Harding spends the day in Minnesota.
9:15 a.m.—Special train arrives from Chicago.
10 a.m.—Arrive at the State Fair for visit to exhibits.
11 a.m.—Talk to farm boys and girls.
On the fairgrounds, Harding first speaks to 300 prize winners at a "farm boys' camp" who greet the candidate with a song called "Here's to You, Senator Harding":
Boys, here's to you in return. I like to show my good wishes to a bunch of prize winners wherever I find them in the United States of America. I like fellows who can win...[Out] of the American farm comes the most promising citizenship of the Republic. And I want you winners to go on in leadership and lead America into the full realization of the possibilities of this wonderful land of ours.
Mr. Roe, Ladies and Gentlemen : I am very happy to accept this most pleasant gift, and since it comes from you I am going to leave to you to decide where it is to be exhibited. I was very deeply impressed by the remarks of Mr. Roe relating to the development of Art in this wonderful country, and it suggests to me the remark that nothing so signally testifies to the progress of America and the advance of human kind as does the Association of Art with the struggle, the practical struggle for subsistence. And I congratulate you as fellow countrymen that in America, where we are less than a hundred years old in our development, we are now having, with agricultural progress, time, interest, and concern, for the development of art, which adds to the refinement and enjoyment of the practical life.
Harding visits the agricultural building, where he meets members of the "Minnesota Girls' club," the Horticultural building, livestock buildings, and the horse show.
1:30 p.m.—Address before grandstand.
According to the Marion Star, "Senator Harding's [second] speech was devoted solely to agricultural matters and among his hearers were thousands of farmers from the great wheat belt of the Northwest." A crowd packs "an immense grandstand and bleachers and [is] standing on the banks of the racetrack waiting for the automobile races scheduled for after the speaking":
Fellow-Citizens of Minnesota — It is a matter of very great satisfaction and a very particular interest to me to join with you in this notable exhibition of the agricultural industry of your wonderful state. I come to you with a common interest and a very common concern for the welfare of our country. While it is in my thought to speak to you specifically concerning agriculture, I want to so convey my thought as to have it known that I am thinking not of the welfare alone of those engaged in agriculture, but the welfare of agriculture as it relates to the good fortunes of the United States of America. I very much deplore the present-day tendency to appeal to the particular group in American activities. It has become a very common practice to make one address to those who constitute the ranks of labor, another to those who make up the great farming community and still another to the manufacturing world and its associates in commerce, and to other groups of less importance. There is a very natural and a very genuine interest in each and every one, but the utterance of a political party nominee ought, in every instance, to be inspired by a purpose to serve our common country. If America is to go on and come to the heights of achievement, we must of necessity be "all for one and one for all."
The caption on the photograph, published in the Star Tribune: "Senator Harding is here shown 'telephoning' his message to 30,000 State Fair visitors before the grandstand yesterday afternoon. The electrical voice-carrying instrument was used to carry his speech to the farthest corner of the bleachers and grandstand."
However, as reported in the Greenville Daily News-Tribune, "[Harding] had to hold his manuscript in one hand and a mouthpiece honnerted [sic] to the amplifying device in the other hand. He would forget himself and begin to wave it around in a gesture. The chairman had to remind him several times during the speech to hold the instrument to his mouth."
3:45 p.m.—Automobile parade up Nicollet avenue, Minneapolis.
Harding is escorted to Minneapolis by members of the Hennepin County Republican committee.
4 p.m. to 5 p.m,—Public reception at Lincoln club of Minneapolis, Second avenue south and Fourth street.
A line of 3,000 people pass through the club rooms to shake Harding's hand. Per the Star Tribune, "The restrictions against a partisan appeal, imposed at the State Fair, were lacking and the nominee spoke plainly on his attitude on the part America is to play":
Ladies and Gentlemen : After having experienced a really wonderful visit to the great Minnesota State Fair — concerning which I understand there is unanimity about its being the greatest state fair in the United States of America, there being no dispute at any rate in Minnesota — and having spoken on at least three different occasions, one does find himself incapable of answering all the calls for addresses. But I am very happy after this wonderful spirit which you have made manifest to somehow have an opportunity to say a friendly word to all of you and express the gratitude of a son of Ohio for this very cordial welcome from one of the sister states that was builded [sic] out of the great Northwest territory which marked really the beginning of America as a Nation.
I am very glad to come and say to you as a fellow Republican, interested in the same cause in which you are interested, that we have a common project to carry out in this year 1920, and it is up to us Republicans to take the lead and ask everybody in the United States to help us save this country of ours. I do not mean that we possess all the patriotism in the land, but somehow I am growing more convinced from day to day that the Republican Party has the capacity for government, and in addition to that I know that we are consecrated to the preservation of the American Constitution on which this Republic stands...
6 p.m.—Dinner at home of Mrs. Harding's cousin, B. F. Meyers, St. Paul. *
8 p.m.—Public reception on steps of state Capitol, St. Paul.
Harding shakes hands of well-wishers for over an hour. The governor, Minnesota senator, Republican nominee for governor, and other candidates are in the receiving line with him.
10 p.m.—Special train leaves for Marion, Ohio.
- "30,000 on the Line." Minneapolis Star Tribune. 9 September 1920.
- "Harding Heard in Northwest." Marion Star. 8 September 1920.
- "Harding Minneapolis, St. Paul Schedules." Minneapolis Star Tribune. 8 September 1920.
"Harding on State 'Front Porch' Today." Minneapolis Star Tribune. 8 September 1920. - "Harding Pleads for a Definite Farming Policy." New York Times. 9 September 1920.
- "Marion Isn't Porch Gossip." Greenville Daily Tribune. 25 September 1920.
- "Ohioan's Foreign Policy Keynote Enunciated at Lincoln Club." Minneapolis Star Tribune.9 September 1920.
* Although publicized, the report the following day is that the dinner was held at Senator Kellogg's home.
No comments:
Post a Comment