The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-20
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1920
THE THING MOSTLY FEARED

Since the time when Candidate
Hughes went to California and made
errors which cost the Republican
party the presidency the Republicans
have been afraid for their candidates
TO come out in the open and say
what they think, and act just as they
do in every day life. They are afraid
for them to be just their natural
selves for fear that naturalness will
not appeal to the people and get the
votes necessary TO put them in the
White House.
So when Senator Harding was nomi-
mated he was stationed on his front
porch and the plan was for pilgrim
ages to be made 10 the shrine. But
these pilgrimages were being made up
of office seekers and those who
wanted to have influence with the
administration and the heart of the
unselfish people We're not being reach
ed There seemed to be a demand
that Harding leave his front porch.
When he packed his grip and started
for a speaking tour the party MEM
bers were chilled with fear that he
would pull bone-head-to use u term
that is perfectly we'll understood.
Job once said that the thing he
had mostly feared came upon him.
Just SO with the Republicans, the
thing they mostly feared came upon
them.
Harding made himself the Happy
Hooligan" Of American politics. Among
the visitors to his front porch was
a covering Frenchman who repre-
sented no body and no thing and this
puppet in order to make himself popu-
lar with the candidate spoke of an
association of nations and Mr.. Hard
ing took it seriously enough TO be-
lieve that his proposal had touched
a warm spot in the heart Of France
and he told the story in his Green
castle speech.
Mr. Harding's hand was immed-
ately called by the president. The
Republic of France made its state
ment concerning the matter and
Senator Harding occupies the place
of the humorist without humor, Of
the philosopher without philosophy,
of the candidate without discretion.
He has lost nightly in prestige.
The Republican party is more to
be blamed for the Harding speech
at Greencastle when he tried TO give
international prestige TO the words
OF an irresponsible, favor hunting
Frenchman than the candidate him
self. Almost all the intelligent men
and women Of the civilized world be-
leve in q League of Nations The
Republicans made an issue of the
matter because they saw that IL the
league which was adopted at the end
OF hostilities were ratified that It
would bring peace and prosperity and
would make the Democratic party so
popular that 1t would win in the ma
tional election in 1920. Putting poll
tics above conscience they made
party issue of the question. They
selected Mr. Harding TO carry their
message 10 the people they selected
him TO hold the pro-league people to
the party and he has done the bes,
he could, He was trying 10 give p es-
tige TO his own plans when he COM
mitted the error that makes him the
Happy Hoolgan- OF American poll
tics. II is Impossible for him TO be
sincere, 1t is impossible for the en-
tire Republican campaign TO be sin
cere. The whole party is engaging
every day in the practice OF decep-
ton and like a false witness on the
stand when they talk too much they
will let the truth come out
Harding has materially reduced his
prestige, his play Of sincerity has
burst like bubble and a disaffection
has been started in the ranks Of the
party that will continue to grow until
eeletion day.