Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-26
Drives Binder and Shocks
Grain Like Expert Says
He Is "QuaIifying for the
Farm Bloc"

eight-hour visit. He drove a binder,
he shocked wheat, he talked with
farmers about their problems and he
delivered an address on the agricul-
tural situation.
In his address, made to an audi
ence largely composed of farmers
at the state fair grounds, he spoke
as the president OF the United States,
but with an understanding that only
comes from having lived and worked
on a farm. To the farmers who
heard him, he brought a prediction
of a better day.. declaring that "clear-
Ply we are through the worst of the
depression and can reasonably ex,
pect gradual improvement"
The chief executives real contact
with farm life came after he and
Mrs. Harding and their party ar.
rived here at 10 a. M, from Kan
sas City. The entire party was taken
on an automobile ride out into the
country and was shown the famous
Reno county wheat district of which
Hutchinson is the center.
4 Arriving at an especially large
wheat field, Mr.. and Mrs. Harding
left their car and soon the highest
official of the nation was putting
shaaVes Of wheat up in their shocks,
talking with the country boys and
holding in his arms the babies, con-
versing earnestly with the owner OF
the farm and joking with the farm
hands, and finally perched on the
seat of a farm tractor, he drove a
binder around the section of the field
which was being harvested. Earlier
he spoke briefly to several thousand
school children, and after his adj
dress at, the state fair grounds, he
! visited the salt mine on the edge OF
Hutchinson and played few holes
of golf. He also during the day met
his first boyhood sweetheart" as
he described her in a preface to his
! fairgrounds address. The president,
in making mention of the renewed
acquaintance in his speech, said he
! had not seen her for forty-five years.
but cid not give her name.
+ The special train bearing Presi-
dent Harding and party on their
western trip left Hutchinson early
tonight for Denver, the next sched.
uled stop, where the president will
rest Sunday and on Monday deliver
his fourth prepared address, speak
ing on law enforcement.
Greets Harvest Hands
Arriving at the wheat field on
what is known in this part OF Kan
sas as the Chester O'Neil farm, the
president and Mrs. Harding left the
motor car and walked to the gate
into the field. A number OF persons
had gathered, and the president ana
Mrs. Harding shook hands with sew
eral harvest hands, children ana
others.
"Warren, have your picture taken
with the little baby" said Mrs. tar-
ding. The baby was chubby Dlu2-
eyed little girl, a year or more old.
"Now don't be afraid, 10 hold it,
hughingly remarked Mrs. Harding.
as the cameras clicked at the presi'
dent, with the little girl in his arms
and several other youngsters at his
feet.
One youngster, with navy cap
caught the chief executives eye, and
as the boy removed his cap the pres
/ ident noticed a bruise on the boy
forehead. In reply to how he had
hurt himself, the youngster said:
i 81 got off my tricycle. the wrong
way and tried to kiss the pavement
The president spied another little
fellow in blue denims with a heavy
watch chain displayed prominently
from his overalls pocket.
What time is ut, SOM" queried
the chief executive.
The urchin pulled out the long
chain and replied: u amt got no
watch on"
After the handshaking and talk
with the children, which went on
while the president was waiting for
the binder to drive up, the party
walked into the wheat field. Presi-
dent Harding and Governor Davis
put up a shock of wheat, but not
pleased with their work, shocked
another
Shows The "Ohio Way"
'Now let me show you the Ohio
way" said the president. After
stepping a few PAGES to gather up
several bundles Of wheat he shocked
them to the approval of Governor
Davis and Senator Capper.
"Do l get in on the farm bloc
now" laughingly asked the presi-
dent of Senator Capper head of the
senate farm bloc.
When the binder was driven up
by a farm hand who had been cut
ting wheat during the morning, the
president was asked to drive it about
the 100-acre field and consented to
do so at the urging Of Mrs. Hard
ing.
The president mounted the tractor
a '30-horse power machine, and after
instructions from the operator
started it on it's way about the field
while moving picture men backed
head of him turning heir cranks
and recording on film the scene Of
the country's chief executive driving
a tractor in a Kansas wheat field.
The binder outfit. it was explained,
was designed for one man to operate
and this is the first season it has
been tried out in Kansas.
AS the president went down the
field he talked interestedly with the
farm hand VINO nad D9en operating
the machine, but never once forgot
to pull the rope to drop the bundles
of wheat when the carrier was full.
The first turn did not even prove an
obstacle and the president turned
the wheel hard down to the left and
negotiated the corner to the praise
| of farmers and others who followed
in his wake. -Four times the presl-
dent made the corners of the field
and by the time he had driven the
tractor around to the starting point
| it was remarked that he did not
seem a new hand at the game.
Talks With Wheat Grower
AS the president descended from
the tractor, perspiration pouring
Continued on Page 6, Column y