The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-03
A Engaged Chiefly With

Iberia, Ohio. He tried school teach ing for year, but having had a smell If printers ink while strick- in type for his college paper, the lure drew him into the nc spaper field.
 Moved To Marion.
 His family, meantime, had moved to Marion, in an adjoining county, where he obtained his first news- paper job and his life interests were centered thereafter. Mir. Harding's and 1t was realized at the age of 19 when he bid on the Marion Star at a sheriffs sale. The paper !. as pur- chased under a heavy mortgage and his friends have often said that the struggles and hardships which were his in making this paper success, had much to do in fashioning his character and developing a broad patience and tolerance which were his chief characteristics.
 Whatever his other attainments, MT. Harding's greatest pride was in his professional accomplishments and training as printer, editor, and pub fisher. Nor did the interests and exacting duties of hi high office serve to dull his delight in potterlng about a composing room. On his first trip back home ofter his in auguration, he went to the Star of flee, pulled off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, borrowed a chew of to- bacco and helped makeup" the paper. His tuck charm vas a printers rule, carried always in his vest pocket.
 His ambition had carried him into the ranks as publisher, so his fancy took him into the realm of politics. From the first he vas an ardent partisan, and his insistence upon wearing a "stoye-pipe hat" the badge of support of James c. Blaine, while a reporter of a democratic newspaper, brought him 8 sharp reprimand from hiS chief, who held it to be incon- paper to so prominently display the symbol of his republicanism.
 Fame As stump Speaker.
 The future Presidents ability as a stump speaker won him early recognition from his local party leaders. Marion county then was in the democratic column and he under took tc switch 1t to the republican party, but his first effort at office on his party ticket resulted in a de- feat, though he commanded an un- expected vote. MT. Harding's first political office was that of Ohio state senator, to winch ne was elected at the age of 34. He served two terms and later was elected lieutenant gov ernor of the state.
 In 1910 he sought the governship, but was defeated.
 Four years later he was elected to the United States Senate, where he served six years much of the time as a member of the important foreign relations committee. From this place he was elevated to the Presidency, the first senator to be elected chief executive.
 Early in his years of political ser vice, he met William Mckinley, to whom his close friendss>have most often likened him, and with whom he had in common predominant passion for obliteration of class and sectional lines. A friendship sprang up between the two men. MT. Harding also was close in later day to Theo- dore Roosevelt, Senators Foraker and Penrose, and others high in his party counsels.
 The President was a lifelong Bap- tist and was trustee of his home church in Marion. He also had been member of Elk and Moose fra ternities for years and after his cleo tion as President he became a thirty second degree Mason end a shriner.
 Golf was his faVorite recration, but he also liked to fish, although his op- portunities for that sport were limited after he came to the White House. He played hard and possessed the faculty of putting all his worries be- hind him during his recration hours.