Milford chronicle., 1919-12-26
HARDING CONSENTS TO BE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Washington, Dec 22.--In response
to the endorsement of large majority
of the Republican county committees
OF Ohio and many Republican Clubs
and other organizations, Senator
Harding has addressed to the Chair
man of the Republican Committee OF
Miami County the following letter CIV
ing assent to the request for use OF
his name in campaign for the Re
publican Presidential nomination:
please know of my gratitude for
the cordial endorsement of your COM
mittee, and accept assurance OF my
assent TO the requested use Of my
name in choosing delegates to the Re
publican National Convention.
"A previous communication to our
State organization and many letters
to political friends have expressed my
real reluctance to permit the use OF
my name in this connection, and II
was genuinely sincere and expressed
then my personal and political pref
erence. / do not forget, however, that
my first obligation politically is to the
Republicans OF our State who have
so generously hOnored me, and / can
not ignore the natural and laudable
wish TO maintain the large part Ohio
has taken in the national councils of
I the party, and to invite the attention
of Republicans in the nation to the
/ availability of a candidate from our
great State. Had some other Ohio
I Republican among the many fitted for
/ such a distinction been suggested,
/ would gladly have joined in support
ing 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 assent TO any def
mite efforts to choose a delegation in
a declaration favorable to me. This
consent will be written at the proper
time in behalf of such candidates fol
delegates in the several districts and
at large as becoming party councils
may suggest / shall have no personal
preference in the matter but gladly
will cooperate in making effective the
manifest wish OF the Republicans oi
the State.
"One thing must be stated. We arr
all agreed that a thing that is wortl
doing at all is worth doing with al
) ones might. | could not assent to al
enterprise designed merely to contro
Ohio's representation in the NatiOna
convention. This undertaking is no
without encouragement beyond thi
borders Of our State. and we mus
play a worthy part, assuring our fel
; low Republicans of our utter goo'
faith. and that it is ever our belle
that party success is of first import
ance when Republican restoration !
. so vital TO the nation. / cannot agree
however, to any personal activity Il
promoting a pre-convention campaign
not alone because OF my distaste 70
unseemly seeking, but any neglect o
important political duties in the en-
suing five months in the Senate woull
rightfully forfeit me the coniidenc
which Ohio Republicans have so cor
daily expressed.
, Il venture to announce now no plat
: form nor to emphasize any obviou
; policy. Men in Congress make rec
ords which speak for them. More
. over, still believe in representa-
popular government through politica
!, parties, believe in party sponsorship
;. believe convention representing al
the Republicans of the Nation shoul
e make platforms, that nominees ough
to be chosen as exponents Of sue
). platforms and hold such declaration
s as inviolable covenants to the people
Again uttering my grateful appre
: citation, yielding to the party wish /
). Ohio without condition or reservation
;. so far as once may with honor an
respect, and pledging you my read
? ness to abide by the majority conelu
u sion and still serve with parfv doVC
tion, I am,
Very respectfully,
w G. Harding"