Putnam patriot., 1923-08-03
G. L. PADGETT LONG
FRIEND OF HARDING
Edited Rival Newspaper II
Marion Ohio.-Neighbors
and Fellow Travellers
President Sent Old Friend Photo
graph Only Few Weeks Ago

The one person in Windham Coun-
~ who probably enjoyed the closest
personal friendship with the late
president Harding was George l..
|padgett. editor Of the Windham
County Observer Mr. Padgett was
FOR some years the owner Of the Mar
|on Mirror, Democratic paper in
Marion, Ohio. and the rival of Mr..
|Hardins's Marion Star. Mr.. Padgett
was greatly shocked and grieved this
morning at the news from San Fran
cisco. In speaking Of his years OF
close friendship and association with
|Mr. Harding as a neighbor and fellow
|townsman. Mr.. Padgett said:
For three and half years was
he owner of the Marion Mirror. tt
lay after ! went TO Marion, Mr. HARD
Ing, the owner Of the Star. came over
10 see me, and we soon became very
Intimate friends. Mrs. Padgett and
/ were at his hou Jften, and he and
Mrs. Harding We4e frequent visitors
st our home he had to my knowledge
the best small town daily newspape
nut hiNNs IlN -ADUa Htkh it WI
|one's estimation, and the paper was
|then a power and had a large eIreu
|lation, although he was a Republican
band the city. which was about 10000
~ that time. was Democratic and the
political lines were much more close
H. drawn in those days than IN this.
Mrs. Harding was a widow with one
son, when they were married. Her
!.cn afterwards became Q physician
land died when ne was twenty-three or
-Four years old. Mrs. Harding's fl
|sher. Amos King, was very much OPP
posed 70 her marriage, and for many
|vears would not speak TO Mr. Harding
Mr. King was Marion's weaithies'
Resident. influential. Despte hs on
position. Mr. Harding was very pop
|llar with everyone and he made the
paper of character that soon gained
IL wide circulation.
We went on frequent trips together
|and in 1900, the four Of u, Mr.. and
Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Padgett and l.
went 70 Daytona, Fla, for vacation.
| sold my interest In the Mirror IN
|l9Oi and Immediately afterwards Mr..
and Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Padgett and
myself went on a second trip TO Day
bona. Soon afterwards | came east
land | did not see Mr.. Harding again
Until year and half ago, when Mr.
|Gilpatric and called on the President
|at the White House in the interests o
Captain Moriarty OF Putnam. Al
though IL was a day on which ne usu-
|ally denied himself To visitors, he
made an exception in our case, and
i've had very pleasant visit.
Mr.. Harding was the average small
|sown fine citizen, with more brains
Than the average. however. He ~
ban excellent newspaper man, and ne
developed into very capable public
speaker. | heard him make his FIRST
|speeeh, and his hand and his voice
|shook with nervousness. He was
elected TO the legislature Of Ohio, was
and defeated for Cover
|nor, because il was a Democratic era.
Later. Of course, he was nominated
for Senator, and his national public
pfc began.
gracious and kindly. delightful
with faculty for max.
ing and holding friends. At the time
|that | went to Marion, Mrs. Harding,
|who was the Presidents first aide
throughout his career. worked IN the
|ofiiee Of The Star, having charge OF
khe carrier boys As an example OF
his liberality, Mr.. Hardings closest
friend in Marion was Geo. b. Chris
HAN. sr.. Mari0n's leading Democrat.
End George y. Christian, Jr., who, al
hough also q Democrat. became the
privat. secretary.
Just week before dr. Harding
|eft for his western tour, the Presi-
|dent sent to Mr.. Padgett a photo
|oraph OF himself signed: ITO Mr.. and
|Nrs. George L. Padgett from an old
fime friend. Warren G. Harding"