New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-03

clared II constituted the greatest tariff
reform in American history.
Mr.. Harding came of hardy pioneer
stock. He was born at Blooming
Grove. Morrow County. Ohio. Novem-
Der 2, 1855, the son of country doc
tor, George T. Harding. Like most
country boys he. went to country
school between morning and night
chores and later attended college at
Iberia, Ohio. He tried school teach
ing for year. but having had smell
of printers ink while sticking type
for his college paper, the lure drew
him into the newspaper field.
His family meantime had moved to
Marion, in an adjoining county. where
he obtained his first newspaper job,
and where his life interests were CEN
tered thereafter. Mr.. Harding's am
bition was to become publisher, and
it was realized at the age of Is when
he bid in the Marion Star at a sher-
ifs sale. The paper was purchased
under a heavy mortgage and his
friends have often said that the strug-
gle and hardships which were his in
making this paper a success had
much to do in fashioning his char
acter and developing broad patience
and tolerance which were his chief
characteristics.
Whatever his other attachments,
Mr. Hardings greatest pride was in
his professional accomplishments and
training as printer. editor and pub
Usher. Nor did the interests and ex-
acting duties of his high office serve
to dull his delight in pottering about
a composing room. org his first trip
back home after his inauguration, he
went to the Star office, pulled off his
coat, rolled up his sleeves, borrowed a
chew of tobacco and helped make
UP" the paper. His luck charm was
a printers rule, carried always In a
vest pocket.
AS his ambition had carried him
into the ranks of publishers, so his
fancy took him into the realm of poll
tics. From the first he was an ardent |
partisan, and his insistence upon |
wearing a ''stove pipe" hat, the badge |
of support of James G Blaine, while |
D reported on a democratic newspaper |
brought him a sharp reprimand from
his chief, who held it to be inconsist-
emit for a worker on democratic
paper to so prominently display the
symbol Of his republicanism.
The future Presidents ability as
stump speaker won him early recog-
lition from his local party leaders.
Marion county then was in the demo-
ratio column and he undertook to
witch 1t to the republican party, but
lis first effort at office on his party
icket resulted in a defeat, though he
commanded an unexpected vote.
Mr.. Harding's first political office
vas that of Ohio state senator, to
which he was elected at the age of
4. He served two terms and later
vas elected lieutenant governor of his
tate. In 1910 he sought the COVER
orship, but was defeated. Four years
alter he was elected to the United
'tates senate, where he served six
ears, much of the time as a member
f the important foreign relations
ommittee. From this place he was
levated to the presidency, the first
enator to be elected chief executive.
Early in his years of political serv-
,e he met William Mckinley, to
'hom his close friends have most
ften lfkened him, and with whom he
ad in common predominant pas
on for obliteration of class and Sec
ona1 lines. A friendship sprang up
etween the two men. Mr. Harding
lso was close in later days to Theo-
ore Roosevelt, Senators Foraker and
enrose and others high in his party
ounsels.
The President was lifelong Bap-
st and was trustee of his home
nurch in Marion. He also hSd been
member of the Elk and Moose fra
rnities for years, and after his cleo
on as president he became a thirty-
'cond degree Mason and Shriner,
Golf was his favorite recreation, but
also liked to fish, although his on
ortunlties for that sport were limited
ter he came to the White House
e played hard and possessed the
Guilty of putting all his worries be-
ND him during his recreation hours