The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-11


first wife Of . president to have IN
operative Of the secret service de-
tailed especially for her own pro-
lection. The law makes the treas
ury secret service completely re-
sp0nsible for the safety Of the
president and it was changed dur
ing the last months Of the Wilson
administration to include also the
wife Of the president. Mrs. Wilson
very seldom left the White house
SO there was no need Of guard in
her case.
One Of the veterans Of the SER
vice was detailed to Mrs. Harding
shortly after the election Of 1920
and since then he has accompanied
her everywhere she has Travelled.
On her trips to New York and other
places, when the president was un-
able to accompany her because Of
pressure Of official business, the
secret service guard has found her
most considerable OF his comfort
and convenience.
incidentally, with her illness
there has been emphasized that she
has had no small part in her hus-
bands career. As a matter Of fact
she made a remark that still is
famous when a companion once
asked her what was her own par
ticular fad.
Husband Is sOnly Fad"
my only fad is my husband" she
insisted.
Her indomitable courage always
has been a great factor in her life
and to it is due her present won
derful fight for recovery. Several
times in the last IL years it Is
pointed out she has been most ser
iously ill but at no time was she
ever Respondent or downcast.
She has insisted that she intend
ed to recover and her attitude has
been of the greatest assistance to
her attendants. Today that re-
mains her attitude. When the at
tending physicians we're most
alarmed Saturday afternoon she
smiled up at one of them and said:
Don't worry, doctor. am 60
ing to get WELL"
Then she serenely turned on her
side and closed her eyes to rest.
The incident recalled the fact
that it was her decision on several
occasions that kept Mr.. Harding in
the pre-cOnvention race for the
nomination. With then Senator
Harding she was visiting Senator
Harry New, when the returns we're
received showing that the Harding
cause had lost in the fight for the
Indiana delegates. The ~senator
from Ohio suggested that it might
be well for him to withdraw, but
it was today she calmly told him:
mo. Warren Harding, you will
not quit, at least until after the
Chicago convention"
That was her position through
out the entire campaign.
Made "Star" a Success.
Incidentally it was also pointed
out today that she was a great sue
cess as circulation manager of the
Marion Star in the old days before
either she or her husband had any
thought Of Washington. One of
her former route boys, Major Boil
! linger, now is detailed to the White
house as an aide to the president,
! while another of them, Jimmie
Woods, who was a guest of the
Hardings a short time ago. related
with glee how Mrs. Harding once
! turned him over her knee and
spanked him for some prank as
newsboy. AS circulation manager
she made the Star what it is today.
In the White house at all times
her days are minutely ordered and
she has kept rigidly to her sched-
ules. visiting with those who per-
sonally called to see her and see
ing that everything was attended
to the last detail.
Walter Reed hospital, on the out
skirts Of Washington, still filled
with victims of. the great war, is
one Of the places that has her spe-
cial attention. Daily great bou-
quets have gone from the White
house greenhouse to the patients
there and at least once a week
Mrs. Harding has visited the SOL
Il