AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1923, Page 1

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARI.E ASSOCIATION. AT HIS FATHER’S HOME. MARION' (Ohio), Aug. 1). Mr Harding's body arrived shortly after noon. The train was delayed for several hours on account of dense crowds lining the route. Every bell in the city was tolled as the procession proceeded from the station to the homo of Mr Harding’s father, through lanes of mourners. A SIMPLE CEREMONY. MARION. OHIO. Apgust 10. Shortly after noon, the line of people waiting to pass the eofFm extended from the late President Harding's house three miles across the city. Special trains arrived frequently to unload fresh masses. Red Cross detachments " ore kept busy aiding scores of .people who were prostrated, by intense heat. With a simple, brief ceremony, the ox-Prosident’s remains were interred in their temporary resting place in the receiving vault of a little wooden cemetery.

At 1 o'clock the doors of President larding’s home were closed to the

public, the near relatives taking a last look at the body. The coffin was then sealed, and placed in a plain hearse. The procession to tlio gravo moved, between lines of plain homes’ folks who had known the late. President when he was a printer.

Following the hearse with the. pallbearers. representing Congress, were the relatives, President Coolidge, ex-Prcsi-deufc Taft, ,Secretary Hughes, Cabinet members, Post officials from Washington, and then several thousand Murionltes.

Arriving at the vault, a. choir sang two verses of “Lead Kindly Light,” Short Scripture reading, a. prayer, three verses of “Nearer My Cod to Thee”, and Benediction completed the service. Simultaneously with the placing of the coffin in ihe vault, buglers stationed in every large city sounded “Taps.” In Washington, guns filed a salute, while (lags dipped everywhere.

At the moment the coffin was placed in the Mausoleum at Marion—four o’clock New York standard time a period of silence varying from one to live minutes was observed throughout the country, also on the American ships at sea. and in all the U.S.A. dependencies, Embassies and Consulates, in the world. The railways, tramways and all means of transportation suspended operations for five minutes, while the telephone, telegraph and cable services were .suspended for two minutes.

The day was observed as a general holiday, throughout while the theatres race tracks, and all sporting events closed, a:> well ns all business.

At Marion, upwards of fifty thousand people filed past the coffin, the procession lasting long after midnight and il resumed early this morning.

ENCI.ISH MEMORIAL SERVICE

LONDON, August 11 Westminster Abbey "as filled

every corner for a memorial service to I’resident Harding, while an overflow service was held at St. Margaret'. 1 iie Duke of Work occupied fhe chief place as representing the King, while the Prime of Wales and other Royalties were represented. The congregation included members of tile Cabinet and the Diplomatic'Corps, and the Dominants' High Commissioners. C.tni.u Carnegie, in iloliveruig an address, said that it was filling that in i!.v Al’f'ey. “this central shrine of our parent lineage.” Americans and Britishers should, unite in giving expression to per mutual goodwill, sympalh ami solicitude, aroused by Mr Harding’s death. Mr Harding’s life work did not fail to. satisfy us. Britishers and Americans alike. We recognised him as a man who tried to do his duty. A memorial service was also held in St. Giles’. Edinburgh.

| SERVICE IX PA HIS. PARflfb An?ii'>l 10. President ! I ;ii ding's memorial service in tin’ American pro-Cathedral here was largely at tended. President Al dlet'and was represented. ami several moml>'f>fuf tin- Cabinet attended. A WELSH TIU CUTE. LONDON, August 10. Impressive and) pielnresr|tte scenewere witnessed at the Welsh Nationa! Eisteddfod, the assembly culminating in inspiring nie.iiieiils when. in response in an invitation by Mr Lloyd Gort-ge. when refer ring in President Harding's dei.'fli, twelve t lien-and men and women leapt to their foot ami sane a mournful Welsh funeral hymn. A leselmien of cvmpalhv v. ilk the Enited States and the widow was passed by the gathering, including Welsh people frntn Australasia. ! nited b’inle's, Canada, and X igeriit, NEW E.S.A. PRESIDENT. WASHINGTON. Au.-ii-i 111 The new President. Alt' Coolidge. returned to the capital io-dtiy, actually to lake over the affairs of the State. The new Executive is ltteed Lv nurnerous problems whieh president Harding left er.de.i-.li'd. 1 liese included: first, a threatened strike on the hard did holds; sot-ind. the linin' reparation:? situation; thud, an extra Congressional se’-sion .to deal with the acute agrieultural .situation, which idemanded by the Ear in “Bloc'’; iourth. the impending recognition of Mexico: fifth, the probable re-alignment of the Cabinet; sixth, the policy on the World Court, seven, the formulation of domestic legislative policies: eighth, the prohibit ion enforcement re-alignment. On the way President Coolidgo handles these matters depends the rptestun of Ids re-nomination by the Republicans next Juno, when the candidates will 1.0 chosen (<>;■ the next P.csideniial term. Mauv p:litieal leaders contend that the whole Mieccss of tlie new President's administration and the possibility of his re-election depends on hihandling of the coal situation. While President Harding's body was crossing the country, a constant stream of politicians endeavoured to see AD Coolidge. to learn his views..and to inform him of theirs. Prominent among these were the irreconcilables. "ho «>’- pt-we the United States participating in the World Court. The President, however, has so tor refused to express hinwelf on this, or anv other subject'.