The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-16

conduct of some associates OF
Referring to the fact that
he accompanied the late Pres
ident on the fatal Alaskan
trip, Mr.. Hoover described
how he observed Harding
then on the threshold OF
death, as a man whose "soul
had been scared by a great
disillusionment," gra d u ally
weaken not only from ply
ical exhaustion, but from
worry over the conduct of
some of his intimates.
This betrayal, Mr.. Hoover said
was the tragedy of the life Of War
rem Harding.
The President paid tribute to
Harding's kindly and gentle spirit,
and described him as a man "of del
icate sense of honor" especially fit
ted to restore tranquility and heal
the rancorS left by the World war
Mr.. Hoover summarized briefly
Harding'S achievements in his two
years in the White House, climaxed
by the Washington arms conference
and then turned to the tragic pic
ture of the President straining to &c
through with his long trip in the
west, but being crushed under the
weight Of great anxiety.
Weakened From Anxiety
"Those who were his companions
on that journey realized full we'll
that he had overstrained even his
robust strength In the gigantic task
which confronted him during the
previous two years." Mr.. Hoover
said.
1--WE came also to know that here
was man whose soul was being
scared by a great disillusionment
We saw him gradually weaken, not
only from physical exhaustion, but
from mental anxiety. Warren
Harding had dim realization that
he had been betrayed by a few OF
the men whom he had trusted, by
men whom he had believed were his
devoted friends.
ct was proved later In the courts
Of the land that these men had be-
trayed not alone the friendship and
trust Of their stanch and loyal
friend, but they had betrayed their
country. That was the tragedy OF
the life of Warren Harding.
Punishment Never Can Atone
There are disloyalties and there
are crimes which shock our sensi-
hilities, which may bring suffering
upon those who are touched BY
their immediate results. But there
is no diSloyalty and no crime in al
the category of human weaknesses
which compares with the failure of
probity in the conduct of public
trust.
Monetary loss or even the shock
to moral sensibilities is perhaps z
passing thing, but the breaking
down of the faith of a people in
the honesty of their government
and in the integrity Of their insti-
tutions, the lowering of respect for
the standards of honor which pre-
vail in high places, are crimes for
which punishment never can atone. .
Mr.. Hoover described Harding as
a man Of passionate patriotism
and deep religious feeling" He
closed with a quotation from the
last public statement of Harding
which declared Christ was the
Prince Of Peace and we who seek to
render his name glorious must move
IN the ways Of peace and brother
hood and loving service"
Pays Tribute to Spirit
Mr.. Hoover added: HE gave his
life in that spirit, and in that spirit
we pay tribute to his memory"
Portions Of the text of Mr.. Hoo
ver's address follows:
I'VE are assembled here to dedi-
cate the tomb of Warren @. Hard
ing, twenty-ninth President Of the
United States. This beautiful
monument, erected by the volun-
tary subscriptions Of the people,
symbolizes their respect for his
memory. 1t has been their response
with tender remembrance to kind
ly and gentle spirit.
Warren G. Harding came from
the people. Born just at the close
Of the Civil war, it became his re-
sponsibility to lead the republic in
a period Of reconstruction from an
other great war in which our de-
mocracy again had demonstrated is
unalterable resolve to withstand en-
croachment upon its independence
and to deserve the respect Of the
world.
Mind Fitted for Task
"His was a mind and character
fitted for a task where the one
transcendent need was the healing
quality Of gentleness and friendli-
ness. It was his miss on to COM