The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-31
MRS. HARDING IS
Presidents NURSE
TAKES HOLD IN SICK ROOM AND
DIRECTS SECRETARIES
MENT ACCEPTED

San francisco - IA. p = MIS-.
Warren G. Harding left the White
House in Washington more than a
month ago to accompany the pres1-
dent on a $4,000 mile trip to Alaska
and return by the Panama canal and
Porto Rico. She insisted upon max
ing the tour with her husband despite
the fact that she had recovered but
a short time from a serious illness
and was judged by some as being
at that time in condition which the
hardships of the road might make
disastrous, resulting possibly in a
recurrence of that illness from which
she recently had suffered
The journey across the continent
was completed Mrs. Harding sailed
from Tacoma the merriest and most
vivacious member of the presidents
party and it was not until she reach
ed Fairbanks, Alaska, almost within
the Arctic circle, that she needed the
rigors of travel and strenuous life
along the northern trails. Those who
worried about her condition from the
time the western journey COM
menced feared she had overtaxed
her strength. Two days of rest, how
ever dissipated the fatigue. and soon
Mrs. Harding had entirely regained
her strength and again went cheer
fully onward, receiving visitors and
taking the first lady's role in a Wig
orous way wherever the chief execu-
tive stopped.
Invalid Becomes Nurse
Today the woman who was ex-
pected to be nursed has become the
nurse Her husband has been strick-
en- by illness. Five physicians have
been called to his bedside in the
hotel here in serious consultation.
Mrs Harding has cheerfully assumed
the burdens of the sick room, still
smiling in the face of adverse for
tune, displaying courage that has
won for her the admiration of every
member Of the presidential party
and, in addition, lending an effective
hand in the business office where
secretariesfand clerks labor with the
work of cancellation of arrange
ments made at advanced points, ac-
knowledgfng hundreds of messages of
solicitude and responding to contin-
uous telephone calls from anxious
friends everywhere in the country.
1t was revealed today that it was
Mrs. Harding who finally persuaded
the president to give up hopes OF
continuing the journey as it was
originally planned. Pleadings on the
part Of others of the chief execu-
tive's party, including the admoni-
tions of Brigadier General Sawyer,
the presidents physician and friend,
It was learned, had failed to con-
vince him that he must surrender to
sickness the pleasures of meeting the
whole people along the line Of travel
and must let them know Of his all
ment.
Yields to Wife's Judgment
Spokesman of the party said the
president unquestionably would have
proceeded further with the trip than
San Francisco, fulfilling speaking en-
gagements and lending hiuself to
arrangements made for him, as he
did in Seattle, Wash, had it not been
for Mrs. Harding's stand-pat opposi-
tion She, too, was anxious to con-
tinue the program and, with the
president, was reluctant to d1sap-
point the thousands of people who
had travelled far from their home to
cities where the president was sched-
u1ed to appear.
It was Mrs. Harding's argument
that it would be better for the chief
executive to halt in San Francisco,
cancel the advance itinerary and an
nounce to the public the facts, than
it would be to continue the journey
and risk the consequences of corZn-
ued travel under the prevailing CIR
cumstances The logic of this plea
compelled the president to yield to
this course but only after he had
steadfastly refused in talks with DR..
Sawyer and Secretary Work, also a
physician, to permit the announce
ment to be made that the program