# George F. Harding explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief spotlight on George F. Harding, City Comptroller of Chicago, highlighting the tough nature of his office and the pressures from garbage collectors demanding back pay, with the council deflecting responsibility onto him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Work and Profession

The chapter underscores the burdens and challenges of a public office, specifically the comptroller's role in managing city finances and labor demands.

## Character check-ins

### George F. Harding

City Comptroller of Chicago, under pressure from garbage workers and the city council.

## Key lines

> George F. Harding City Comptroller, Chicago You covet his office? Go to it. It’s a tough one, however you view it. The garbage guys say: “Give us our back pay!” And the council replies: “Let George do it!”

George F. Harding is the City Comptroller of Chicago. If you desire his position, you are welcome to try for it, but it is a difficult job from any perspective. The garbage collectors demand their overdue wages, and the city council simply says, 'Let George handle it.'

_Summarizes the chapter's depiction of Harding's challenging role and the council's deflection of responsibility._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/george-f-harding
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters