San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-26
Desire Is to Make Swing
Around Circle If Con-
ditions Will Allow.
NOT GOING TO ALASKA
Tour Probably viii Take
in Middle West and the
Pacific Coast as Well.
Rr ROBERT 7. SNAIL.

Copyright, by The San Antonio Light
Washington, ID. C., Feb. 26-Presi-
dent Harding has determined to get
better acquainted with the American
people. He wants to know them and
wants them to know him. If his
present plans hold and enable him
TO keep the various promises he has
made during the last twelve months,
I he will make a big Swing around
the circle" during the coming sum-
mer or early fall.
1t is very doubtful whether the
President will be able to include
Alaska in his itinerary, much as he
would like to. No president of the
United States ever has visited that
far-porthwestern territory during the
score of years it has been under the
United States flag.
President Harding has wanted to
blaze the Alaskan trail, but the
doubtful state of Mrs. Harding's
health would preclude her accom-.
panying him to Alaska and he would
not leave the country without her
The President is hopeful that Mrs.
Harding will be able to make the
swing around the circle with him, or
at least that she will be so safely re-
covered as TO permit him to make the
somewhat arduous railroad journey.
Wants to Inspect PLANT"
While a number of the Republican
party leaders have urged upon the
President the political expediency OF
a trip through the country, Mr.. Hard
ing is said TO look forward to the
journey in his own mind as one of
official business. The United States
is great big business; the President
is the general manager of this bust
ness and Mr.. Harding wants to look
over the "plant." He wants to see
the wheels 90 round He wants visit
the army posts, the naval stations,
the public works. the great oil re-
serve and public lands of the West
the national parks and to follow out
the many lines OK contact which he
has found stretched from all parts of
the federal domain straight TO the
White House.
Mr.. Harding is not a widely trav-
eled man. He has been very much Of
q stay-at-home President since he
first entered the White House two
years ago. This year he will have
the last chance of his allotted term
10 make n big trip. Next year will
be campaign year and the proprieties
of such year may keep the President
at home.
The President is extremely fond OF
motoring and there is no doubt that
if he could have his way and could
spare the time he would like 10 make
a tour of the country by automobile.
Most of the short trips he has made
away from the White House as
President have been by motor. Mr.
Harding was never much of a train
traveller. 1t was his custom as sena-
tor, and even before that time. to
spend a part Of each winter in Flori-
da, and he will be followed that nat
ural bent when he leaves Washing
ton in little more than a week for
houseboat and golfing expedition on
the east coast Of the great southern
peninsula.
Knows Little About West.
Although mid-westerner, born
and bred, Mr.. Harding knows little
or nothing personally of the great
stretches of country that lie beyond
the Mississippi river. A determined
effort was made to get him into the
Rocky mountain country and even to
The Pacific coast during the cam
paign in 1920, but plans made long
in advance would not permit Of this.
The President feels now that he
would like to meet tn western country
and its people. One of Mr.. Hard
1ng's greatest assets Is his person.
ality and his friends frankly are anx-
ions that he should put that per
sonality over with the people.
When Chief Justice Taft was presi-
dent he always commended that the
people of the United States had a
right to see the manner of man they
had selected for President. He al