The Washington times., 1923-08-09
HARDING AS HIS
NE|GHBORS
KNEW HIM
Associates of Earlier Years
Tell of Deeds That Made
Men Love Him.
BY BENSON PRATT.

MARION, Ohio, Aug. 9.-Warren
Harding, the editor; Warren Hard
ing. the bandsmen; Warren Hard
ing, the banker; Warren Harding.
the printer; Warren Harding, the
neighbor; Warren Harding, the
friend-came home today.
The nation had paid its tribute to
its dead President. Today Marion
receives him back into the com
munity where he was born and
where he grew to world fame.
Let's stop a moment and look at
Warren Harding through the eyes
Of the men who knew him best,
AS AN EDITOR:
HE was the 'whitest man In all
the world. He never criticized. If
he thought you were wrong he, had
the knack of pointing out that
fact in some such a way as 70
make you feel good about it. I
never saw him angry. He was the
most tolerant of men in public life.
He was always thoughtful of
others. Warren G. Harding never
knowingly wronged anyone. -
George Mccormick, editorial writer,
Marion Star.
AS A BANDSMAN:
Back in 1883 we had the Marion
Silver Cornet Band. This young
fellow joined up. And a darned
good tooter he was. One time, at
the fair grounds, the Bucyrus band
was ahead Of us. Some fellow hoI.
Tered back, Why don't you boys
tune up little?' This fellow Hard
ing shouted back: Wen do our
playing at the fair grounds and, by
gum, we won the first prize."-Ed
Clark, old-time bandmaster.
AS A BANKER.
There was an old fellow who
wanted to borrow about $500. He
talked to Warren. Warren made
a motion to give him the money
and one of Warren's relatives Sec
onded it. The man got just two
votes. That was Harding all the
way; He was generous to a fault.
l don't believe he could have fore
closed a mortgage. And yet. as a
banker, he was conservative and
careful. Copeland. fellow
director Marion County Bank.
AS NEIGHBOR FRIEND.
Never saw wv. G. get mad in,
thirty years. He was the best
natured man ever saw. He was
always busy. It didn't make any
difference whether man was a
Millionaire or a barber. he was
your friend. Never gave me tip
in his life. When a mans your
friend you didn't tip him. He
gave me presents because he was
mighty generous" Heybeck,
Harding's favorite barber.
AS A POLITICIAN.
That's the trouble. he wasn't a
good politician. He was thoroughly
honest and believed too much n
the absolute honesty and integrity
of others. You'd better headline
that: Mr.. Harding as a Public
Servant That would be more in
keeping with his character. He
always felt that he was a servant"
French Crow, postmaster of
Marion.
AS A BUSINESS MAN.
Warren was one of our stock
holders. AS a man of business he
was very thorough. He never
passed judgment on a proposition
until he knew it from all sides.
He was a great believer in giving
responsibility and the
authority to back it up. He liked
to see men get along. He wanted
them promoted as fast as they
were ready. He was kind and
- James Prendergast,
millionaire head of Prendergast
Company.
AS A CHURCHMAN.
"Ee was the most loyal man to
his church 1 ever knew. He was
o. trustee of the church for twenty
five years. He wasn't the kind of
man who would forget his church
when he went away either. He was
always looking for some way to
improve things. One time we were
standing in the church and Mr..
Harding said: Doctor, I'd just like
it myself DIR. C. T. Bryant, fell
Church.
AS A PRINTER:
"'W. G. used to help out. set
ting type. Most generous man you
ever seen. Any tramp printer crald
get a job and enough for a bite to
eat. Asked to get off for acEuple
of days once to take a vacation.
Told me to wait for a little while
Finally called me in and gave me
tickets to Salt Lake City FOR M
wife and me. Tain't right he's
gone. "-"Lou" Miller, probably the
oldest printer in Ohio.
There's the picture. That's the
man who is being brought back to
his home town today-Warren G.
Harding, citizen of Marion.
MARRIAGE LEGAL IN JAPAN,
BUT NOT IN UNITED STATESI