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PRESIDENT HARDING
CLAIMED GY DEATH
DIES IN SAN FRANCISCO-MRS.
HARDING WAS AT BEDSIDE.
DEATH WAS SUDDEN
MIDGE IS SWORN IN BY HIS FATHER
Entire Nation Shocked At Sad News —Death Came
As Surprise To Attending Physicians.
Funeral Party Leaves For East.
HOW PRESIDENT
HARDING DIED
Palace Hotel, San Francisco,
August 2. —Here is how Presi
dent Harding died:
Mrs. Harding was seated be
sides his bed, reading from a
magazine.
At the end of a paragraph
she paused and let the maga
zine drop into her lap.
"That sounds good; go
ahead,” said the president.
They were his last words.
A moment later he threw his
right hand over hia head —
and sank down, dead.
San Francisco, Calif., August 3. —A
nation today mourns the passing of
its leader. The American people
from coast to coast and from lakes
to gulf and in the territories beyond
the seas bowed their heads in grief,
for their President was dqful.
In the early hours of last evening,
after a day which had brought re
newed hope of recovery, death came
suddenly and Btruck down Warren G.
Harding with a stroke of cerebral ap
plexy.
The end came instantaneously and
without even a second of warning at
7:110 o’clock. There was no time to
summon additional physicians, no
time to call the members of his offi
cial family, and no time for medical
skill to exercise its knowledge. It
was all over in the twinkling of an
eye, and it left a nation and the
world shocked and in grief.
Mrs. Harding, the constant compan
ion of her distinguished husband, was
faithful until the end. She was read
ing to him a few minutes before 7:30
o’clock when she noticed a shudder
run through the frame of the men
she had loved, encouraged in adver
sity and praised in success. Before
she could arise from her chair, Mr.
Harding collapsed in his bed and she
rushed to the door calling for the
physicians to come quickly.
DOCTOR’S STATEMENT
The physician's statement follows:
"Last spring, following a long pe
riod of overwork and great strain,
President Harding was confined to
his bed with an attack of influenza,
which was followed by a few noctur
nal attacks of labored breathing. His
recovery was slow, and he had not
fully gained his normal strength and
health when he started out on the
trip to Alaska. He had also had some
attacks of abdominal pain and indi
gestion and, at times, he had some
pain associated with a feeling of op
pression in the chest. For some years
his systolic blood pressure had ranged
around ISO, and there was evidence of
some arterial sclerosis, enlargement
of the heart and defective action of
the kidneys.
"Except for fatigue and the fact
that his heart and blood vessels were
some years older than the rest of his
body, he was in reasonably good
health.
“On the return trip from Alaska
he had an acute gastro intestinal at
tack, associated with abdominal pain
and fever. In spite of his illness he
insisted on putting through his pro
gram of speaking in Vancouver and
Seattle He bad considerable difficul
ty in completing his addresses in
Seattle because of weakness and pain.
Because of this he was persuaded to
come directly to San Francisco and
arrived at the Palace hotel Sunday
morning, July 28. He dressed and
walked to the automobile from the
train.
Broncho-Pneumonia Develops
"Sunday evening a consultation
was called because his temperature
had risen to 102 and his pulse and
respirations were abnormally rapid.
The abdominal difficulty had by this
time became localized in the gall blad
der region, but there was a general
toxemia with fever and leucocytosis.
A central broncho pneumonia soou de
veloped on the left side. It was ac
companied by short circulatory col
lapses and cold sweats and an irreg
ular pulse. Most disturbing of all was
the rapid and irregular breathing sug
gestive of arteriosclerosis of the brain
vessels in the region of the respira
tory center.
"Under treatment marked improve
ment in the pneumonia and circula
tory disturbances took place, and
Thursday, August 2, he was free from
fever and pain; the acute lung condi
tion was practically gone. He was
resting comfortably in bed and con
versing with Mrs. Harding and Gen
eral Sawyer when he died instantly
without a word or a groan.
“We all believe he died from apo
plexy or a rupture of a blood vessel
in the axis of the braiif near the
respiratory center. His death came
after recovery from the acute illness
was in progress. It might have oc
curred at any time. One of his sis
ters dies suddenly in the same man
ner.
(Signed)
“C. E. SAWYER, M. D.,
“RAY LYMAN WILBUR, M. D.,
“C. M. COOPER, M. D.,
"J. T. BOONE, M. D.,
"HUBERT WORK, M. D.”
It was announced in a fourth offi
cial statement issued at 8:32 p. m.
that Mrs. Harding had withstood the
shock of her husband’s death and con
tinued to be “the bravest member of
the group.” Her first words when
she realized the president had died
were: “I am not going to break
down.”
As the news began to reach those
on the streets there were scenes of
sorrow such as had not been wit
nessed here in many years. Never
before had Washington been so un
prepared to hear of the death of a
chief executive; and the circle of Mr.
Harding’s friends was one extending
down to some of the lowliest of the
residents of the capital, for during his
two and a half years in the white
house he had made a place in many
hearts by his human qualities and
his attitude of constant helpfulness
toward every one.
COOLIDGE TAKES OATH
Plymouth. VL, August 3. —In the lit
tle living room of his father’s home
here, Calvin Coolidge early today took
the oath of office as President oi
the United States. The oath was ad
ministered by his father, John C.
Coolidge, at 2:47 a. m., eastern stand
ard time.
A telephone had been installed in
the Coolidge farm house within an
hour after word of the death of Presi
dent Harding had been received, and
by communication with Washington,
the exact form of the oath was ob
tained.
In a clear voice the vice president
repeated after his father the words
prescribed by the Constitution:
"I do solemny swear that I will
faithfully execute the office of Presi
dent of the United States, and I will,
to the best of my ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution!
of the United States."
Then, although the Constitution
doeß not require it, he added:
“So help me God!’’
The vice president, in need of rest,
had gone to Plymouth, knowing he
would be practically out of touch
with the rest of the world. He has
been receiving telephonic reports at
a general store, across the street from
his father’s house, but tonight, in the
emergency, the telephone operator at
tempted in vain to get a response at
the store.
There was nothing to indicate that
the change of chief executive would
greatly alter the present makeup of
the administration or would result in
any immediate summoning of congress
in extra session.
THE DANIELSVILLE MONITOR, DANIELSVILLE. GEORGIA.
COOLIDGE IS
NOWPRESIDENT
Oath of Office Administered by
His Father in Early Morn
ing Hours.
TO FOLLOW HARDING’S PLANS
New Executive Makes Statement In
Which He Promises to Carry Out
Policies of Predecessor—
Roused From Bed to Take
the Oath.
Washington,—President Calvin Coo
lidge is now thirtieth president of the
United States, succeeding Warren G.
Harding under the provisions of the
Constitution. He has retained the cab
inet, at least for the present, asking
the co-operation of those associated
with his predecessor in office.
Calvin Coolidge took the oath as
President of the United States at
Plymouth, Vt., at 2:47 a. m. Friday,
August 8. The ceremony took place
In the living room of the residence of
the new President's father, John C.
Coolidge. The oath of office was ad
ministered by the futher, who is a no
tary public. The text of the presiden
tial oath had been telephoned to Mb.
Coolidge at Plymouth from the White
House.
Statement by New Chief.
President Coolidge received the news
of the death of President Harding and
of his own elevation to the presidency
at ten minutes before midnight, stand
ard time, Thursday.
Mr. Coolidge received the first news
through telegrams from George C.
Christian, Jr., secretary to President
Harding.
Mr. Coolidge Issued the following
statement:
"Reports have reached me, which
I fear are correct, that President Hard
ing is gone. The world has lost a
great and good man. I mourn his
loss. He was my chief and my friend.
It will be my purpose to carry out the
policies which he has begun for the
service of the American people and for
meeting their responsibilities wherever
they may arise.
"For this purpose, I shall seek the
co-operation of all those who have been
associated with the President during
his term of office. Those who have
given their efforts to assist him I wish
to remain in office, that they may
assist me.
"I have faith that God will direct
the destinies of our nation.”
The following telegram was sent to
Mrs. Harding:
"Plymouth, Yt., Aug. 3, 1923.
"Mrs. Warren G. Harding. San
Francisco, Cal.: We offer you our
deepest sympathy. May God bless you
and keep you.
“CALVIN COOLIDGE.
"GRACE COOLIDGE.”
Message Tells of Death.
The telegram announcing the death
of the President was as follows:
“Palace hotel, San Francisco, Cal.
Aug. 8, 1923. —Mr. Calvin Coolidge
Plymouth, Vt.: The President died, in
stantaneously and without warning,
while conversing with members of his
family, at 7:30 p. m. His physicians
report that death was apparently due
to some brain embolism, probably an
apoplexy.
“GEORGE B. CHRISTIAN, JR.,
“Secretary.”
This telegram was brought to tht
Coolidge home at Plymouth Notch by
W. A. Perkins of Bridgewater, whc
owns the telephone line running from
Bridgewater to Plymouth. About five
minutes later newspaper men arrived
In Ludlow.
A drive of thirty miles through the
mountains brought them to the Cool
idge summer home.
Mr. Coolidge and Mrs. Coolidge had
retired about an hour before the death
messages were received. Ten minutes
after the arrival of the newspaper men
Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge came downstairs
Into the sitting room of the Coolidge
home. Mr. Coolidge was dressed In a
black sack suit and wore a black neck
tie. Mrs. Coolidge wore a black and
white gown, white shoes and stockings.
Mr. Coolidge was very pale and showed
deep regret for President Harding’s
death. He seated himself at a table,
while Mrs. Coolidge brought a lamp
and read the telegrams he had re
ceived.
He then called his assistant secre
tary, Irwin Geisser, and dictated to
him his statement and the telegram to
Mrs. Harding.
Mrs. Coolidge Weeps.
In the meantime people were arriv
ing from all directions. Mr. Coolidge,
seeing the house becoming crowded,
gave orders that an adjoining house
be opened for use as press headquar
ters.
Meanwhile, the new first lady of the
land sat weeping softly and exclaim
ing in sympathy for the bereaved first
lady in San Francisco.
"What a blow—what a terrible blow
to poor Mrs. Harding," she said. "She
had had snch a heavy burden. In her
own illness, to bear up under—and
now this!”
Finally Secretary Gelsser returned
with the press copies of the state
ments, and pushing back the old
photograph album and the family Bible
on the center table, Mrs. Coolidge
busied herself with the work of help
ing distribute them.
The newspaper men had scarcely
gotten out of sight when another tele
graph messenger arrived with a copy
of the presidential oath from Wash
ington. In the same sitting room
with its hand-braided rugs, its clutter
of venerable colonial furniture, its old
wood stove and its family Bible—Cal
vin Coolidge received the oath of office
from his father.
President Coolidge left Plymouth
early Friday morning by automobile
for Rutland to catch a train for New
York, where he Immediately boarded
a train for Washington. He was ac
companied by Mrs. Coolidge.
He was mentioned as a possibility
for the presidential nomination prior
to the 1920 campaign, but he made a
public announcement that he would
not consider the nomination. Hie
nomination and election to the vice
presidency followed.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS
Doinas of Georgia L awm ak era
Gathered For The Benefit
Of Our Readers
New Tax Bill Introduced In Hcu
Atlanta.—Representative Lee Lant
leg, author of anew tax bill iutroduc'
ed in the house, is of the opinion that
his bill will solve Georgia’s present
tax problems without necessitatis
any amendment to the state Consul
tion. This, he declared, is “the pV
mary and immediate value of the
measure.”
The bill provides for bringing TO£
on the tax digests all forms of in
tangible property, making it subject
to taxation under the present laws
It contains clauses sufficiently string
gent, according to its author, to drag
out this form of hidden property
“from its caches.”
“The bill is not perfect, of course”-
said Mr. Langley. “It will have to.
be worked over, but it embraces the
principles upon which a sufficient and
equitable tax system must be founded”
* * *
House Approves Money Measure
The general appropriations bill*
amended as a substitute, was passed
by the house of representatives, n
to 3, and will be transmitted to the
senate' for consideration. Hillhouse
of Worth, Linder of Jeff Davis and
Stewart , of Atkinson were the the
three members voting against the bill
in the house.
The measure was adopted exactly
as it came from the committee of the
house as a whole, all attempts to
amend it being voted down. The an
ticipated fight to save the appropria
tion for the state bureau of markets*
which was cut off by the committee*
failed to materialize and the commit
tee amendment was upheld by a vote
of 82 to 52.
Introduce Bill To Abolish Noose
Among new bills introduced in the
house under a special period of unan
imous consent, were a number of more
than usual interest.
Mrs. Napier from Bibb county ami
Representative J. O. Wood of Fulton
are the authors of a bill which fixes
life imprisonment as the extreme pun
ishment for crime, thus doing away
with capital punisnment m the state
of Georgia.
* * *
Markets Bureau Cut Is Approved
Further reduction in appropriations
to the stateb ureau of markets, which
has been under fire in the house for
the last ten days,- was favored by
the senate committee on agriculture
when the bill of Senator Stephen
Pace of the thirteenth district, pro
viding for striking the SIOO,OOO ap
propriation derived from the sale of
fertilizer tags, which has been used
by the bureau of markets in the pub
lication of “The Market Bulletin, ’ was
recommended for passage by a vote
of 9 to 7.
* * *
Bills Passed By House
Bills finally passed in the house
are as follows:
Amending the charter of the city of
Dawson so as to provide for paving
assessments, etc.
To \amend section 1365 of the civil
code of Georgia, 1910, and the act of
the general assembly of Georgia ap
proved August 19, 1919, so as to pro
vide for three members of the board
of trustees of the University of Geor
gia from the city of Athens, instead
of two members.
To enlarge the membership of the
local board of trustees of the Geor
gia School of Technology, to define,
limit and provide for the rearrange
ment of the term of office of the
membership of said local board an
for filling vacancies thereon;
change the name of the said l° ca
board of trustees, to provide for two
regular meetings annually of ?a '
board; to provide the powers of t e
chairman of the executive committee
of said board and for other purposes.
New Bills In The House
By Burt of Dougherty— To provide
that money order receipt shall * nti
owner to operate a car lor 15
pending receipt of tag.
By Griffis of Ware—To provide tne
sale or assignment of wages and P rt> "
vide when same shall be void.
By Kirkland ;of Miller— To amen
act creating city court of- - 11
county. r
By Napier of Bibb and W ood
Fulton, by request —To fix Ilf®
prisonment as extreme punishm
for crime. .
By Ware delegation —To a!I * J
increase in tax levy for school p
pose in Waycross. _
By Laurens delegation—To c '
office of treasurer of Laurens c 0 _
By Russell of Bartow and Ca-P
of Campbell—To provide f ree e
books to certain grades. ,
By Lowndes delegation —To -
charter of city of Valdosta.