The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-08-03
HARDING CARRIED GREAT
STORE Of PATIENCE A n D
WISDOM To WHITE. HOUSE
No PeaceTme President Ever Faced Greater Problems
Lent Moral Assistance of Government in Effort to
Bind Up Wounds of War.Torn World =
Settled Many Questions.
CALLING Of ARMS CONFERENCE OUTSTANDING FEAT OF his TERN

| bition was to become a publisher and
it was realized at the age Of 19, when
he bid in the Marion Star at a sher-
IFS sale. The paper was purchased
under heavy mortgage and his
friends have often said that the strug-
giles and hardships which were his in
making this paper a success had much
to do in fashioning his character and
developing a broad patience and toll
erance which were his chief charac-
teristics for 20 years.
Great Pride In Profession.
Whatever his other attainments.
Mr.. Harding's 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 puttering about
a composing room. On 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 .
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 ar
dent partisan and his insistence upon
wearing a "stovepipe hat" the badge
of support Of James g. Blaine, while
a reporter on a democratic news
paper. brought him a sharp repri-
mand from his chief. who held 1t to
be inconsistent for a worker on q
democratic paper to so prominently
display the symbol OF his republican
Ism.
Great Stump Speaker.
The future presidents ability a. a
stump speaker won him early recos
milton from his local party leaders.
Marion county then was In the demo
cratic column ard he undertook to
switch It TO the republican party. but
his effort at office on his party ticket
resulted in a defeat. though he COM
manded an unexpected vote Mr..
Harding's first political office was
that OF Ohio state governor, 10 which
he was elected at the age OF ~. He
served two terms and later was elect.
ed lieutenant governor OF his state
but was defeated.
Four years later he was elected TO
the United States senate. where he
served six years. much of tho time
as a member OF the important foreign
relations committee. From this place
he was elevated TO tho presidency.
the first senator to be elected chief
executive.
Friend Of Mckinley.
Early in his years OF political serv-
Ice ne met William Mckinley, TO
whom his close friends have most
often likened him and with whom he
had in common the predominant pas
sion for obliteration OF class and sec
tionsl lines. A friendship sprang up
between the two men Mr.. Harding
also was close in later days TO Theo-
dore Roosevelt. Senators Foraker
and Penrose and others high in his
party counsels.
The president was n lifelong Bap.
ti.t and was trustee of his church
In Marion. He also had been a mem
bsr Of tho Elks and Moose frsterni.
ties for years and after his election
as president he became a 32d degree
Mason and Shriner.
Golf was his favorite recreation,
but he also liked to fish. although his
opportunities TO that sport were lin.
tied after he came 10 the White
House. He played hard and possessed
the faculty OF putting all his worries
behind him during his recreation
houre.