The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-06
BY ARTHUR FIELDING.
Press Correspondent

Copyright, 1922, by The Argus.)
Marion, Ohio, July 6.-Marionites
are enjoying today the thrill that
comes once in lifetime. 1t is born
of the discovery they have made
that Mrs. Harding-the Duchess"
wife OF the president-has a secret
service guard all of her own.
When Mr.. Harding was elected
in November, 1920, and several
sleuths of the secret service moved
to Marion and took up their station
outside the Mount Vernon avenue
home, the incident was interesting
to the folks Of Marion, but it was
expected. There was always an air
about the service men which made
them attractive and it was consid-
cred a great mark Of erudition to
be able to point one Of them out to
a visitor in the city.
1t Takes Their Breath.
But that Mrs. Harding, first lady
in the land, should come back to
Marion with a secret service oper-
ative assigned to her and to her
|lalone, with no worries about the
president or anybody else, has fair
ly taken Marion's breath away.
Perhaps it has made some of the
folks a little diffident, little awe
stricken. But it really has made no
difference at all in Florence Hard
ing. She has become accustomed
to the secret service guard and
moves about with the same free
dom that she did before her sena-
tor husband became the president
The assignment of q secret sery-
ice man with the wife of the presi-
dent it seems is new with the pres
ent administration. It was author
lied by a change in the law for
protection of the president during
the time Woodrow Wilson was in
the White house, but inasmuch as
Mrs. Wilson was seldom If ever
seen in public without the presi-
dent the necessity for assigning a
special guard was non-existent.
Always With Her.
Mrs. Harding is woman of
great energy and wide activities.
She is ever on the 60 in Washing
ton and occasionally makes trips
out Of town without the president.
She has even had short cruises and
entertainments on the Mayflower
while the president was busy in
the White house. The home folks
have just learned that wherever
she goes, there also goes the secret
service guard. One operative has
been assigned to Mrs. Harding ever
since the Inauguration. He was
with her also ON the shopping tour
in New York just prior to the in
auguratfon. An unobstrusive, like
able chap. he appears, too.
The president and Mrs. Harding
brought their Marion stay to a
close stoday. They have. had a good
time in the old town but their visit
has been all to short. They have
not been able to break bread with
all their old friends but they have
promised to come again.
doc" Sawyer Rechrfstened.s
Marion has been on a veritable
spree of excitement. Members Of
the presidents party have excited
almost as much interest as the
chief executive and the first lady
Yesterday, for instance, was mill.
tary day, with General Pershine
and General Sawyer dashing about
the ground in an automobile. Gen.
eral Sawyer Is no longer "DOc'
Sawyer in Marion. At first /.
seemed Marion would never get ac.
customed to him as anything but
doc" but there has been SO much
in the papers during the last year
and a half about General Saw
yer," that Marion Just took to the
title without knowing 1t.