Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-02
BOTH PARTIES FIND
LOOSE PLAY MARS
!. EARLY SCR|MMAGE
Teamwork Lacking in Some
Instances as Candidates
Enter Struggle.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

COLUMBUS. Ohio. August a.
Teamwork is hardly to be expected
at this early stage Of the national cam
paign-teamwork between the candi-
dates and their respective managers
but nevertheless there are some glar-
ing examples already of loose play in
bsth thet republican and democratic
camps.
On the same day, for instance, that
Candidate Harding authorizes a state
ment' calling the democrats to task
for being willing to accept contribu-
tions Of more than $1,000 and limiting
at some invisible. gods of wealth. the
treasurer of the republican national
committee, Fred W. Upham of Chicago.
publicly expresses the fear that the
plans of the republicans may have to
be changed before the campaign is
over and contributions in excess of
$1,000 be- aceepted.
Turn, then, to the democratic camp
few weeks ago. Candidate Cox
hastened to the White House and talked
things over and statements were issued
by both saying a perfect understanding
had been reached. A few days later
Homer Cummings, retiring chairman of
the democratic national committee, Wis
its Washington and the President spends
an hour with him..
Two days later comes George White,
the new chairman of the democratic ma,
tional committee. who is bonbardeds by
the reporters and naively lets loose a
few: sentences, to the effect that there
is no 'ironclad agreement" between
President Wilson and Candidate Cox on
campaign issues, and that considerable
elasticity" is possible in interpreting
the obligations of the Cox-Wilson con-
ference.
Then George doesn't get an Invitation
to the White House. which. instead of
ignoring the unwisdom of Mr.. Whites
remarks, takes him to task and keeps
him outside the precincts of the presi-
dental sanctuW.
* Merely Doing Own Thinking.
The truth of the matter is that Mr.
White was not trying. to, give an i'm
preston of divergence between the
views of the President and those of
Gov. Cox, but to emphasize that the
democratic nominee is the leader of
the party and is doing his own think
ing, and that such of his views as
mays square with the Presidents are
the result of conviction and not 'po-
litical coercion x
The White House is "a good deal
more .touchy about these things than
is necessary in a political campaign,
as will be clearly demonstrated when
the speech of acceptance. written by
Gov. Cox is made public The wise
thing, from the viewpoint of party
harmony and strategy. would have
been to warmly welcome George
White Just the same. and thus keep
political foes from taking advantage
as they did of apparent friction.
Mismanagement is commonly said
to haya cost Hughes the presidency
managers are already causing COM
ment The determination to keep a
candidate. tied to the front porch has
been severely criticised. One repub-
Hcan national committeeman OF long
exnerience in politics told the writer
recently that he didn't believe Hard
Ling could win if he stayed on the
front porch.
Temporary Compromise.
The movement to, get the candidate
out on the stump has resulted in y
temporary compromise. Chairman
HAYS decided to let Senator Harding
Ia Tx in the big cities-New York Chi
cago, Boston. There is serious talk of
adding Denver and San, Francisco to
the list.
Unquestionably there would have
been a change of plans sooner and
Mr.. Harding would have been per-
mitted by his campaigr, committee to
make an extended tour except for
fear of the .taunts' of the democrats
who, it was thought. might gieefully
claim they had driven Harding from
the front porch.
know that campaigns are not won by
taunts, would welcome even now a
frank reversal of.pran SO that the re-
publican candidate. who is a splendid
mixer and, makes fine impression
might see more of the electorate.
,The front-porch campaign was orig
inaIly championed because'it was sup
posed to Keep the candidate from say
ing indiscreet things on the stump,
but it is serious question whether
Infinitely more damage will not be
done by ont-porch publicity. This is
always the work of a group of press
agents who see to 1t that constant
floW Of views proceeds from the poiiti-
cal visitors and who have already
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