The Alaska daily empire., 1923-08-09
PRESIDENT HARDING SACRIFICED HIS LIFE THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE.

 While the acute stage Of President Hardin ,st illness is charged to ptomaine poisoning, fficial statement issued by his physician the fter his death would indicate that Secretary Hoo i'd not eyerstate the case when he said, 50 2 rors and unselfsh has been his outpourng of SC ce that il had worn out the human body of aader
 The official statement Issued by the Pres'dei hysicians signed by C. E Sawyer, M. D., Ray Lyn Wilbur. M D. C. NJ. Cooper M. D., J. T. Boo I. D.. and Hubert Work. NJ. D., not heretof rinted here, follows
 Last spring. following long period of overwork and great strain, President Hard- ing was confined to his bed with an attack of influenza which followed by few nocturnal attacks Of labored breathing His recovery was slow and he had not fully re- gained his normal strength and health when he started on the trip to Alaska. He had also had some attacks of abdominal pain and indigestion and at times he had some pain associated with feeling of oppression in his chest
 Fer some years his systolc blood pres sure had ranged around 1SO and there was evidence of arteria scleroas, enlargement or the heart and defective action of the Kid neys Except for fatigue ana the fact that his heart and blood vessels were some years older than the rest of his body he was in reasonably good health.
 On the return trip from Alaska he had an acute gastrointestinal attack associated with abdomipal pain and fever. In spite of his illness he insisted putting through his program Of speaking in Vancouver and Seattle He had considerable difficulty in completing his addresses in Seattle because of weakness and pain. Because of this he was persuaded tc come directly to San Fran cisco and arrived at the Palace Hotel Sunday morning. July 2S. He dressed and walked to the automobile from the train. Sunday evening consultation call ed because his temperature had risen to 102 and his pulse and respiration abnermally rapid. The abdominal difficulty had by this time become localized in the gall bladder region but there a general toxama with fever and leucocytosis. tral roneho- pneumonia developed on the left side.
 It was accompanied by short circuatory colapses with cold sweats and an irregular pulse. Most disturbing of all the rapid and irregular breathing suggestive of arterio scleross of the blood vessels in the region of the respiratory center.
 Under treatment marked improvement in the pneumonia and circulatory disturb took place, and Thursday, August 9 he was free from fever and pain; the acute lung condition was practically gone. He was resting comfortably in bed and conversing with Mrs. Harding and General Sawyer when he died instantaneously without a word groan
 We all believe he died from apoplexy or rupture of blcod ve.ses in the axis of the brain near the rcgpirat6ry center. His death came after recovery from the acute illness was in process IL might have occurred at any time. One of his sisters died suddenly in the manner.
 The statement of Secretary Hoover, made ai ,adng the statement of the physicians was ,llows:
 The Almighty has taken the President from his work There is loss to the nation of a great leader and to many thousands a beloved personal friend. At my first meet ing with him during the his greeting was: "Neighbor. l want to be helpful" Being helpful 10 his neighbors Warren Hard ing's ideal He enyisaged the whole Ameri- can people home folks and neighbors He loved 10 think and talk on what made good neighbors He liked 10 feel of America of a good neighbor in the world
 He came 10 the Presidency with the bur den Of reconstruction, in time of high national emotions of bitter prejudice of deep conflict in thought of unparalleled dis location of economic life of unempoyment Ii his determination to soften acerbities 2 and to secure progress and healing through heipfulness and patient conciliation He felt deeply that hard driving would open un- healable breaches among people He applied gcnialiay and good will his tre- msndcus tasks in way that amounted to genius But underneath resoute moral ccuIa@e and steadfastne-s He was the man needed for times He became the rally 7 ing point of constructive forces in our country His success n these tasks has come into every home So generous and un- scffh had been his outpourng of service that il had wcrn out the human body of our { leader.
 The affection for the memory of President Ha g will be specially tender in Alaska because of