Evening star., 1923-08-11
WILLIAMS EXT0LS
! HARDING AS FRIEND
Ex-senator Says He Best De-
! served Grand Old Name of
:, "GentIeman."
Iy the Associated Press.


rem. Harding, gentleman. yesterday
was extolled by John Sharp Williams,
who temporarily forsook retirement
and came to Jackson from his planta-
tion in Yazoo county to talk to his
home folk about the man whom he
had characterized as my friend, test
ed and approved
The John Sharp Williams who spoke
was not the senator from Mississippi
whose brilliant oratory and flashing
returns in debate in the upper house
OF Congress for years marked him as
one of the nations most able speak
ers. 1t was a Williams who conduct
ed himself as when he used to enter
the White House after Warren Hard
ing went there. Then there was no
ceremony, for, after years of friendly
association III the Capitol, it still was
Warren" and John" and today John
again cast aside formality and in
studied phrases told his people about
warren. 1t was only when he spoke
of Mrs. Harding that he openly dis
played his emotion. His voice low
cred. he choked. and was forced to
pause.
People Throng Park.
Mr.. Williams was the speaker at a
memorial service in Poindexter Park
mt the hour the body of his friend was
placed at rest in Marion. The wealth
er was not of the best for an open-air
cersmony-it had rained during the
forenoon-but clouds did not deter
the throngs that gathered around a
pavilion under the huge oaks to pay
tribute to Warren Harding and to
hear something about him from one
who knew him Intimately. BuSine SIS
houses closed
service began, and from all direc-
tons the people came, many in over
alls, others without their coats or
hats. all having in mind only the
be there.
we were friends, and l have no
friends and allow myself to have
none among those who are not, in my
judgment, at least honest. sincere
and above duplicity or corruptibil-
lty' said Mr.. Williams.
Nobody could have been thrown
much more with Mr.. Harding with
out resulting positive affection for
the man, whatever ones view of his
political tenets or associates. He was
open hearted and open handed, ur-
bane, considerate of the opinions
even of the prejudices. of others, and
II is this consideration which con-
stitutes the leading characteristic OF
the sort of man who deserves TO
wear that grand old English appella-
tion-gentleman. The word does not
exist in any other language. Another
trait OF that type he had-when he
gave his word. or allowed You to in
fer that he had meant TO give it. he
kept II. even when partisan pressure
was brought to bear to induce him
to break it or to avoid the logical
consequence Of ii.
Devoid of Arrogance.
"As senator and PRESIDENT he was
L. of ba
device of little men dressed in a. liz
tie brief authority.
":;ome of the friends whom he
loved best and trusted most were
neither of his own party nor of his
own section. In his Friendships he
was pronounced and loyal Perhaps
he stood by some friends whom he
had grappled to his soul with hooks
OF steel too long. in the opinion of
many. but this. in my poor opinion
lS better than deserving them Off
cialIy too soon. or, perhaps, person
ally. ever.
he was not of that mols which
weigh ancient loyalities and benefits.
After all to be a man is" the great
thing. To live a man so that when
you die you die as a man is the
"ofice, rank. distinction are but
the guinea's stamp'-'a mans a man
for a that. and for a that
The mans individual character
himself rs known to God, and not
MS reputation among mrn---fS that
with which only he must finally meet
God and the mighty dead.
Reference to Widow.
'Those who will miss us most. after
all. are those Of our own household.
the effect ef the sudden blow to
his household, especially to his poor
wife.
''She. l daresay thinks no more of
him now as President. as the fore
MOST official of the foremost nation.
Of the foremost race on earth. how
ever much that thought naturally
and properly thrilled her with pride
when he still lived. She thinks of
hlm now only as her husband and
living mate, who was with her but
yesterday, and IS gone from her
today.
THUS must all of US Gods poor
living men ana women. loving and
beloved, hoping and dreading and
striving and despairing creatures.
think of their: departed dear ones,
Comprehending little: hoping much.
Trusting in Gods mercy for them
and for our sad selves because 1T
is He who has made US, not we our
selves
"Happily the lowest of us is not.
'OiiSiti anu lne nlSneSt OF us is
not above that mercy and that love
When death comes to teach it's deep
lesson OF our own utter insignif-
1cance and of the equality of the
fixed and final exit of us all.''
Progress i'm Liberty.
MIR. Williams. with the apparent
intention of stressing the Importance
Of the presidency of the republic.
devoted part Of his address to a
reSlew of the progress made by, the
ngllSh-Speaking people, which he
termed great composite race, and
1Felr success in obtaining and main
taining liberty. The greatest of the
six commonwealths4.o 4.of these peoples.
IS the United States, he asserted
He declared the President or Chief
Magistrate of this country is merely
its presiding magistrate, ''but his
power in peace equals and in war
eGeeds that of the head of any other
ciyilied nation.
His death is. therefore, the most
important PUBLIC event that can
happen for our people and otlee of
the most important for the world
which can happen in any individuals
history" he added
OF the twenty-nine Presidents be-
fore Mr.. Coolidge, he said. there were
leetually great of the earth, but If a
desire to serve faithfully. and If
honesty of purpose and conduct in
performing great trust be a test
of greatness, they all might have
been called great. Warren G. Harding
was by no means least in their
august COmDany.p