PRESIDENT HARDING DEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1923, Page 2

PRESIDENT HARDING DEAD.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. VANCOUVER, Aug. 2. President Harding is dead. THE LAST HOURS. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2. President Harding suffered a relapse early in the evening. At first the trouble appeared only slight, but the President fell into a state of coma fifteen minutes before death, which occurred at 7.30 p.m., San Francisco time. Tho cause was apoplexy. Dr Sawyer was alone in the room when the climax came. He informed Mrs Harding, who rushed for the other doctors, but it was too late. Ihe end came with extreme suddenness. Dr Sawyer had been telling the pressmen that the President bad had tire best day since lie became ill, and had definitely entered upon a stage of convalescence. It is feared Hint the shock will have a serious effect upon Mrs Harding, who only recently had recovered from a grave illness. THE NEW PRESIDENT. NEW YORK, August 2. The Vice-President, Mr Calvin Coolidgo, lias been spending his summer holiday on his father’s hum in Vermont, many miles from a railway station and a telegraph office. A day had elapsed before lie could lie informed of President Harding’s illness, but after that, lie had kept in touch with San Francisco by telephone. Although Mr Coolidge becomes automatically President of the L nited States he will now probably proceed to Washington, where tho oath of office will be administered bv the duel .Justice of the Supreme Court. It is expected that Mr Coolidge will follow the precedent set by the late Mi Theodore Roosevelt oil the occasion ol President M'Tvioley’s death, and immediately convene Congress for an extraordinary session.

NEWS IN LONDON. LONDON, Aug 3. 'The news of President Harding’s death was received in London at 5.15 and caused a painful shock. The news was a complete surprise, because the morning newspapers had announced that the crisis of the illness was over, an-l that, in San Francisco, joy bells were Mug a thanksgiving. The late Pre. • was regarded as a sound Preside!;. I sincere friend of Britain.

PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS

WELLINGTON. Aug. 3.

In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Prime Minister announced that lie had received news of the death of President Harding, and. he moved the adjournment, of the House til! Monday as a mark of respect.

THE LATE PRESIDENT. Warren Gamaliel Harding, late President. of the United States of America was born at Corsica, Morrow County, Ohio, on November 2nd. 1805. He was educated at the Ohio Central College. Iberia, and in 1884 he started his career at Marion. Ohio, as the editor and publisher of a small newspaper. On February 11th. 1920, President Harding ing was nominated for the Presidency by Mr F. B. Wills, a former Governor of Ohio. The Republican National Convention was held at Chicago on .lone Bth. 1920, and after ten ballots Mr Harding was selected. Tim election took place oil November 2nd. 1920. and resulted in an overwhelming Republican victory. President Harding was elected to the White House l>v the largest majority ever recorded in the history of the United States, approximately G,000,000.

THE NEW PRESIDENT. The now President of tiio l nitod States is Mr Calvin Coolidge, who was elected Vice-President when the late President was elected to the White House. Under the articles of the constitution of the United States, the Vice-President, ill the event of the death of the head of the Republic, heroines President for the remainder of (ho term. Mr Coolidge was horn at Plvmonth, Vermont, on July -!th. 187-2. He graduated at Amherst College ill 1800 and two years later was admitted to the bar. After holding various positions in the town of Northampton. Alassnehusetls. lie served ill the State House of Representatives in 1907-8. In 1010 he was elected Mayor of Northampton and later served for four years in the State Senate. From 1010 ’ to 1018 he was LieutenantCovcrnor ol the State, and in 1018 hi* was elected Governor. What brought the new President prominently before tin* people of the t nited States was lijs firm handling of the police strike in Boston. He defied the strikers, created a volunteer force and saved the city from riots and lawlessness. At the Republican National Convention, at Chicago, on June 91h.. 1020, Governor Coolidge received on overwhelming majority when nominated for the \ ieePresidcncy. and later the nomination was made unanimous.

SENSATION IN UAA. NEW PORK, Aug. 0. The American nation, which a lew hours ago was rejoicing at President Harding's apparent recovery, is now stunned by the tragic suddenness of his death. In New York, Washington, San Eranciseo, and all the other large cities, the news was announced in tile cabarets and dances, and all the music ceased, and the dancers left the floor. The Stock exchanges throughout Hie country closed to-day, while the professional baseball games were postponed.

THE ORSEQUES. SAX FRANCISCO, Aug. .1. President Harding’s hotly will leave here to-night on a special train, heavily guarded, and will he taken to Washington for a. formal state funeral Thereat'i-rr it "ill he interred at Marion, Mr Harding’s birthplace. Mrs Harding is displaying the extraordinary courage that she lias shown throughout the illness. When she realised that the President was dead, she said:—"l am not going to break down." She spent the nyglit with wo men friends, quietly telling them of her husband's last* hours.

NEW YORK, Aug. 1

America to-day has a solemn funeral cortege, three thousand miles long. The special train bearing President Harding’s body, which has left San Francisco, is being greeted all along the route by silent groups standing bareheaded as the death ear passes. The train is traveling speedily, without stops, except to change engines. It will reach Washington on Tuesday. Mrs Harding continues to maintain composure, appearing calm at a brief funeral service held before the body was moved from the hotel to the train.

President Coolidge has invited Mrs Harding to remain at White House ns long as she desires. He is at present living at a hotel in Vi ashington. Ife told the press that all matters of national policy will stand temporarily as they are. All the Cabinet members have formally resigned, under the usual procedure, hut it is improbable the resignations will he accepted, Mr Coolidge desiring the same Ministry.

NEW PRESIDENT OF U.S.A. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. -1 Mr Coolidge informed pressmen that »o announcement of policies will bo made until after Mr Harding's interment on the 10th inst.

President Coolidgo communicated with Mx Wilson, asking whether it will bo possible for him to attend tho ceremonies and the memorial services at Washington but has received n reply that the condition of Mr Wilson's health prevents his attendance.

THE PRESIDENT’S DUTIES. WASHINGTON, Aug. 4

The newspapers throughout- tho na-N. tion have Jiegun an editorial agitation that Congress should tako stops to relieve the Chief Executive of a portion of the burdens of office. The editorials stress the fact that tho growth of the nation makes the volumo of business which the President must attend to personally beyond the physical capacoty of ono man, instancing the illness of Mr Wilson.