If love is the only right warrant for bringing children into the world
then many children born in wedlock are illegitimate and many born out
of wedlock are legitimate.
In the author’s opinion wedlock as a word quite defines itself. Often a
man and woman are locked at their wedding in a forced fellowship which
soon proves to be loveless and during which the passions of the two
express themselves in witless and unwanted progeny. And yet we wonder
what is wrong with the world!
The story of my life-long love for Warren Gamaliel Harding and his love
for me and our love for our child is told in these pages, together with
the family, community, and political circumstances under which this
relationship continued for the six and one-half years preceding the
sudden passing of the President on August 2, 1923.
The author has had but one motive in writing for publication the story
of her love-life with Mr. Harding. This motive is grounded in what
seems to her to be _the need for legal and social recognition and
protection of all children in these United States born out of wedlock_.
To the author, this cause warrants the unusual and conscious frankness
with which she has written this book, and the apparent disregard for
the so-called conventions, because she feels that _the issue is greater
than all the personal sacrifices involved_.
Indeed, even like frankness on the part of thousands of mothers who
could divulge similar life-tragedies might well be added to that of the
author’s if such sacrifice would insure the aggressive agitation of a
question involving one of the gravest wrongs existent today, with a
view toward a legislative remedy.
Because of the political stature of the man-character involved, this
fact-story would no doubt get to the public sooner or later, as news,
or as court testimony in trials such as have recently involved men who
are or have been national figures. In such case the story so sacred to
the author would doubtless be garbled by news writers, or told only
partially to serve some legal, personal or party interest. The author
feels therefore that through her experiences she has been led to see
the need for telling it herself, truly and completely, and in making
it the basis for an appeal in behalf of the unfathered children of
unwedded mothers, in the sincere hope that this book may result in
happier conditions for childhood and motherhood throughout these United
States of America.
Much consideration has been given by the author to all probable
reactions resulting from the publication of this book. The fact
that this narrative is bound up with the life of a man who has held
the highest office in this land may mean that temporarily he may be
misjudged. But the author, who has shrined him in reverent memory,
feels in her heart that these revelations cannot but inspire added love
for him after his trials and humanities are perceived and acknowledged.
Moreover, the author is obliged to introduce to a none-too-kindly
world the daughter of her love-union with Mr. Harding and thus subject
her to curious gaze and speculation. The author regrets this as any
mother would, but feels that in no way can she effectively show
her understanding love for all children except by baring her own
experience, in the hope that the notability of the case itself may
influence regard for the welfare of children and help to right an old
and current wrong.
Nor, indeed, does the author herself hope to escape criticism unless
her real motive is definitely apprehended and conceded. It has required
no little heart-break on her part to relive the story of her love-life,
but it had to be relived in memory that the story might be portrayed
truthfully. Only by keeping before her the human cause which impelled
the writing, and a constant hope that through her own suffering she
might be instrumental in preventing the heartaches of thousands of
potential mothers, has this been possible.
Knowing the real President Harding as she does, the author feels that
if he could be brought back today to witness the futile struggle the
mother of his only child has suffered, he himself would proclaim his
own fatherhood, and seek to open eyes blinded by convention to a
situation which is depriving thousands of innocent children of their
natural birthright in denying them legal recognition before the world.
In the author’s opinion, _there should be no so-called “illegitimates”
in these United States_.
It is to be remembered that all children must be precious in the
sight of our Father, otherwise he would not be a heavenly father, and
that Jesus of Nazareth did _not_ say, “Suffer little children born in
wedlock to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus
loved and honored all little children and didn’t bother at all about
who their parents were or about the manner of their birth. He himself
was born in a manger which was most unconventional.
As a result of the author’s own personal experiences written in this
book, and because of the thousands of prospective mothers who face
unknowingly like tragic situations, she feels that an organized effort
should be made to secure State and Federal legislation providing the
following benefits for unwedded mothers and unfathered children:
_First_: That on the birth of a child the name of the father be
_correctly_ registered in the public records, and that failure to do
so shall constitute a criminal offense.
_Second_: That every child born in the United States of America be
regarded as legitimate whether born within or without wedlock.
The enactment of these statutes would not, in the author’s opinion,
detract from the dignity of the marriage-union which automatically
legalizes children born therein, but would insure protection for those
innocent children born of a love-union in which one or both parents are
unmarried.
_Readers of this book who agree with the author that this entire
situation constitutes a Cause, and who feel with her that members
should be gathered into the Elizabeth Ann League to collectively urge
the proposed legislation suggested above to provide social equality
among children, are invited to write her a personal letter in care of
the publishers {see title page}._