New-York tribune., 1920-06-13
Democrats Say
Harding Is Man
OF High Ideals
Party Leaders in Wash.
ington Center Criticism
on ''Reactionary'' Plat
form and Convention
Many Profess Elation
Some Comfort Selves by
Saying Nomirfee Is as
Easy as Any One to Beat

FROM The Trtbnno'S Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 12-With all
the Republican leaders absent from
Washington tonight, Democratic men,
bers of the Senate and House, one
member of President Wilson'S Cabinet
and the Presidents secretary furnished
the only comment on the nomination of
Senator Harding and Governor Cool
idge by the Chicago convention.
Members of the minority party in
the House and Senate seemed elated
over the choice of the Ohio Senator
and the Massachusetts executive as the
republican candidates.
). r. Tumulty, the Presidents secre-
tary, likewise expressed delight at the
Republican choice
Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby,
the former Progressive Republican,
was the lone member of the Presidert's 8
offifficial family who consented to com
ment.
Politically all these quoted endeav-
ored to make much of what they term cd
the complete control of the Republican
convention by the so-called Old Guard.
Joseph Tumulty, Secretary to the
president, said: 81 am delighted"
".
the only member of the Cabinet who,
consented to be quoted, said:
From the standpoint of the Demo-
cratic party the nomination of Mr..
Harding is very admirable one, be-
cause 1t tends to clarity and emphasize
every issue between the two parties.
1t is clear cut issue that, will 60 be-
lore the American people.
Thinks Strength Illusory
i think Senator Harding's strength
Is an illusion that exists only in The
minds of the standpat section Of the
republican party, and, speaking as a
former progressive, it seems to me
ohat emphasis of the old standpat
action is very gratifying from the
standpoint of it's opponents.
speaking in lighter. vein, my
thoughts turn to the Shakespearlan
quotation and lead me to say, Alas.
poor Harding"
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska,
Leader of the Administration forces in
the treaty fight, said:
Senator Harding is colleague of
n.lne and personal friend and a man
of the highest character | think he
nts the Republican platform very we'll.
re Is a very appropriate choice for
that PLATFORM
Champ Clark, Democrat, of Missouri.
was brief. He said:
Harding lnd Coolidge will be lust
as easy to beat as any they could put
up"
Suggests Palmer as Opponent
Representative Flood, of Virginia,
chairman of the Democratic Congress
slonal Committee, said:
That is a pretty fair ticket I think
ha
democrats to nominate, with Cox for
Vice-President,"
Sen Senator Sheppard, Democrat. of
he Democratic nominee will de-
feat any Republican candidate. This
Is a Democratic year, and l feel sure
OF Democratic support"
Senator Chamberlain, Democrat. of
Oregon, thought the nominees were ex-
cellent. He said:
Il think they are excellent nomia-
tons. Both are good men. l don't
know why they should get strong
Democratic vote, but they should get
q strong party vote"
Senator King. Democrat, Of Utah,
saw in Senator Harding a strong man.
He said:
They did the best they could. SEN
ator Harding has not greatly impressed
himself upon the country, but he is
man OF high ideals and fine reputation
among the American people. There
is an incongruity in selecting him to
stand upon a platform which repudi-
ates the league Of nations or any
other International arrangements be-
tween the nations of the earth to se-
cure international peace. He voted
for the league Of nations with reser-
vatlons, but the convention abjectly
and in a cowardly manner acceded to
the demands of those who have op-
posed the policies which make for the
peace Of the world.
Predicts Republican Defeat
"The Democrats will nominate either
Palmer or Marshall or McAdoo or Cox.
splendid team would be Palmer and
Meredith. But it is certain that the
Republican party, with its stand pat
platform and unprogressive policies,
will be defeated, and the next Presi-
dent will be Democrat"
Senator Key Pttman, Of Nevada, dis
played more bitterness than any Of his
colleagues. He said:
IL haven't very much to say, feel 40
good ever the nomination. l am disap-
pointed from one standpoint and very
happy from another. 1t is the only
consistent thing that this stand-pat.
colorlcss convention has done. It has
nominated man who has preached re-
action for the last two or three months
1t has nominated a man without any
human instincts whatever. and who la
absolutely subservient to the peculiar
philosophy of Big Business 1t ex-
plains their platform perfectly-a se-
cret platform, a secret meeting and a
candidate who will accept ihterpreta-
tons.
'If the Democrats nominate a man
who is In sympathy with the policies and