davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1923-08-08
Sketch of President
WarrenG Hardinq's Life

Warren Gamaliel Harding, twenty.
ninth president of the United States,
was born November 2, 1866, on his
grandfather's farm Just outside the
village Of Blooming Grove, in Morrow
county. Ohio. He was descended from
two pioneer American families, hardy
Holland Dutch on the one side and lib
erty-loving Scotch on the other. His
father, DR.. George T. Harding, is still
a.. practicing physician in Marion,
o.. despite his advanced age of seven
ty-nlne years. His mother was Phoebe
Elizabeth Dickerson Harding.
Mr.. Harding was a self-made man In
the best of the phrase. He
worked IN his grandfather's farm and
attended the village school until he
was fourteen years old, and then he
entered the Ohio Central college at
Iberia. He worked his way through
that institution by cutting corn, paint
Ing his neighbors barns and helping
on the grading of the roadbed of the
I. & o. G. railroad. He also played In
h village band and was editor Of the
college paper.
When he graduated from the COL
lege. Warren to work In the vii
lage printing office. At the time he
was nineteen years old. his father
moved to Marion with the family and
there aided Warren financially In gain
ing control of the Marion Star, of
which he was publisher until after he
assumtd the Office of president of the
United States. Already he knew how
to set type and to do all the other
duties of a printer. and when the limo.
type was introduced he learned to op.
crate that machine. Always he car.
ried as a pocket piece the printers
rule he used In those days.
The Star was his Idol and he was
very proud of 1t and Of the more than
friendly relations that existed be.
tween him and his employees. There
was never q strike on the paper. and
, 1923-08-08
NEWS is SHOCK TO WASHINGTON

Neutrality-suspicious. of the death Of
President Harding fell with almost
pa~ralyzing effect on the national cap
tai.
Fully awakened TO the seriousness of
his Illness, officials of the government
had been encouraged by the improve
ment of the last few days, and "A feel
ing of confidence that he would soon
ecove was almost general.
All Of those In high official posi-
lions, however, had p~re-arranged for
telephone notification In case OF a re
lapse. and within n half hour after
word Of the presidents death came
most of them had learned of 1t. In
every case the news was received with
expressions of painful shock.
, 1923-08-08

about lv...~~A yea.s ugo he instituted
a p~rofit-sharing plan whereby the en-
ployees received dividends hat were
paid them in the form Of stock In the
paper. Mr.. Harding was identified
also with the Industries hat sprang
up In Marion nj It grew from a town
Of 1000 to a city Of more than 10000.
He was a director In a bank and In
several manufacturing companies, and
was a trustee of Trinity Baptist
church.
His Rise In Politics.
As editor and publisher Of a lively
Republican paper II was Inevitable
that Mr.. Harding should take an ac-
tive Interest In politics. and his attain
ments brought him to the front In the
state. He was n member Of the Ohio
senate from 1900 to 1904. and then
served as lieutenant governor OF the
state. In 1910 he was the Republican
nominee for governor. but was defeat
ed. In 1915 he was sent to the United
Stntes senate. serving until 1920, when
he resigned 10 mike the campaign for
the presidency. In the preconvention
campaign that yea he had been
looked on ms n Of the possible nomi.
e for the high Office, but his defeat
In the primaries for election OF dele
gates from Ohio seemed TO spoil his
chances. However. the conservative
leaders Of the Republican party pre-
vailed In the gathering In the Chicago
Coliseum. and Mr.. Harding was nomi.
mated. His campaign wns based large
iy on opposition to American PARTED.
patton In the League OF Nations. and
was so successful that in the election
OF November 4 he received 404 cleo
tornl votes to 1877 for James NJ. Cox.
the Democratic nominee. He was In.
augurnted March 4. 1921. with n de-
gree OF simplicity In the ceremonies
lint plensed the American people.
, 1923-08-08

Classed, when in the senate, as a
conservative, President Harding did
not depart markedly from conserva-
tive lines when In the White House,
though his supporters always said he
was as progressive as the good Of the
country warranted and as conditions
permitted. He, like President Roose-
welt, had a great coal miners strike on
his hands. and labored hard and with
a measure of success to bring 1t to q
peaceful and just end. ,l~
Arms Limitation Conference.
The outstanding accomplishment of
his administration was the great inter-
national conference for the limitation
Of armament held in Washington. open
Ing on .Armistice day, November IL,
1921. At his instigation the confer
ence was authorized by congress and
after feeling out the big powers and
finding them agreeable he issued invl-
tations to Great Britain. France, Bel
GUM, Italy, Japan, China. the Meth
erlands and Portugal. Each country
sent some Of Its most eminent states
men as delegates, those Of the United
States being Secretary Of State
Hughes, chairman Of the conference;
Senators Lodge of Massachusetts and
Underwood of Alabama. and ex-Secre-
tary Of State Elihu Root.
The conference adjourned February
9. 1922. after negotiating these
treaties:
A covenant Of limitation to naval
armament between the United States.
Great Britain. France, Japan and Italy.
A treaty between the same powers
as to the use of submarines and nox-
ious gases In warfare.
A treaty between the United States.
Great Britain. France and Japan re-
lating to their insular possessions and
their insular dominions In the Pacific,
with a declaration reserving American
rights In inundated territory.
lev between the nine powers In
, 1923-08-08

be almost a certainty that President
Harding would be renominated In the
Republican national convention Of
1924.
Mr.. Harding's home life was ideal
save that he had no children. He and
Mrs. Harding. who was Miss Florence
Killing Of Marion, were devoted to each
other and she was always his true
helpmate, both In Ohio and in WASH
ington. In the national capital Mrs.
Harding quickly made herself loved
by all with whom she came in contact
and during the Western trip she was
more eager even than the President
to meet and mix with all kinds Of
people.
His Western Trip.
President H%arding's Alaska trip was
originally planned for the summer of
1922. He inherited the so-called
, 1923-08-08
MRS. HARDING BRAvEST IN
DEATH ROOM AS BLOW FELL

San Francisco. Cal.-Only Doctors
Sawyer and Boone, the chief and as
sistant physicians. were able to reach
the room before the nations leader
passed away. They were powerless
to do anything.
Brave in the face of the presidents
Illness, Mrs. Harding remained brave
in realization of his death and did not
break down.
1t was announced in a formal state
ment issued at S:32 p. NJ. hat Mrs.
Harding had withstood the shock of
her husbands death and continued to
be "bravest of the group"
Her first words, when she realized
the president had died, were:
II am not going TO break down"
, 1923-08-08
PRESIDENT HARDING
DIES Of STROKE AS
WIFE READS TO HIM
Apoplectic Death Without Pre-
monitory Symptom; One Shud-
der and ALI Was Over; First
Intimation Outside Sickroom
Mrs. Harding's Alarm.

San Francisco, Cal.-Warren G.
Harding, president Of the United
States, died without warning
Thursday night, August 2, at 1880
o'clock, a victim Of a stroke Of ap-
oplexy, which struck him down in
his weakened condition after an
illness Of exactly a week.
Mrs. Harding and the two
nurses, Miss Ruth Powderiy and
Miss Sue Dauser, were in the
roo at the time. Mrs. Harding
was reading to the president when,
utterly without warning, a slight
shudder passed through his frame,
he collapsed and all recognized
that the end had come. A stroke
Of apoplexy was the cause Of his
death.
Within a few moments, all Of
the presidential party had been
summoned.
That's good, read some more"
were the last words uttered by
President Harding to Mrs. Hard
ing. Mrs. Harding was at his
bedside reading aloud when she
paused and looked at the presi-
dent, according to Alfred Holman,
San Francisco publisher and close
personal friend Of the president,
who visited the sick room a few
moments before the end came.
Mr.. Holman told interviewers
that the presidents hand was
raised as he asked Mrs. Harding
to continue reading. Instantly his
expression changed. There was a
shudder and he was dead.
The suddeness with which the
end came was shown by the fact
that only Mrs. Harding and the
two nurses were in the room at
the time. Mrs. Harding, with her
characteristic f%aithfuIness and
constant tenderness, was reading
to the president at the time.
, 1923-08-08
News Is Blow to Aoed Father

Marion, Ohio.-Dr. George Il. Hard
ing. aged father of the president, Is al
most FRUSTRATED by the death of his
sou. Just ms soon as the news OF the
presidents death reached here. a mes
scnger went TO the home OF the presi-
dents father. DIR, Harding had just
retired for the night.
, 1923-08-08

ALASKA problem" Alaska seemed to
be or the down grade. with decrease In
population and mining output. threat
ened extinction Of the fishing industry
and numerous other u~nfavorable
symptoms. The situation apparently
called for the establishment Of q def
mite Alaskan policy. Various plans
were discussed. including a transfer Of
control to the Interior department
from the score or more of governing
bureaus. President Harding's plans
for 1922 came to naught. but this year
he determined to get flrst-hand infor-
nation. He vas accompanied by Sec
rotary Work Of the Interior depart
ment, Secretary Wallace of the Agri-
cultural department and Secretary
Hoover of the Department of Com
merce. all of whom are immediately
concerned In the Alaskan situation. y
The President left Washington at
the end of June and journeyed leisure.
ly to the Pacific Northwest by special
train, making speeches at st. Louis,
Denver. Helena. Spokane and other
cities. Incidentally he visited two Of
the national parks. First he went to
Zion in Utah. the newest of our ma
tional parks. which Is a many-colored
gorge cut by the Rio Virgin. Next he
visited Yellowstone In Wyoming, Gre
ated In 1872, the first national park In
history and largest and most famous
Of the nineteen parks Of our system.
Here he motored, boated, nshed, fed
the bears and had a good time. His
plans also included a visit to Yosemite
upon his return trip. but that was
abandoned.
Saw Much Of Alaska.
The President celebrated the Fourth
Of July in the United States and then
started for Alaska on the q. s. trans
port Henderson. His Alaskan trip was
extensive. He went the length Of the
new government railroad and visited
the capital. Juneau. and the principal
cities.
On his return trip Mr.. Harding
stopped on at Vancouver, creating
precedent In that he was the first
American President to step on Cana
dian soil.
The President arrived at Seattle
July ~ and reviewed from the bridge
Of the Henderson a feet Of a dozen or
so battleships under command of Ad-
miral Fl. p. Jones. each of which gave
him the national salute Of twenty-one
guns. Even then he was suffering
from the ailment that resulted In his
death, and oon after that the rest Of
his trip, which was to include a return
to the East via the Panama canal, was
cancelled.
President Harding made a public ad-
dress at Seattle, setting forth his views
on the Alaskan situation. Some Of his
points were these:
ALASKA for Alaskans."
There Is no need Of government
managed. federally-paid-for dollhouse
development there must be no
reckless sacrificing OF resources"
"Alaska Is destined for statehood I'm
a few years."
where there Ia possibility of better.
ment In federal machinery Of admin
lstration, Improvement should and will
be effected"
Other conclusions presented By Pres
ident Harding we're:
That generous appropriation should
be made for road building.
That the federal government should
be more liberal In encouraging the
technical. scientific and demonstration
work In agriculture.
That restrictions should be laid on
, 1923-08-08
X, X. X. Chief Sues

Houston, Texas.-Georgc Il. Kimbro.
Jr.. former grand goblin and organizer
Of the Ku Klux Khan In Texas and In
Mississippi, filed suit In federal court
against DR.. II. W. Evans OF Atlanta.
grand wizard OF the khan. for 100000.
alleging defamation Of character.
, 1923-08-08
Valuation Increases

Sheridan. wyo.-valuatlon of tele-
phone and telegraph lines In this conu-
~ has Increased about $1,000 accord
ing to the report OF the state board OF
equalization on that utility received
here. The 1923 estimate Is S1T2. PA.
, 1923-08-08
EnoIlsh Yachts Lead

Ryde. Isle OF wlght-English yachts
took the lead owe the American six
meter boats In the first round Of the
rnces 10 be sailed for the British
American cup. The Enzilshmen made
y points to IS for the Americans.
, 1923-08-08

Berlin.-Two striking miners were
killed and Seven injured Mt Oberhausen
recently In a collision between strikers
and the police, according to advices
here.
, 1923-08-08

Plymouth, Vermont.-Calvin Cool
ldge, elevated suddenly to the presi-
dency of the United States by the
death of President Harding, was sworn
in as the nations chief executive, Fri
day morning, by his father, John G.
Coolidge, in the living room of the lat
ter's home here.
at is my intention to remain here
until / can secure the correct form for
the oath of office, which will be ad-
ministered to me by my father, who is
, 1923-08-08

San Francisco, Cal.-Attorney Cen
eral Daugherty, shortly after II
o'clock Thursday night, sent u tele-
gram to Vice President Coolidge at
Plymouth. VT, suggesting that he take
the oath of office Immediately as pres
ident of the United States.
, 1923-08-08
COOLIDGE IS SWORN
IN AS NEW PRESIDENT
Ceremony in Night in Vermont Home;
Will Pursue Harding Policies and
Retain Present Cabinet

Washington.@Calvin Coolidge took
the oath as president of the United
States at Plymouth at PAT a. m,
Friday.
The text of the presidential oath of
office was telephoned to Vice Presi-
dent Coolidge at Plymouth, Vermont,
early Friday from the White house,
where the understanding was that he
would subscribe to it and officially be-
come chief executive at once.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22
| AZ Millions In
Goods To Europe
|By Presbyterians

Indianapolis, May 21-Dr. Henry Il
Master of Philadelphia today reported
to the Presbyterian General assembly
as American secretary Of the Alliance
OF Reformed Churches Throughout
The World Holding the Presbyterian
System.
After reviewing what has been ac-
ccmplished in the sending Of clothing
and shoes to Europe, and fixing ap-
proximately at s42,300,000 the sum
sent abroad by the constituent
churches, the report, referring to en-
larging field of evangelization says in
part.
More than half of the 1000 Of our
brethren in Russia live along the
Volga River in southeastern Russia,
where the famine is worst. And now
another fact is beginning to loom up
that there is great movement in
European Russia. east and southeast
Of Moscow, reaching to the Ural
mountains. where hundreds of thous-
ands who have left the Greek Church
have formed themselves into congre-
cations called Presbyterianski, be-
cause they have elders. If they need
help, shall we refuse to help them
More than this. we cannot say at
present, we must wait for the devel-
opments of Gods providence. But we
ought to pray for them as they strug-
gle to the light.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22
ON TELLING THE TRUTH

1t is the privilege, as it is the duty.
OF the chief executive of the land,
especially Of a country that is sup
posed to be ruled through the voice
or the people, to call> attention to
things which should be avoided as
we'll as to those which should be an.
proved. In doing so, more often
than otherwise, he risks his popular
ity among certain groups of the
voters, who may at some later day
refuse their support at the polls.
In his address at the unwilling of
the statute to Alexander Hamilton
last week President Harding en-
phasized two essentials of good gov
eminent which right now are not re-
ceiving the attention they deserve.
On the contrary the disregard of
honesty and indulgence in factional-
ism, is widespread and fragrant.
To comment on the need of hon
esty seems somewhat trite, but when
one considers the great fabric of our
present day civilization resting on
credit, on confidence in honesty, one
begins to realize how serious must
be a condition in which that credit
is being impaired, that confidence
being undermined.
Another matter for serious con-
sideration, strangely enough at this
particular time. when the world has
within few years been afforded the
most striking lesson in all history of
the mighty effect of cooperative eff
fort. is factionalism. 1t would almost
seem that the pest along with others
had been imported into the new
world from the old. If it came back
with boys in khaki they assuredly
were not aware of it, but here it is
in virulent form in some parts of
the country and being fostered and
propagated by those who certainly
have no good motive for so doing, as
good does not come from It.
President Harding quoted Hamil-
ton in defining a faction as follows
'By a faction understand a num-
Der of citizens. whether amounting to
majority or a minority of the
whole, who are united and actuated
by some common impulse of passion,
or of interest. adverse to the rights
of other citizens or to the permanent
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22
Maine Gossip
The Song Of solomou's Seal

Solomon's Seal by the garden wall
Stands like warrior stiff and tall;
Under his trappings of green leaves
He hangs all his bells so small and
white.
Put your ear close! Can you hear
Those soft d sweet chords, as they sway
When the breeze of May goes roaming
by,
And springtimes own blue is in the
sky?
Not every mortal can catch the tune
OF those white bells, with their silver
rune;
It surely is there. that well know,
For birds and bees stop and listen SO.
Solomon's Seal! Tell me how to hear
That silver peal that you ring each
year;
Your hymn of praise for the sunshine
sweet,
And Gods green earth beneath your
But Solomon's Seal stands Still and tall,
Beside the path by the garden wall;
His small white bells ring no song for
me,
Though 1 watch and listen patiently.
Chime on. o Bells! Chime your won
drouS hymn,
Til in natures hush at the twilight
dim,
Some ear will be tuned to hear your
peal
And know the song of Solomon's Seal.
Elizabeth McClench.
The State muster of the Dirigo
Hand Engine League will be held in
Westbrook July Fourth.
Portland lodge of Elks closed
series of three minstrel shows in the
Jefferson theatre Saturday nie'. W
gross receipts Of $50. 900. Net proceeds
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22
WE'D THEM oUT-AND
QUICKLY

Perhaps We don't care what sue
ceeding generations think Of US.
Otherwise it ought to make US
suuirm to think of the conclusions
which would be inevitable. in the
matter OF our lack Of regulation OF
automobiles, if nothing else.
Some years ago the leading rail-
road management in this State MADE
an inflexible rule that an employe
found on duty under the influence OF
Nouor should never again obtain
employment on that load. This was
the effort OF a capitalistic corpora
ton to protect the public and itself
from the dangers Of drunkenness.
The automobile regulations are not
in the hands of a capitalistic cor
poration. but, theoretically at least,
IN the hands of the public. What is
that public doing to protect itself?
The railroad will not have. en-
saged in running Its trains over its
own tracks, an employe who has
been under the influence of liquor
when on duty. Is there any more
reason why the State should permit
q person, once found guilty of driv-
ing q car while under the influence
OF liquor. ever to have the privilege
restored to him? Isn't driving an
automobile at large over the crowd
Cd highways a greater menace to the
public than driving an engine over
the tracks Of a railroad?
The record of accidents shows that
II Is. Instead of greater protection
the State gives less.
The public approves the railroads
policy: why shouldn't 1t approve a
nike policy in the treatment Of unit
drivers OF automobiles?
Put them on probation, do you
say? What probation has the poor
victim? Is his life or limb restored?
Too drastic? What other course do
you expect will lessen the appalling
toll OF automobile driving by reck-
less and irresponsible people?
Too drastic? But it may save this
very erring individual from killing
someone on his next trip and having
to serve time in prison for man.
slaughter, as we'll as saving the life
o. limb Of the innocent party.
Mott ing will stop it, nothing will
materially lessen it but swift, GER
tain and final punishment after fair
trial to determine the guilt. We be-
lieve that will stop it. We believe
there are altogether too many driv-
ing cars. the half baked" the reck-
less and the intoxicated. Weed 'em
out-and be quick about 1t, or else
share in the responsibility for the
harm they do.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22
Railroads and Steafnf6si.
MAINE GENITAL HAiLR6I6
Eastern STANDARD Time


Bangor. tl24S q. m. Il. 10 .. N. t13si
i5 90 m. *9.47 .. m. A fl24 40 .. n. f1i1ss
~ "a Il 4 P,... ffia4s an. tassan.. ssr,.
. E R;r i a: ! h-YaH-- ta's..n.. ss1is
Bath. Is IS an. SO an. ilo.is |. !, M
,. m. II SO p. m. +l0As p. m.
Belfast. t9.47 a. M u -5sp. m.
Bo5ton. 1921 a. m. 10. Ia q. m. t93 4.
iIo-Is 9 M. t2a p m. ia~p m. hasps,
Calais t2.35 a. M, Bte.47 4. n. Ailap,t
Dover -Fo1eroft. C5Oo a. m, t25s .. :
Gardiner. 1921 q. M. t6.l5 .. m. Ma i.
$40. IS a m. u. = pm. 1874 P. m. tl4p 4
1915 p m. t7.31 .. m. .lo4S .. m;
Haliowell. TO- Is a. M. 9.36 4. m. ll0lsas
t2.l p M. Esp, m: TAOS p. n. taist I
1882 p m. 40 As ,. m
Harmony t55S p. m.
Lewiston. t8 IS I. m. 1876 4. n, ti0lSaa
New York. IS "a o. m. t4e5 .. u.
Portland 81 q. m. 1918 q. m. ts1li I
40 IL a m. 81 pm 1874 = m. I'D
II. 80 D. m. s10.4s p. m. -.
Rockland. t6.l5 4 M. 1895 q. m. A0st 4
SkowheSaa- C50O am. A9.47 an t2Nti
So Gardner. t6,15 q. m. 1886 a. m. mi
a m. II - p. m. 1874 p. m. isis p n, n
s.. John, ti2.ls a. m.
Watervi!1e. tl2,4s !. m. lilo 2; HI
a. m. IS 90 m. A9.47 m. A fl2l9 pm. NJ
p m. 3.12p. m. fe.40p. m.
sDaily. ! Daily. except Sunday. ! sasdat d,
Z Daily except Monday.
A Will not run after May 5.
B Commencing May I.
c Except Sunday and Monday.
D. C. DOUGLASS. N. l. HA1liS
4-29 % v. p & Ceil Mgr. Cenl Pis. NJ
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-22

in 81 hours. It has generally been
assumed the people of Maine are
fairly hard headed; what have they
got to say on that point?
Are wages to be reduced along
with the reduction in hours? o, no
indeed! So the result will be the
same cost for the labor production of
4S hours as now is for the 81 hours.
AS much of that which will be pro-
duced under those conditions will
come into competition with produc-
ton in states where the cost is even
less for 81 hours it will readily be
seen that Maine, along with Massa-
chusetts, will suffer. 1t cannot be
otherwise. That situation would
offer enterprise more inducements to
go to the states where the oppor-
tunity is more favorable to it. II
already has been going there.
Would not the same amount of
energy now being expended to put
Maine on a 4S hours law do more
good to labor and to the country as
whole If it were expended to in
huence the regulation of child labor
in those states which now do not
have it?