Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-08-10
WIDOWS WISH
TO Be CARRIED OUT
Nation Will Do Homage to Late
Chieftalu Wednesday
IMPOSING MILITARY ESCORT
General PershIns VIII Lead Sad Pro
eession To Capitol Hiil;
Veterans VIII Garry
casket.


Harding's wish that the funeral
services duplicate those held for
the marHreG William Mckinley,
the national capital completed
plans for paying final tribute to
Warren Gamaliel Harding.
II is barely % years since the heart
OF the patton did homage to that
earlier leader who came in modesty
from small Ohio town to guide the
affairs of great people.
As he came and went. so let Il be
with him who followed.
The widows sad vigil in the great
white mansion. the imposing military
escort to Capitol Hill. the simple serv,
ice beneath the towering dome
through which will murmur the soft
strains OF Lead, Kindly Light" favor
ite Of both Presidents--so will pass
the final hours.
And, as Nearer, My God. to Thee"
closes the religious ceremony in the
massive structure where both first
began the services Of their country.
officialdom will be swept away and
the doors will be opened to the sad
dened thousands seeking to look last
farewell at him they loved.
Twelve men. who have offered their
lives for their country-soldiers sail
ors and marines-will bear the body
of their ommsnder-in-chief from the
train. A detachment Of troops will act
as escort through the streets draped
in mourning to the White House which
was left so hopefully less than six
weeks ago.
There, in the center of the great
East Room. where lay Lincoln and
Mckinley. will the twelve stalwart
men place tenderly the casket con
tanning the remains of the husband
who is no more. For there he will be
not President suddenly taken away
from the people he governed, but only
Warren Harding. the husband. The
White House grounds, which Presi-
dent Harding opened to the public,
will be closed except to relatives and
immediate friends.
The nation will do homage to the
dead President on Wednesday. While
great military and civic escort waits
without, the twelve bearers will carry
the casket from the East Room to the
hearse, which will take It to the Cap
itol AT the sound of the bugle the
troops will move into column ahead
of the casket and the long procession
will wind its way mournfully along
the path, which the President knew so
well.
First, under command of General
Pershing. will move a military escort
Of all arms There will be the guns of
the artillery. the horses and sabers OF
the cavalry and the tramp Of the foot
soldier, upon whom the nation rely for
defense. Marines. who fought in
France, and sailors, who secured the
sea- also will march. and there will
be, too, the citizen soldiers of the
National Guard
Military bands viii furnish suitable
music for the column.
Following the military escort will
be the civic procession of which Sen
stor Lodge. of Massachusetts, close
personal friend of Mr.. Harding. has
been asked to act as grand marshal.
Uniformed Knights Templar and
Knights Of Pythias. fraternal organi-
cations to which the late President be
louged. will march in this procession.
Behind the civic procession will
move the casket, surrounded by a
great guard Of honor, composed Of
officers of the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps, ali in uniform. The twelve
bearers will march beside the casket.
Then will follow Mrs. Harding and
relatives of the dead Chief Executive.
Woodrow Wilson, II he is able to at
tend. will be placed in this group i'm
mediately behind the hcarse.
The third section of the funeral
procession will be headed by the Pres
ident and Mrs Coolidge. followed by
members Of the Cabinet. the diplo-
matte corps. Chief Justice Taft and
members of the Supreme Court. Sena-
tors. Representatives. Governors Of
States and members of the Federal
Judiciary.
The religious services will begin
Immediately the escort reaches the
Capitol, and the body of the dead
President is placed in the rotunda be-
meath the central dome. They viii be
under the direction of the Rev Free
man Anderson, acting pastor OF che
Calvary Baptist Church. of which Mr..
Harding was member.
The services will be extremely
simple. Draped flags and palms win
furnish dignifed surroundings. Ad-
mission will be limited to the capacity
of the rotunda.
After the services the body OF the
late President will lie in state. while
thousands pass through the Capitol
and by the catafalque. 1t will be
washington's last glimpse OF be-
loved chief executive.