Evening star., 1923-07-03

westward Journey he laid aside his
manuscript after finishing 1t and
made an extemporaneous appear. All
the platform speeches were ex-
temporaneous. however. with one or
two exceptions, though the President
was very guarded in what he said ana
did not attempt to do any more than
impress his personality upon the
crowds at the train.
Wherever Mr.. Harding departed
from manuscript and endeavored to
reach his audience with a personal
appeal he made a very effective I'M
preston. 1t was only in the big au-
ditorium where the heat and stlnlnS
atmosphere were not conducive 20
lecture on government finance or
enthusiasm over a ten-thousand word
academic subjects like the consolida-
tion of railroads that the audiences
were more or less unresponsive.
Recalls Wilson Speech.
But the writer has had 80 much
experience in observing presidential
candidates and Presidents in ad-
dressing crowds that he would not
hazard an opinion as to the impress
sion made by any of them simply by
gazing at the assembled multitude.
One cannot forget that when Presi-
dent Wilson delivered in Philadelphia
his famous speech shortly after the
sinking of the Lusitania, in which
peared. the audience stood and cheer
ed for nearly five minutes.
If this speech were considered
blunder, 1t was attributed entirely to
the disadvantages of extemporaneous
speaking. In fact, the Interruptions
of applause are said to have pre-
vented Mr.. Wilson from amplifying
and from completing his thought. In
any event what was at the moment
considered a very effective utterance
was condemned if not misunderstood
by the press of the country.
Mr.. Harding made no secret of the
fact that he was endeavoring to
reach a larger audience than the
people who stood Immediately before
him. He confessed on one occasion
that in these days of telegraphtc
communication and wide distribution
through the newspapers of presiden-
tial utterances the larger audience
reading the American newspaper was
really his objective. 1t is folly to
say, therefore, that Mr.. Harding made
sion by his speeches on the western
tour. 1t is fact, however. that he
made a good personal appeal and that
folks everywhere like him and
showed their affection.
Mrs. Harding Fine Aid.
Mrs Harding as campaigner
showed an aptitude that was almost
Rooseveltian. Despite her recent ILL
ness she went right along with the
President to all the auditoriums and
never failed to appear on the back
platform with him. Her greetings to
the crowd, rapid-f1re conversation
and comment and wholesomeness
were as much remarked upon by the
people as were the Presidents own
manifestations of kindness.
OF all the Presidents who have been
backpiatforming in the last genera
tion, President Harding is unQues-
tionably the most natural in demean-
or President Taft was we'll liked,
but he carried somewhat the air of
had a way all his own. and depended
for his Impressions upon antics of
speech that were wholly character
istic of his personality. President
Wilson unbent considerably whenever
he went campaigning, but there was
always an atmosphere OF dignity.
which inspired awe. IL not reverence.
He was frequently witty in his re-
sponseS to the comment of back
platform crowd, but always one had
the feeling that Mr.. Wilson was un-
comfortable in what he was doing.
President Harding, on the other hand,
walks out to the back platform, says
good morning, as IL he had been ac-
customed to doing 1t in that very
place for years and as If he were, a
part of the community which he was
visiting.
What the people thought Of his
speeches probably will be better re-
fected in the press comment of the
next few weeks. His success at the
POLLS Of 1924 will not depend, Of
course, on his personal triumphs. but
upon the concrete achievements of
his administration and the explicit
measures undertaken for the future.
copyright, 1921