The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-03

~-OAA ~'AAAAOA OCltLOGldl4C paper.
The Blaine-Ceveland presidential
campaign was at its height. Hard
Ing was an ardent supporter Of
Blaine, the Republican candidate.
One day he wore a Blaine hat to
work. His Democratic boss dis
missed him.
Harding sold insurance and went
on playing in the band until Cleve-
land was elected. On election night
Harding and Jack Warwick, now
paragrapher on Toledo newspaper.
decided TO buy the Star back again.
Harding had 500. Warwick bor-
rowed 800. They bought the Star.
Later Harding bought Warwick out.
Then began hard struggle. Often
Harding had to ask advertisers to
pay in advance to meet the demands
OF creditors. He used to swing
through Marion from store to store.
soliciting advertisements and culling
local items" !.
But the fight won. Today The
Star is a gold mine. 1t has the
biggest circulation of any paper in
a town Of $4,000 in the Middle West.
1t has wide influence Harding re-
Gently disposed OF the Star.
Loves Bankers Daughter
Late in the eighties Harding at
a dance met Florence Killing, daugh-
ter Of Amos King. banker and
richest man in Marion.
Harding began paying ardent
court to Miss King, despite the OBJ
lection Of the banker who told his
daughter the struggling young edi-
tor never would amount to any
thing"
Harding built home and in 1891
defied Miss Kings fathers injunc-
ton and married the bankers
daughter. For years Banker King
would not speak to his son-in-Iaw.
Immediately after her marriage
Mrs. Harding went to work in her
husbands newspaper Office where
she acted as circulation manager
and did general office work.
AS soon as the Star got on its
financial feet Harding beg IN to take
an active interest in politics. In
1900 he was elected TO the Ohio State
Senate and held his seat until 1904.
In that " r he was elected lieu
tenant governor of Ohio. His term
ended in 1905. In 1910 he ran for
governor but was defeated.
But Harding had steadily been
gaining leadership in State politics.
In 1915 he was elected United
States Senator from Ohio. He
served on the important Foreign Re
lations Committee throughout the
war.
When the. Republican national
convention was deadlocked at
Chicago in 1920. Harding was
picked as the best fitted to bring
harmony to the differing Repub-
ican factions. He was nominated
for the presidency.
In November, 1920, Harding was
elected President by a tremendous
majority on a platform opposing
the League of Nations and pledg-
ing efforts to re-estabIish nor
malcy"-a term which Harding
coined and which since has been
widely used.
First Year Hard
Harding's first year in the presi.
Dental chair started under almost
crushing handicaps. Industry was
crushed. unemployment was grow
ing, international relations were
hopelessly involved.
At the close of Harding's first
year the administrator POINTED to
these accomplishments:
Technical state of war with Ger
many and Austria was brought to
an end.
immigration, which had added to
the unemployment burden, was re-
stricted by congressional enact
ment
A budget system was established
and a survey undertaken for reor-
ganization of Governmental depart
ments with a view to saving ex-
pense.
The Veterans Bureau was estab-
hshed, bringing under one head the
scattered activities connected with
the welfare, OF former service men.
The stand of the United States
Government on mandates conferred
by the Versailles treaty was clari-
fed. ---
A Federal highway act appropri-
ated $4,000, 900 for Federal coopera.
ton with States in building better
roads.
Saving of $50 100000 was effected
in the naval appropriation bill and
$4,000. 900 in Army expenditures.
A commission was created for
handling the refunding of allied
debts to the United States.
Packers bill was passed for regu,
lation of traffic in livestock. eggs
and dairy products, while another
bill was passed prohibiting grain
gambling.
But President Harding's one great
outstanding achievement in his first
year was the calling Of the world
disarmament conference at Wash,
. lion In November 1921
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