Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-12-25
HARDING OF OHIO CON-
SCENTS TO RE A CANDIDATE

In response to the endorsement
of large number of the Republican
| county committees of Ohio and
many Republican clubs and other
| organizations, Senator Harding has
| addressed to the chairman of the
Republican committee of Miami
county, the following letter giving
| assent to the request for use of his
pame in a campaign for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination.
please know of my gratitude
for the cordial endorsement of your
committee, and accept assurance of
by assent to the requested use of
my name in choosing delegates to
the Republican national conven-
ton.
"A previous communication to our
state, organization and many let
tiers Ito political friends have ex-
pressed my real reluctance to permit
the use of my name in this connec-
ton, and it was genuinely sincere,
and expressed then my personal and
political preference. / do not for
get, however, that my first obligation
politically is to the Republicans of
our state who have so generously
honored me, and / cannot ignore the
natural and laudable wish to main
tain the large part Ohio has taken
in the national councils of the par
ty, and to invite the attention OF
the Republicans in the nation to the
availability of candidate from our
great state. Had some other Ohio
Republican among the many fitted
for such distinction been suggested,
] would gladly have joined in sup
porting him. But the fortunes OF
politics and the activities incident to
official position have combined to
suggest my name, and the primary
election laws of Ohio require my as
sent to any definite efforts to choose
delegation in declaration favor
able to me. This consent will be
written at the proper time in behalf
OF such candidates for delegates in
the several districts and at large as
becoming party councils may sug-
gest. | shall have no personal
preference in the matter but gladly
will cooperate in making effective
the manifest wish of the Republicans |
of the state.
zone thing must be stated. We |
are all agreed that a thing worth
doing at all is worth doing with all
u. Il
an enterprise designed merely to-
control Ohio's representation in the
national convention This under
taking is not without encouragement
beyond the borders of our state, and
we must play worthy part, assur-
ing our fellow Republicans of our
utter good faith, and that it is ever
our belief that party success is of
first importance when Republican
restoration is so vital, to the nation.
/ cannot agree, however, to any
personal activity in promoting pre-
convection campaign. not alone be-
cause of my distaste for unseemly
seeking, but any neglect of import
ant official duties in the ensuing
FIVE months in the senate would
rightfully forfeit me the confidence |
which Ohio Republicans have so
cordially expressed.
II venture to announce now no
platform nor to emphasize any OBJ
vious policy. Men in congress |
make records which speak for them.
Moreover, / still believe in represen-
tative popular government through |
political parties, believe in party |
sponsorship, believe conventions rep |
resenting all the Republicans OF the |
nation should make platforms, that |
nominees ought to be chosen as ex-
ponents of such platforms and hold
such declarations as inviolable COW
enants to the people.
Again uttering my grateful APP
probation, yielding to the party |
wish in Ohio without condition or |
reservation, so far as one may with |
honor and respect. and pledging you |
| my readiness to abide by the major
ity conclusion and still serve with |
party devotion, l am,
Very respectfully,
"W q HARDING ="