, 1923-08-03
NATION IS PLUNGED INTO SORROW BY DEATH OF PRE-
LIFE HISTORY
OF president

curtailing the continued drain which
the operation Of the war-built com
merciai fleet had become upon the
treasury. His greatest single effort
in tho field Of domestic legislation
was in behalf Of this measure.
Not infrequently Mr. Harding was
called upon to play the role OF peace
maker In governmental affairs- He
interviewed in . dispute between
congress and the treasury a. to the
form general tax revision WA to
take. and the program he approved
was carried out In the main with q
reduction OF more than half n bl-
Lion In the national tax burden.
Likewise. his counsel settled tho
long controversy between the house
and senate on the question OF Amer
lean valuation In the tariff law. He
proposed in its place q flexible tar
If arrangement under which tho
tariff commission was given author
ity with his approval to increase or
lower rates within prescribed umi-
tations. Upon signing the bill the
president declared 1t constituted the
greatest tariff reform in American
history.
Mr.. Harding came of pioneer
stock. He was born at Blooming
Grove. Morrow county. Ohio, No
vember 2Y1s65. the son OF q coun-
try doctor. George T. Harding.
Like most country boys. he went
to country school between morning
and night chores and later attend
cd college at IBERIA Ohio. He tried
school teaching for q year. but hay
ing had a smell of printers ink
while sticking type for his college
paper. the lure drew HIM into the
newspaper field.
His family. meantime, had moved
to Marion. In an adjoining county.
Where he obtained his first news
paper job and whore his life inter
ssts were conferred thereafter. Mr..
Harding's ambition was to become q
publisher and It vas realized at the
age OF IS, when he bid in the Mar.
lon Star At . sheriff's sale. The
paper was purchased under q heavy
Az 8a8s ~ AA8 Aiao olLEl
said that the struggles and hard
ships which were his In making his
paper a success had much I do in
f~ashlonins his character and devel-
oping a broad patience and toler-
noe which were his chew oharact-
eristicsI
Whatever his other attachments,
Mr. Harding's greatest pride was In
his professional accomplishments
and training as printer, editor and
publisher. Nor did the interest
and exacting duties of his high Of
fios serve to dull his delight in put
tering about a composing room On
his first trip back home after his
Inauguration. he ven to the Star
office. pulled off his coat. rolled up
his sleeves, borrowed a chew Of to-
bacco and helped make up" the
paper. His luck charm was a print
eris rule. carried always in a vest
pocket.
As his ambition had carried him
into the ranks of publishers. SO his
fancy took him into the realms of
politics. From the first he was an
ardent partisan and his insistence
upon wearing q stove pipe hat"
was the badge Of support Of James
G. Blaine. while q reporter on q
Democrats Newspaper brought him
a sharp reprimand from his chief,
who held It to be inconsistent for q
worker on a democratic paper to so
prominently display the symbol OF
rcpublicanisn.
The future presidents ability a. a
stump speaker won his early recog-
milton from his local party leaders.
Marion county then was in the dem.
ocratic column and he undertook to
switch It to tho Republican party.
but his first effort at office on his
party ticket resulted IN q defeat
though he commanded an unex-
pected vote. Mr.. Harding's first
political office was that of Ohio
state senator. to which he was elect
ed at the ags Of 81. He served two
terms and later was elected lieuten-
ant governor Of his state In 1910
he sought the governorship but was
defeated.
Four years later he was elected to
the United States senate where he
served sig years. much OF the time
as a member of the important for
eign relations committee. From this
place he was elevated to the presi-
dency. the first senator to be elected
chief executive.
Early in his years Of political SER
vice he met William Mckinley. to
whom his close friends have most
likened him and with whom he had
in common a predominant passion
for obiiteration of class and section.
al lines. A friendship sprang up
between the two men. Mr.. Harding
also was close in later days to Theo-
doro Roosevelt. Senators Foraker
and Perrose and others high In
party counsels.
The president was q life long Bap-
fist and was a trustee of his home
church in Marion. He also had been
a member of the Elks and Moose
f~raternities for years and after his
election rs president he became n
Sand degree Mason and a Shriner.
Golf was his favorite recreation.
but he also liked to fish. although
his opportunities TO that sport were
limited after he came to tho White
House. He played hard and pos
sessed the faculty OF putting all his
worries behind him during his REQ
reation hours.