The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-16

warren u. harding came from I'll
people. Born just at the close of tn
Civil war, it became his responsible
ity to lead the Republic in a perio'
of reconstruction from another grea
war in which our democracy ha'
again demonstrated its unalterabl
resolve to withstand encroachmen
upon its independence and to deserv
the respect of the world.
Great as are the problems of tn
| conflict the burden of craftsmanship
are equally difficult in the rehabilita
ton of social and economic life afte.
the d~islocation of a Above all, tn
burden is heavy in composing tn
hates and prejudices which Smoulde'
and threaten long after the forma
documents of peace I signed.
GAS the aftermath of war u ma
tional finances were disOrganized
taxes were overwhelming, agriculture
and business were PROSTATE, and un'
employment widespread. Our coun'
try was torn with injustices to those
racial groups of our own citizens des'
cended from the enemy nations. Vic.
lent bitterness had arisen over the
treaty of Versailles.
Faced Grave Problems
1.-THE evil spirits aroused by war
augmented by inestimable losses, deer
animosities, the d~islocations of in
dustry, the vast unemployment in a
world still armed and arming con-
fronted Warren G.. Harding. He
brought to the office of president a
long experience in public affair to-
gether with the character and spirit
of which the Republic was then in
need. His was a mind and character
fitted for a task where the one trans
cendent need was the healing quality
of gentleness and friendlinesS. It
was his mission to compose the pre-
JUDGES and conflicts at home, to les
sen the threats of renewed wars
through the world. He succeeded in
those tasks. When in two years he
died, new peace treaties had been
made in terms which won the support
of u people; tranquility had been
restored at home; employment had
been renewed and a long period OF
prosperity had begun.
And he succeeded further. The
Washington arms conference for the
and limitation of battle
ships identified his administration
with the first step in history toward
the disarmament of the world. That
step was accompanied by the momen-
tous treaties which restored good will
among the nations bordering upon
the Pacific ocean and gave to all the
world inestimable blessings of peace
and security.
Years Show Achievement
The new and changing problems of
later years have not obScured the
many other constructive acts of his
administration. The reorganization
and reduction of the public debt, the
reduction in taxation, the creation of
the budget system, the better organ
ization of industry and employment,
new services to agriculture, the estab-
liShment Of a permanent system of
care for disabled veterans and their
dependents-are but some of the en-
lightened measures which he inspired
and advanced.
But this Is neither the time nor
place in historic retrospect to cata-
logue his many services to our coun-
try. They will be recorded and CRATE
fully remembered by his countrymen.
"Our thoughts today turn to the
man himself. My first meeting with
Warren Harding ever fingers in my
memory. It was during the war and
In a time Of the greatest strain and
anxiety. Late one evening the then
Senator Harding, whom I had never
met, came to my office. When he
was announced there flashed into my
mind the thought. that here was some
complaint or a request for some ap-
pointment. Instead the senator said
simply: Il have not come to get any
thing. I just want you to know that
if you wish the help Of a friend, tele-
phone me what you want. I am there
to serve and to help" That state
ment, I came to learn, was typical Of
him. I refer to it now because il
reveals the nature of the man.
I was one of those who accompanied
the late president on his Hateful trip
across the continent and to Alaska,
He had wished to learn from the
people their needs and to translate
to them his own aspirations. Those
who were his companions on that
journey realized full well that he had
overstrained ever his robust strength
in the gigantic task which confronted
him during the previous two years
And We came also to know that here
was a man whose soul vas being
scared by a great establishment
We say him gradually weaken not
only from physical exhaustion but
from mental anxiety. Warren
Harding had a dim realization that he
had been betrayed by a few of the
men whom he had trusted, by men
whom he dad believed were his devot-
ed friends. It was later proved in the
courts of The land that these men had
betrayed 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.
No Punishment Adequate
There r disloyalties and there are
crimes which shock our s~ensibilities,
which may bring suffering upon
those who are touched by their i'm
mediate results. But there is no dis
loyalty and no crime in all the cate
CORY of human weaknesses which
compares with the failure Of probity
in the conduct of public trust. None
tary loss or even the shock to moral