San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-08
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

"dSihnstOn, -. u, aug. 0.-FOur
men upon whom the mantle OF the
Presidency of the United States has
fallen at one time or another, rode to
the capitol today.
At the forefront of the solemn caval-
cade was the dead Harding, whose un-
timely end had brought nation SO
suddenly to its knees.
After him came the reigning presi-
dent, Calvin Coolidge, another man
Of destiny.
Then there was Taft ten years out
Of the White House now, but full of
life and vigor and wearing the robes
of the office that he always has held
in the highest esteem-chief justice
oil the Supreme Court.
And last of all came Wilson, broken
on the wheel of duty just short OF four
years ago, pale, exceedingly gay, but
with the spirit OF the crusader still
burning strong within him; Wilson,
who was eight years in the White
House, the longest continuous term
of any President since Grant.
Washington mas never known such d
procession of the Presidents before
No dead President aas ever bef)rc been
mourned by two Of his predecessors
of the White House.
Muffled sounds of the drums and
the distant thrcL of minute guns
marked the passage of the historical
funeral pageant. AS he mad rcvered
the office in life. so the Presidency
revered Warren Harding in death.
The honors of the land were his. About
him gathered. all of the living symbols
of government. The fallen ch;5ftain
received his last need of homage.
Same Is,ble Verse.
At his funeral. as at his Inaugural
ton but little more than two years
ago. the Bible was opened Mt Micah
WIS.
He hath showed thee, o man. what
is good and what doth the Lord re-
quire of thee, but to do justly, and
to love mercy. and to walk humhly
with thy God"
1t was on this verse. of his own
selection. that Warren Harding placed
his hand as he took the oath of CT
flee as twenty-ninth President of the
United States. 1t was his conception
of his duty, and he walked humbly TO
the end. Death sought him, however,
as shining mark, and the nations
tribute. climaxed here in Washington,
was all that the most exalted might
ask.
But of the living Presidents:
fnnIt1na olvrarc car,A,tc Of t,,ia
almost grim, seemed to have his com
pressed lips set more tightly than
ever. The opportunities of the presi
dency are still before him and he ap
peared particularly silent. more thor
oughly than ever wrapped in the unex-
pressed thoughts with which he spendr
so much of his time.
The serious burdens Of a serious Of
flee. will find Coolidge in a serious
mood to bear them. In fact he knows
no other mood. Life to him has al.
ways been serious with little or no
time to play. The seclusion OF the
White House will be greatly to his
liking and it may safely be predict
| cd that he will be much alone search
ing for his line of duty in much tbs
same manner as the Christian mar
tyrs of old searched their souls. and
found their faith. rH
Taft Un0brusive. as Always.
Mr.. Taft fitted into the picture
of the day with the unobtrusiven,ss
that has always marked him. Mr.. Taft
has been so long a part of Washing
ton that his presence on state occa-
sions is taken for granted. Not alone
in stature. but in all of his expressed
ideals. in all that he has stood for
Mr.. Taft's presence carried with it an
air of substantially. Both officially
and in his own right he is indeed
one of the country's very first citi.
zcns. 1t has been many. many years
since Mr.. Taft first came to Washing
ton. Washington watched his steady
rise to fame until his political career
eliminated where it was confidently
expected it would-at the White
House.
And then when that tour of duty
was ended-when the race had been
faithfully run against some of the
creates. obstacles ever placed in a
Presidents path--and it seemed that
Mr.. Taft was to bid Washington good
bye, the volunteer tasks he assumed
during the great war brought him
back.
1t was Warren Harding. however.
who assured 10 Washington the re-
naming earthly days of William How
ard Taft. 1t was Warren Harding
who placed him at the head Of the ma
tons high tribunal. The writer is ip
a position to know that the appoint
ment of Mr.. Taft to the chief justice
ship gave President Harding more
pleasure. more satisfaction. than any
other annni nfmcnf he nade-nnf even