The Indianapolis times., 1930-10-07
BITTER FIGHT
REVIVED over
HARDING TOMB
Hopes of Early Dedication
Blasted by Political
Charge in Ohio.
MEMORIAL LONG ISSUE
Efforts to Set Ceremony for
This Fall Dropped
by Association.
BIZ United Press

immediate dedication of the $780,
600 memorial erected here two years
in commemoration of President and
Mrs. Warren G. Harding, we're
blasted today with announcement
Of the Harding Memorial Associa-
ton that all efforts to arrange a
dedication had been suspended.
Plans for the dedication have been
at a StaldStill for more than year
and the association had hope that
the ceremonies could be conducted
this fall.
Two reasons for the associations
latest action were given. The first
was that the Republican state CEN
tral committee, in recently naming
a committee to participate in the
dedication, brought the memorial
within the scope of politics.
The second was advanced in
motion made by Harry M Daugh-
erty, former attorney general in
President Harding's cabinet, who is
a member of the association.
Half Million Contributed
"a belated dedication,' he said" is
not necessarily reflection upon the
dead but a dedication grudgingly
extended is a compliment neither
to the dead nor those who partici-
pated in the ceremonies.
But the monument stands there
and will stand there these many
years to come as a distinctive mark
of respect to a great man and
great President.
"Now the American people, as a
people, have never been swayed by
the lip Of libel or the tongue Of
slander, and their devotion to his
memory and their Judgment of his
virtue and merit is the final an
swer and appropriate reward to his
labors.
when more than half million
people made their contribut
this beautiful monument to hN u
during memory, none of v-aom gave
grudgingly and none of whom would
accept return Of a single penny, and
when more than $4,000 persons each
month stop at this monument to
partake of the story of the lives OF
those who rest there, the foam Of
falsehood will soon cease to scare
the timid or ambitious and all will
be well in the future.
Inject Political Angle
''It would cheaper the memory of
a man, most deserving, to inportune
anybody to do his memory a simple
justice.
"This being my sentiment and
with due respect to all those in
volved in the recent discussion,
which we can not help but take
cognizance of. and with no criticism
Of anybody, I move you that all
action pertaining to the dedication
Of the monument to the late Presi-
dent Harding be postponed for the
present"
Daugherty in discussing his mo-
ton said the dedication will be held
"in the course of time"
The political angle was injected
into the proposed dedication in an
exchange of letters between Hoke
Donithen, Marion, secretary Of the
Memorial association, and Miss Ger
trude Jones of Findley, vice-cIair-
man of the Republican state central
committee.
Miss Jones, citing the appoint
ment of a dedication committee by
the Republican organization, urged
the memorial be dedicated without
further delay, and asked whether
President Herbert Hoover had been
invited to deliver the dedicatory adj
dress.
Action Is Demanded
Donithen, in reply indirectly in
ferred the Republican committee de-
sired early dedication for ''politi-
cal. purposes" and concluded with
the declaration that the associa-
ton 'felt it was qualified to handle
the dedication without making it
political meeting"
In answer to this Miss Jones wrote
denying politics was involved and
asserting that she, as the Repub-
ncan committeewoman from Presi-
dent Harding's home district, wants
" OCC COllAE dLblOAl LcthEll db
Some newspapers have stated ed
itorially that present Republican
leaders and former associates of the
late President have no desire to
participate in the dedication in the
fear that the attendant circum-
stances would revive scandals Incl
dent to President Hardings adj
ministration.
Stands in Memorial Park
The memorial stands in the CEN
ter Of Memorial park here. It con-
sists of forty-eight marble columns,
each representing a state. The
tomb of President and Mrs. Harding
is in the center of a grass plot with
in the structure. A slab Of marble
covers it.
Subscriptions to the memorial
fund, donated by persons through
out the country, have totaled
sl,O16,3 ,383.13. OF this amount S1o4.
1920 remains as an endowment.
Dedication of the memorial has
been at issue since the beautiful
marble edifice was completed in 1929
Survivors Of the Harding circle
here said today they understood
prominent Ohio Republicans had
on two or possibly three occasions
sought to persuade Mr.. Hoover to
set date at which he would Of
ficiate at dedication services.
Mr.. Hoover and officials at the
White House consistently have de-