San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-03
SAN FRANCISCO
BOWED DOWN
BY TRAGEDY.
Flags and Bunting Re-
placed by Long Black
Grapes.
WHOLE CITY MOURNS
Cabinet Officials and Pres
idential Party Grief
stricken.
WHOLE CITY MOURNS
Dy the Associated Press.


day sorrowfully in a city differing
~ such from that which they had seen
-6n their homeward way last night,
resplendant in honor of the visit of
the President, who, it was believed,
was well on the way to recovery from
illness.
Gone were the flags, gone was the
bunting, gone the displays centering
around the Presidential emblem which
had marked the streets and larger
buildings. Instead, workmen were
busy hanging long black drapes and
streams, symbols of San Francisco's
grief. across the fronts of the city
buildings.
Gone were the smiles with which
news of President Harding's progress
toward health were received. Their
place had been taken by an air of
gravity, somberness that showed
how deeply the sudden tragedy had
affected those who regard the Exc
cutive as their own honored and per-
sonal guest because of his stay in
their city.
City's Grief Expressed.
Gone was the proud blue banner
which Haunted the seal of the United
States from staff above the Palace
hotel in evidence that the President
was in residence beneath it; its legit-
innate place today was over modest
home in Plymouth, where there was
the man who last night became Presi-
dent, Calvin Coolidge. The red,
white and blue that had decorated
the Presidents hotel had given way
to mourning garb. San Francisco,
by official proclamation of Mayor
James Rolph Jr., was in mourning.
In the same proclamation the
mayor officially expressed San Fran
cisco's grief and proffercd the city's
sympathy to the widow.
"We mourn with the entire nation
his passing" said the proclamation.
"We who had made elaborate prep
II arations for his visit feel most keen
Il 1y his tragic death as the culmina
ton OF what we had expected to be
hearty welcome"
The proclamation went on with
L tribute to the late Executive personal
ly and as servant of the com
sInity.
president Harding was a lovable
character man of high ideals and
lofty purposes" it said. He aimed
| to do for the nation, as its President,
all things that he believed would
hold the world in bonds of friendship
/ for u.s."
Hotel Corridors Packed
The hotel corridors leading to the
suite occupied by President Harding
for days before the goal of hundreds
who ranged in position from the high
est to the most humble, were more
congested' today than at any time
since the Executive, weary and suf
fering, was brought here last Sun
day morning.
With three cabinet officials stay
ing in the same hotel, the inevitable
stream of visitors calling to pay their
respects or to transact some official
business, naturally would have been
large. With the President ill,
thousands more came to inquire as
TO his condition, to present their
wishes for his recovery or to offer
help. Some offered the use of
country estates as places of recupera-
ton, some suggested means they
hoped would alleviate the Presidents
sufferings and vast numbers brought
flowers or baskets of fruit.
Last night word of the Presidents
death operated TO summon numer-
ous others-reporters. officials and
the merely curious. For hours after
he news became public the corridors
were jammed with representatives of
all three classes, through which
rabinet officials and others having
business with some member of the
Presidential party struggled to the
POINT where secret service men, turn
ng back the others, kept the hall
ways Immediately outside the official
suite reasonably clear.
Hoover Gricf-Stricken.
~secretary Hoover was the first
cabinet officer to enter the room so
ately visited by death. As he
Emerged a few minutes later he
hoked with emotion and said to the
waiting reporters, eager for some
definite word as to what had -oc-
urrcd:
"Boys, can't tell you anything"
Then came DIR. Hubert Work. sec
etary of the Interior. who, in his
apacity of physician, had been sum-
honed with the other doctors who
ave been attending the President.
Secretary Wallace of the Agricul-
ire Department was the next cabinet
fficial to enter, and he, like Mr..
1OOVer. WIS 50 overcome Us 10 De
nable to express his sorrow.
After them came Attorney General
,augherty. close friend of Warren
Harding. the main adviser of
Warren Harding. the candidate. and
.usted counsellor of Warren Hard
~, the President. He had been
isapointed on arriving here on We'd
esday that he was unable TO even
ok into the sick room of his friend
I'd his face showed plainly the sui
ring that Mr.. Harding's death
FUSED him.
The four members of the cabinet
ined later in expression. saying
cir grief was too acute and the
iock of the Presidents death so
eat. that they could not issue n
rmal statement at the moment, but
ould do so later.
Appreciation of Sympathy.
Some hours subsequently, they
it'll Speaker Frederick II. Gillett,
other member of the party. issued
} appreciation of the sympathy
in Francisco had extended them
itch said:
I'VE have been deeply touched.
'nen the remarkable hospitality pre-
red for President and Mrs. Hard
was turned TO sympathy for them
seemed as though we were sur
unded by the love and affection OF