
through the arms conference. We
could not. he said. be aloof, but we
could impress upon the world Ameri-
can ideals as all countries, including
Russia. had better understanding Of
our sincerity.
President Harding had a remarkable
Homecoming. 1t was by far the greatest
day in the 100 years of Marion's Ms
tory. The President never received a
greater demonstration than when the
White House automobile rolled up to
the front of the grand stand.
The Presidents entrance was dramati-
cally arranged Word was given that
every one had to be in the Fair Grounds
thirty minutes before the time for the
Presidents arrival. Other officials were
brought In and seated. and then after
an expectant wait the White House car
was driven out upon the track and
whirled up to the grand stand. Forty
thousand persons packed the stands and
the race course field enclosure. Ten
thousand more were packed behind the
stands and between and on the stables.
...A II. ..,1 lrAtN&
demonstration until the President was
seated. Ohioans had motored in from
every section of the State to swell the
crowd.
Mr.. Harding told his audience he
would like to make just home town
talk. but the differences of the President
had to be measured. Though he several
times departed from his manuscript. the
President read closely while he touched
upon national and international affairs.
Would Uphold Inv.
The Presidents reference to the Egh-
teenth Amendment was taken, not as an
answer to the Philadelphia speech of
Secretary of War Weeks advocating res
toration OF light wines and beers. or in
any way as reproof. but as a clarity
ing statement of Administration attitude.
Though Secretary Weeks had said he
was expressing personal view, there
was much speculation whether he was in
reality expressing an Administration
viewpoint The President in effect said
prohibition was still the majority will
of the people and must be sustained,
else contempt for the law would under
mine the foundations of the Republic.
Before getting into his prepared ad-
dress the President told the crowd. all
of whom could hear him through the
magnifying device, that 1t was hard to
be President and be natural and normal,
and that lie would welcome the day
when can come back to you and stay
with you permanently
Later the President told this story
of his arrival in Marion forty-two years
ago:
"At the risk of being undignihed I
will relate an experience. My father
had moved to Marion from a farm near
Caledonia In the winter before / came
here. When he moved to Marion he left
q mule behind. because the mule was
so we'll known In that vicinity that he
could not be sold at a profit and yet
too valuable to be sacrificed. So when
came to Marion the first Of July
was permitted to ride the mule. as II
was the easiest way to bring me here.
II started early In the afternoon, but
this mule had only one gait You
ccvidn't put him in second or third and
you couldn't step on the gas or any
thing. The evening shades we're falling
when reached he vicinity of Roberts's
farm, three or four miles east of Marion.
The situation was looking dark to me
and I stopped to ask an old fellow who
was smoking his pipe how far 1t was
10 Marion. Without cracking a smile he
replied: We'll, II you are going to ride
that mule. 1t Is a farther distance than
you will ever get AS | neared the town
the evening bells were ringing for the
Couftuued nm pnUa Two