Wednesday, July 14, 1920

Harding continues to work on his speech, the importance of which is described in an editorial in the Washington Star today:

For a few days Candidate Harding will give less time to callers and more to his speech of acceptance. It is probably a wise and necessary decision. Callers can wait; the speech cannot.

Next week the speech is to be delivered. The liveliest interest attaches to it. A great deal depends on it. It will be the keynote of the republican campaign, interpreting the Chicago platform, and pledging the name standing on it.

And from this deliverance all republican stumpers will take their cue. Their deliverance will harmonize with it. In this way, it will be repeated over and over again until election day, in every part of the county...

Naturally, many men would be glad to have a word with the candidate just now. They are concerned, as he is, about the success of the party at the polls. They have suggestions to offer about campaign issues.

But the majority of these men must be denied. Time is lacking....

But...Harding is still receiving visitors throughout the day, including Colonel Webb Hayes, son of the former president. Hayes travels from Fremont, Ohio, with Charles Richard Williams, author of The Life of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Nineteenth President of the United States, who presents a copy of the biography to Harding. Hayes is here to discuss a pre-nomination commitment from Harding to travel to Fremont in the fall. (As an aside, Harding's library in the parlour of his home is discussed in Russell's The Shadow of Blooming Grove. See page 146.)

Alice Paul, chair of the National Woman's Party, is headed to Columbus to discuss the suffrage movement with Governor Cox. Rumors persist that suffragists plan to picket Harding's notification ceremonies because the senator has taken a position that his support of ratification of the 19th amendment should wait until after those ceremonies. The campaign releases a statement that addresses these concerns without being a reversal of his previous decision to wait another week:

My patience is sorely tested sometimes over the persistent misrepresentations of the Republican party, its State Governors and Legislatures, in this matter of woman suffrage. Whether it emanated from mere mischief makers, or from partisan desires, I cannot help resenting it...

For myself and the Republican Party I earnestly desire that ratification may be accomplished in time to give the whole body of American women the ballot next November. I am wearied with efforts to make partisan advantage out of the situation. I hope there will be ratification, and I don't care a fig whether it is secured through a Republican or a Democratic State. I will rejoice if North Caroline will do it or if Tennessee will do it, just as  I would rejoice if a Republican State did it...

Even if a Democratic State now shall finish the business, the record will still show that twenty-nine Republican and seven Democratic States made up the roll of honor. That is good enough for us. 

Preparation continues across the city to handle the influx of visitors next Thursday: "Bakeries in Marion have a capacity of 50,000 loaves of bread a day and can make all the buns, doughnuts, cakes and other articles and can have their supplies ready on thirty-six hours' notice… Their facilities for making pies are not quite so large and Marion may face a pie shortage on that day." Sandwiches and quick lunches were also being made available. Housing, parking, and additional railroad cars were also being prepped.

Sources:

• "Crissinger Tells How Marion Will Care for Crowds." Marion Star. 14 July 1920.
• "Harding Resents Suffrage Attack." New York Times. 15 July 1920.
• "League Issue Is Welcomed." Marion Star. 14 July 1920.
• "Preparing His Speech." Washington Star. 14 July 1920.
• Suffragists Starts to Confer with Cox." New York Times. 15 July 1920.