Friday, November 5, 1920

A neat ad from today's Marion Star:

Thursday, November 4, 1920

Will Hays, the chair of the Republican National Committee, arrives from Marion for "no particular significance." The president-elect takes him to the Star office for a tour.

In the evening, the whole town holds a huge celebration -- "in the form of a torchlight parade and jollification meeting at the front porch of the Harding Home." Festivities include thousands of marchers, a number of bands, and the Columbus Republican Glee Club.

"Everybody in Marion County and the Whole State of Ohio Who is Happy That Warren G. Harding is Elected President is invited to the Harding Victory Celebration."

Club members stand on the Hardings' porch and perform for the crowd. Harding speaks, as does Senator-Elect Frank B. Willis. Harding thanks the crowd, talks about the League of Nations (again), and then thanks the glee club:

You of the Glee club, how often we have campaigned together. It is twenty-one years since you have sung and I have spoken at our first meeting. I have been thrilled, heartened and inspired by your work. It isn't that you are skilled in music. It is because you love the work and sing with a soul. I pay tribute to you as the spokesman of a party for the services you have rendered.

At Harding's request the glee club close the celebration by performing "The End of a Perfect Day."

Sources:

• "Fall In! Big Parade for Hardings Tonight." Marion Star. 4 November 1920.
• "Joy Expressed in Mighty Din." Marion Star. 5 November 1920.
• "Pledges New League Stand." Marion Star. 5 November 1920.

Wednesday, November 3, 1920

 Today's front page from Harding's newspaper:

Harding Centennial in the Marion Star

A Harding Hullabaloo in the Marion Star today!

• Harding: From Marion to the White House, a true American story
• Marion residents still honor President Harding 100 years later
• McCurdy: 100 years ago, Marion at center of politics, sports
• Work continues at Harding Presidential Sites despite pandemic
• Harding vs. Cox: Two Ohio newspapermen vied for presidency in 1920
• Robenalt: Reconsidering the Harding presidency 100 years later
• Hall: Harding's election 'A wonderful night for Marion'
• Marion County at 200: Hardings cast their votes for president in 1920
• Marion celebrates Harding's presidential election

Source:

• "See all of the Marion Star's coverage of Warren Harding's presidency centennial." Marion Star. 2 November 2020.

Tuesday, November 2, 1920 (ELECTION DAY)

Today is Senator Harding's 55th birthday. It's also Election Day!

Monday, November 1, 1920

On the eve of the election, Harding holds a long conversation on the telephone with Will Hays, chair of the Republican National Committee. Mrs. Harding is under the weather and remains in bed until noon.

Later, during a conversation with the reporters on site, Harding is asked if he has a final statement to make on the eve of the election, Senator Harding says, "I have made the best fight I know how to make and I await he result with complacency."

Harding is not concerned by a forecast calling for bad weather. "There was a time when rain on Election Day was considered Democratic weather, but that was before the day of the automobile. This was quite noticeable in the horse and buggy days, when many voters spent four or five hours going to and from the polls, but now, with the automobile, there are few election precincts in which it takes more than half an hour to get to the polls."

Harding's precinct is three blocks from his house in a garage co-owned by two brothers, both lifelong Democrats: "Like many other Marionites, they are 'Harding Democrats.' The windows of their homes display the largest Harding pictures obtainable, and no one knows how much time and gasoline they have consumed in driving front-porch visitors around Marion."

Sources:

• "'I Have Made the Best Fight I Know How,' Harding Says." New York Times. 2 November 1920.