A Note on My Harding Research

The information I posted during 2020 mostly covered Warren Harding's front-porch campaign from his home on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Marion, Ohio. The campaign officially started on July 31, 1920, and ended on September 25. The plan was to post daily on events that occurred exactly 100 years ago that day, but I shared other information as well. You'll have to read bottom-to-top if you want to follow the campaign from Day 1.

I used the open web for some of my research but also information accessible by using my library card or my subscription to www.newspapers.com. The most useful resource was the Marion Star, which was owned by the Hardings at the time of the campaign. I also browsed online copies of other newspapers like the New York Times, the Washington Star, and the Dayton Daily News, which, in 1920, was owned by Harding's Democratic opponent, Governor James M. Cox. I also posted information from other newspapers that covered Harding's trips away from Marion during the campaign.

Another great resource I used was Dale E. Cottrill's The Conciliator, a 1969 biography of the president that expanded an earlier bibliography of Harding's speeches. An online version is available at the Internet Archive, but I used a hard copy borrowed from the State Library of Ohio.

Readers should not construe anything posted here as a political statement on my part. I just like Harding as a historical topic.

7/19/2020

Monday, July 19, 1920

Today, Harding's newspaper publishes this cartoon:


The Marion police department releases a statement about its planning efforts: "Marion is to be host to a large number of visitors Thursday and all citizens of Marion will do their part in assisting in the entertainment of the visitors... In order to handle the thousands scheduled to arrive on the regular and special trains coming into Marion Thursday morning, together with the thousands of automobiles, the traffic situation becomes a very important matter, but the officials of the city feel confident that this situation will be readily solved with a number of other Marion citizens who so ably helped on July 5, together with a number of other Marion citizens who will continue to make Marion a considerate host to her visitors next Thursday."

In the afternoon, the flagpole that was in the front yard of William McKinley's house in Canton during the 1896 presidential campaign is planned in Harding's yard. Harding supervises its placement.
Relics of the Great: McKinley's old flag pole has been set up in Harding's front porch. But why overlook Washington's hatchet, Lincoln's axe, Grant's sword, and Roosevelt's spurs? - Tampa Tribune
Harding then travels to the Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield to play a round of golf. "I've played on sportier courses but in some respects this can't be beat anywhere. The wonderful view you have from the clubhouse is seldom equaled, your course is better kept than many and your hazard on No. 6 is the best I ever saw." The party of six included Ed Baxter, C.M. Landon, T.R. Barnes, Jimmy Sloan, and the driver. Instead of dinner at the clubhouse, Harding requests sandwiches for the group for the trip back to Marion.

The Hardings then visit their pastor, Rev. McAfee, who suffered a stroke Sunday evening. He had been scheduled to provide the invocation at Thursday's ceremonies.

Here's a picture of the current flagpole, as of August 22, 2020:


More articles about Harding the golfer:
  • A neat story about Harding and an earlier round of golf.
  • President Warren G. Harding, Golfer
Sources:
  • "Harding's Creed." Marion Star. 19 July 1920.
  • "McKinley's Flag Pole Planted on Harding's Lawn." Washington Star. 20 July 1920.
  • "Relics of the Great." Selma Times-Journal. 21 August 1920.
  • "Senator Harding Goes to Mansfield Today." Marion Star. 19 July 1920.
  • "'Snappy' Says Harding After Golf Round Here." Mansfield News-Journal. 20 July 1920.
  • "Traffic Map Being Prepared for City." Marion Star. 19 July 1920.
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