The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-09
CITY BIDS CHIEF
AFFECT|ONATE
FAREWELL
Crowd Of $4,000 See Body
Lie In State; Others
Turned Away.
By PHILLIP A. ORME.

l
Marion, Ohio, Mecca Of Republi-
can statesmen during the famous
"front porch" campaign that re-
suited in the overwhelming cleo
ton to the Presidency Of Warren
G.. Harding in 1920, will attain
the status Of q temporary national
capital tomorrow.
Train Arrives 1890.
At 1890 o'clock this morning, the
special train bearing the dead Presi-
dents body is scheduled to complete
the last lap Of the Journey which
has already brought 1t across the
| continent. At 10 o'clock tonight,
President Calvin Coolidge, Secretary
of State Hughes, Chief Justice Taft
| and committees representing the
House and Senate will board an ex-
press for Marion. Attorney General
Daugherty, among the most Sorely
stricken over the Harding death,
who was by Mrs. Harding's side
when she left last night, will be
there.
Thus the hosts will gather to pay
tribute for a last time to the fallen
chief. About the grRveside in the
unpretentious cemetery OF the little
Ohio city will stand the new Execu.
tive and his powers Of administra-
ton, as the body is lowered. The
widow had expressed the desire that
the ceremonies be conducted as for
a private citizen, but though Calvin
Coolidge and Cabinet members go
to the final obsequies as friends,
they cannot drop the robes Of state,
and an official air IL bound to attach
to- the burial rites tomorrow after
noon.
And directly after the ceremonies,
Marion will sink back into the com.
parative obscurity that enclosed it
prior to Warren Harding's nomina-
ton at Chicago.
VIII Become Pilgrimage Spot
The conservative folk who knew
the twenty-ninth President better
as a Woodworking Newspaper owne:
than as chief executive of a great
Federal government will take him
back in their midst. Doubtless,
Marion will be place Of pilgrimage,
just as is Canton, where the bodv
of William Mckinley lies. But It's
days as the Presidents home town
are done.
The great rites-and they are held
to have surpassed in sumptuousness
and completeness of detail any pre-
vfously held for a dead President
are done. But Washington still re-
mains in some sense under the spell
of state mourning. Flags will re.
main at half staff for thirty days.
Tomorrow the wheels Of industry
will be stopped as effectively as they
were yesterday. Saturday, always
an inactive day in the Capital in
midsummer, will seem to continue
further the temporary cessation OF
activity. Not until Monday will the
wheels of government commence
full-speed revolutions with a new en-.
gineer at the throttle.
President Coolidge will return
from Marion Immediately after the
burial service. accompanied by off.
Gals and newspapermen. He will
arrive Saturday morning. Mrs.
Harding has made 1t known that
she also will journey here the last
day OF the week. What her pur.
poses or plans are remains undis-
closed.
$4,000 Passed Body.
From 1890 to o'clock yesterday
afternoon, the period during which
the general public was allowed to
view the body OF the dead President,
lying in state in the Capitol ro-
tunda, 1t Is estimated that $4,000
men, women, and children passed
the coffin, four abreast.
| Rigidly adhering to the schedule
mapped out and officially sane.
toned, officers stationed at the
many doorways OF the great struc-
ture closed the bronze panels at the
last-named hour. While 49, 900 wait
ed outside, denied the chance to
view the body, the heavy casket
was prepared for replacement upon
the same artillery caisson that bore
1t to the Capitol in the morning. 1t
was lifted by sturdy soldiers, sailors
and marines.
At 5:15 the head Of a numerous
military escort, including foot and
horse, proceeded from the wide
plaza to Union Station. funeral mu-
| sic sounding the while. The trains
| departure was at sos.
Each member of the Cabinet rode
In a special automobile. All were
depressed; worn, too, by the strain
OF the blazing daylight hours that
claimed scores Of heat victims. At
the big terminal, through which
Warren G. Harding was borne for
the last time. President Coolidge
wcpt.
Mrs. Harding Bears Up.
Florence King Harding, whose
only sign Of inability to continue
: the long ordeal OF public and pro-
vate grief occurred when she STUN
bled in alighting from an autono-
bile at the White House. had
donned anew her robes Of fortitude.
She entered the sleeper Superb"
| where the coffin had been placed,
gazed upon 1t as though her eyes
might not have their fill, and then
retired quietly to her drawing room.
Her faithful escort, George II.
Christian, jr.. formerly Harding's
J secretary. helped her mount the
coach steps. She was also accom-
panied by Mrs. Christian, Brig. Gen.
and Mrs. Sawyer, Capt. Adolphus
Andrews, commanding the May
flower; Maj. Baldinger, Commander
Joel T. Boone, Navy Medical Corps;
Mr.. and Mrs. Clifford Killing, DR..
and Mrs. George T. Harding. Miss
Abigail Harding, Mr.. and Mrs e.
Remst~rg and Mr.. and Mrs. E. B.
Mclean.
With daylight still touching the
sky, but an overcast night precursed
by gathering clouds. the famed
Harding Special, sped from Wash.
l in HuoaLo avid 1yAfNy ND