Evening star., 1923-06-24
Worst of Depression Past,
He Tells Big Audience in
Great Wheat Belt.
SHOCKS WHEAT, HANDLES
TRACTOR LIKE AN EXPERT
Mr.. Harding Shows Himself Adept
as Farmhand-To Reach
Denver Today.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HUTCHINSON. Kans., June 23.-
President Harding became a farmer
again today while in Hutchinson fol
an eight-hour visit. He drove q
binder. he shocked wheat. he talked
with farmers about their problems
and he delivered an address on the
agricultural situation.
In his address, made to an audience
largely composed of farmers at the
state fair grounds. he spoke as the
President of the United States, but
with an understanding that comes
only from having lived and work ed
on a farm. To the farmers who
heard him. he brought prediction
of better day, declaring that clear.
ly we are through the worst of the
depression and can reasonably ex-
pect gradual improvement"
The chief executives real contact
with farm life came after he and Mrs
Harding and their party arrived
here at 10 am. from Kansas City
The entire party was taken on an
automobile ride out into the famous
Reno county wheat district of which
Hutchinson is the center.
Shocks Whent.
Arriving at an especially large
wheat field, Mr.. and Mrs. Harding
left their car and soon the highest
official of the nation was putting
sheaves of wheat up in their shocks
MI he
holding In his arms the babies, con
versing earnestly with the owner OF
the farm and joking with the farm
hands and, finally, perched on the
seat OF farm tractor, he drove a
binder around the section of the field
which was being harvested.
Earlier he spoke briefly to several
thousand school children. After his
address at the state fair grounds he
visited the salt mine on. the edge of
Hutchinson and played a few holes
of golf. He also. during the day, met
his first boyhood sweetheart" as he
described her In preface to ais fair
grounds address. The President, in
making mention of tee renewed ac-
quantance in his speech, said he had
not seen her for forty-five years but
did not give her name.
Meets Harvest Hands.
Arriving at the wheat field on what
Is known in this part of Kansas as
the Chester O'Neill farm. the Pres
ident and Mrs. Harding left the
motor car and walked to the gate
into the field. A number of persons
had gathered and the President and
Mrs. Harding shook hands with sew
eral harvest hands.
Poses With Baby.
Warren. have your picture taken
with the little baby" said Mrs. Hard
Ing. The baby was a chubby blue
eyed little girl, year or more old
Now don't be afraid to hold it,
laughingly remarked Mrs. Harding
as the cameras clicked at the Pres
ident with the little girl In his arms
and several other youngsters at his
feet.
After the handshanking and talk
with the children, which went on
while the President was waiting for
the binder to drive up, the party
walked into the wheat field. Pres
ident Harding and Gov Davis put up
q shock of wheat but, not pleased
with their work. shocked another.
Show. "Ohio Way"
Now, let me show you the Ohio
way" said the President, and after
stepping a few PAGES gathered up sew
eral bundles of wheat and shock ed
them to the approval of Gov Davis
and Senator Capper.
do get in on the farm bloc now?'
laughingly remarked the President to
Senator Capper, head of the Senate
farm bloc, as he brushed some of the
wheat straw from his dark coat and
white flannel trousers.
When the binder was driven up by
q farm hand, Iwho had been cutting
wheat during the morning, the Pres
ident was asked to drive it about the
100-acre field and consented to do SC
at the urging of Mrs. Harding.
Runs Big Tractor.
The President mounted the trac-
tor, a thirty-horsepower machine, and
after instructions from the operator
started 1t on it's way about the field
while moving picture men backed
ahead of him, turning their cranks
and recording on film the scene OF
the country's chief executive driv-
ing a tractor In a Kansas wheat
field. The binder outfit, it was ex-
planned, was designed for one man tc
operate, and this Is the first season
It has been tried out in Kansas
AS the President went down the
field he talked interestedly with the
farm hand who had been operating
the machine, but never once forgot te
pull the rope to drop the bundles oi
wheat when the carrier was full. The
first turn did not even prove ar
!. obstacle, and the President turned
the wheel hard down to the left and
negotiated the corner to the praise o,
farmers and others who followed In
his wake. Four times the President
made the corners of the field, and by
the time he had driven the tractor
around to the starting point 1t waa
remarked that he did not seem new
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