, 1923-08-27
His Days Work

II In obvious that public men and the people
generally are not forgetting and are not likely to
forget the lesson taught by the tragic end of the
life of President Harding. Whatever may have
been the Immediate cause of his untimely death
the indirect cause is universally recognized to
have been overwork. Never again will the peo-
pie of the United States expect nor viii public
men, over-taxation of the strength Of the presi-
dent.
At the same time that President Harding was
successfully urging upon the steel industry the
entire elimination of the twelve hour day, he was
himself working not less than seventeen hours n
day. Moreover, his seventeen hours were prac-
tically continuous personal e%xertion, whereas
men who work twelve hours per day in steel
mills have considerable periods of rest
The great majority of people, until their at
tention was otherwise called to the facts, looked
upon the presidents work day during his tour
as only that portion of the day when he was en-
gagged in delivering a public address. As a mat
ter of fact it is quite probable that the time he
spent on the platform making an address was as
easy a period as any. During his transconti-
mental tour he made it n practice to arise as
early as five o'clock in the morning in order to
greet crowds assembled at stations. He met these
crowds at all hours of the day until ten or eleven
o'clock at night. He not only had to deliver short
informal addresses to these crowds, but between
stations he had to formulate sn his mind the adj
dress he would make at the next stopping place.
1t is practically impossible for Il presidential
tour to be so arranged as to permit the president
TO observe an eight-hour or even a ten-hour day.
some relief can be obtained when the president
isl party stops for a day for then early rising
can be avoided and the day shortened W
at its ends Even on such occasions, however, it
In difficult for the president to avoid meeting
people all day long. Failure to respond to in
Vulnerable requests for conferences is certain to
result in disappointments and hard feelings
and this, Of course, tho president is anxious to
avoid.
Moreover, IL was the custom OF state COVER
nors to meet the presidential train at state lines
and accompany it as long as it was travelling in
their jurisdiction. 1t was necessary for the presi-
dent to meet these governors personally and to
engage in conversation with them. Members of
local reception committees expected a few words
of conversation with the president. The burden
upon him was not merely in conducting his part
OF the conversation but in listening to theirs.
Close attention was necessary in order that he
might make appropriate reply. The concentra-
tion of attention in listening was an even great
er strain than his own part in the conversation.
Unconsciously the people of the country have
expected all presidents to measure up to the
capacity for endurance displayed by former
President Roosevelt. Roosevelt not only had n
strong physical constitution but had an unusual
ability to secure rest during short periods be.
tween public addresses. When his train pulled
out of a station he could drop down on a couch
and be asleep almost instantly and could begin
an address when awakened as the train ap,
preached the next station. Having become &C.
customed to the Rooseveltian strenousity the
people have thoughtlessly expected every other
man who occupies the presidential office to mea.
sure up to his capacity for work. The sacrifice
of the life of President Harding TO this unrea.
eonable expectation has probably served to save
all future presidents from a similar ordeal.