The Washington times., 1923-08-11

as a slight on the memory Of her
husband, was Colonel Sherrill's an.
nouncement that the services Of Ma
jor Baldinger, who was with the
dead President in San Francisco,
would be terminated Immediately.
Friends Of Mrs. Harding, follow
ing the services yesterday after.
noon, openly declared that the Ad-
ministration might have at least
waited until the President was
buried, or at least until Major Bal
! dinger had returned to Washington.
Had to Borrow Automobile.
Another slight to Mrs. Harding,
friends aver, was the fact that
somebody slipped up" when they
failed to make arrangements for
Mrs. Harding's trip to the Union
Station Wednesday afternoon, when
she was to accompany Mr.. Hard
ing's body back to Marion.
Because Of the fact that all Of the
White House cars-nearly a dozen
of then-had been ordered to the
Willard Hotel where President Cool.
idge Is stopping, none were available
for her use and she had to call on
a personal friend for the loan Of an
automobile to go to the station,
necessitating a twenty minute de-
lay.
These Incidents, so noticeable to
those close to Mrs. Harding, were
brought to the fore yesterday when
Secretary George B. Christian, with
Mrs. Harding in Marion, announced
his resignation to the newspaper men
in Marion, stating to them that he
was Though, right now"
Just before the funeral services at
Marion, Christian expressed a wish
to see his newspapermen friends
Immediately following the inter1nent.
Going direct from the cemetery to
the Marion Club. he made his an
nouncement within half an hour
after his beloved chief had been
placed to rest.
Ordinarily this would not have
come for several days and would
have been rendered to President
Coolidge in person. Also the resig-
nation Of Christian was made in the
face of a public announcement by
President Coolidge that he would re-
tain Mr.. Christian In the same ca
pacity as he mad been retained by
President Harding.
These incidents formed the under
| current of much criticism among
the people of Marion, as exemplified
by the following incident to men,
bers of President Coolidge's party
| for the funeral.
Newspaper Men Ignored.
After the train had arrived, bear
ing President Coolidge, the news
paper men, numbering twelve or
fifteen, Immediately made inquiry
as to what arrangements had been
made to accompany the new Presi-
dent to the cemetery.
The inquiry was made Of q major
| Of the Ohio National Guard.
mo arrangements have been
made for you boys" the major told
| the newspaper men.
| This is President Hardings fun
eral and not President Coolidge's, ;"
| the major continued.
| Explanation was made by the
newspaper men that it was custom.
airy for them to follow the President
Immediately after the Secret Service
men.
This was denied them, however
! by those in authority in Marion
with the result that most of them
afoot, found themselves barred from
| the cemetery because they could
not gain admission without Press
cards.
Col. Frank p. Lahn, who had been
sent to Marion with several aides
to perfect the funeral arrangements
found himself in the same position
as the newspaper men.
He was told by those in charge
at Marion that others would look
after the funeral. arrangements
with the result that orders which
had been issued by Col. I.ahm
acting under Sheriff., were ignored
Baldinger Incident Hurt,
Mrs. Harding, 1t was said by
those closest to her, was openly
hurt at Colonel SherrilPs action in
Diminishing Major Ora M. Baldinger